In re Mahalakshmi Infraprojects Private Limited (GST AAR Maharashtra)
The present application has been filed under Section 97 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 [hereinafter referred to as “the CGST Act and MGST Act” respectively ) by M/s. MAHALAKSHMI INFRAPROJECTS PRIVATE LIMITED, the applicant, seeking an advance ruling in respect of the following questions.
1. If the tax rate of M/s. Mahalaxmi B T Patil Honai Constructions JV (Referred to as JV) is NIL as per SI No 3A- Chapter No. 9954 as per Notification No. 12/2017- C.T. (Rate) dated 28.06.2017, as amended by Notification No. 2/2018-Central Tax (Rate) dated 25th January 2018, w.e.f. 25th January 2018, whether we can avail the benefit of the same tax rate i.e. NIL?
2. If the above answer is negative, then Advance Ruling for whether we can avail the benefit of SI No 3 (x) – Chapter No. 9954 as per Notification No. 01/2018-C.T. (Rate) dated 25th January 2018 (amendment in the Notification No 11/2017- C.T. (Rate) dated 28th June 2017)?
At the outset, we would like to make it clear that the provisions of both the CGST Act and the MGST Act are the same except for certain provisions. Therefore, unless a mention is specifically made to any dissimilar provisions, a reference to the CGST Act would also mean a reference to the same provision under the MGST Act. Further to the earlier, henceforth for the purposes of this Advance Ruling, the expression ‘GST Act’ would mean CGST Act and MGST Act.
2. FACTS AND CONTENTION — AS PER THE APPLICANT FACTS:
2.1 M/s. Mahalxmi B T Patil Honai Constructions JV (Referred to as JV) registered under Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, situated at 363/11, Balaji Niwas, Shivajinagar, Pune-411 016 is engaged in the business of Construction of infrastructure projects. The said Ai was formed on 16/12/2008 to undertake construction of Jeur Tunnel under (Linking Ujani Reservoir to Sina, Kolegaon resep/oir) Krishna Marathwada Irrigation Project, Tal. Karmala, Dist. Solapur a work allotted by Executive Engineer, Lift Irrigation Division, Osmanabad Project awarded by Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC), Aurangabad.
The Said JV consists of three members, viz. M/s. Mahalaxmi Infraprojects Pvt Ltd., M/s. B T Patil & Sons (Belgaum) Constructions Pvt Ltd and Honai Constructions and was formed to get the work and to share it amongst the members of JV. Accordingly, the applicant and M/S B T Patil & Sons (Belgaum) Constructions Pvt Ltd are executing the work in the Ratio 50:50 proportion.
2.3 As per stages of completion of work, Ai raising invoice to GMIDC, Aurangabad and on the same basis, as a JV member, applicant is raising invoice to N. Applicant, as a Ai member has got work order consisting of Earth Work such as Excavation for Tunnel, removing of excavated stuff, providing steel support, rock bolting, reinforcement, fixing of chain link, cement concerting etc. wherein total earth work is approximately 91%, construction work being around 9% wherein transfer of property is involved.
2.4 The Contract/Transaction under consideration is a Composite supply of works contract as defined in clause (119) of section 2 of the CGST Act, 2017. The JV i.e. Main Contractor is providing Services to a Government Entity i.e GMIDC, which is entrusted with planning projects, maintenance of completed project, construction of projects and irrigation management of the Major, Medium and Minor Projects.
2.5 The issue is whether the benefit of the Notification No. 39/2017 I.T.R. or Notification No. 31/2017 C.T.R. dated 13.10.2017 will be available to the JV?. Identical issue was decided In RE: P. K. Agarwala (2019 (20) GSTL 605 (AAR-GST)) by holding that the assesses are entitled for benefit of concessional rate of tax under Notification No. 39/2017 Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 13th October 2017.
2.6 As per applicant’s interpretation since the major part of the work order, i.e., about 91%, is ‘Earth Work’, the said work order of JV qualifies for the benefit of exemption under Sr. No. 3A of the Notification No. 12/2017-CTR dated 28.06.2017, as amended by Notification No. 2/2018-CTR dated 25.01.2018, since, Sr. No. 3 of Eleventh Schedule of Article 243G of the Constitution which covers “Minor Irrigation, water management and watershed development” and Sr. No. 5 of Twelfth Schedule of Article 243W of the Constitution which covers “Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes”, would cover the activities carried out by the JV and on the same line, applicant, as a JV member can also take the benefit of NIL rate of tax.
WRITTEN SUBMISSION DATED 24.03.2022-
It is submitted that an identical case involving identical set of questions in the matter of Soma Mohit Joint Venture was decided in favour of the Applicants by the Maharashtra Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling. The contract relating to Soma Mohite Joint Venture was identical to the contracts involved in the instant case and even the project is one and the same added by GMIDC. It was held that the work carried out by the Applicant JV is covered by Entry 3(vii) of Notification No 11/2017- C.T. (Rate) dated 28th June 2017 as amended by Notification No. 31/2017-CTR. Accordingly, sub- contractors of JV are also eligible for the same tax rate under Sr. No. 3(x) of the said Notification.
2.8 It is requested that the aforesaid questions raised, may be decided in favour of the Applicants in terms of Order No. MAH/AAAR/SS-RJ/21/2019-20 dtd. 20.01.2020 of Soma Mohite Joint Venture.
2.9 Assistant Commissioner, Divn-III (Deccan) CGST, Pune-II Commissionerate, vide letter dt 30.07.2021 has agreed that services provided by Applicants fall within the description of services specified in column 3 of the Notification and they have satisfied all conditions of column 5 of the Notification. Also, Deputy Commissioner, Central GST, Division-Ill, Kolhapur vide email dated 10.01.2022 has agreed to applicability of GST @ 5% under Entry 3(x) of the Notification.
2.10 Further, the Deputy Commissioner (E-505), SGST, Large tax Unit-1, Pune vide letter dt 18.01.2022 has opposed the Application filed by the Applicant. It is submitted that the submissions made in letter dated 18.01.2022 are bereft of any merit and that the same does not even touch the issue involved in the instant case. Emphasis sought to be placed on the term “composite supply” used in the Notification, is without any basis and has no relevance to the term “composite supply” as defined in Section 2(30) of the CGST Act. Going by the said definition of the definition of the term “Works contract” under Section 2(119) of the CGST Act, it is ex-facie clear that what is required is a transfer of property in goods involved in execution of construction. Admittedly, the said condition stands satisfied as the Applicants have been awarded a contract for construction of a tunnel and that in execution of this construction contract, transfer of property in goods supplied by the Applicants has taken place. In addition, services of excavation have also been provided.
2.11 It is a settled law that a contract cannot be vivisected and each activity be charged to tax
separately at independent rates. Therefore, such vivisection of contract as proposed in letter dated 18.01.2022 is not permissible in law. Merely because some or any activity of the work entrusted to the Applicant by GMIDC, is or can be subcontracted by Applicants, is not determinative of composite nature of supply of goods and excavation services, in execution of contract of construction of a tunnel. Therefore, it may be held that the JV and its sub-contractors are eligible for benefit of paying GST @ 5% under Sr. No. 3(vii) and 3(x) of the Notification No 11/2017- C.T. (Rate) dated 28th June 2017
03. CONTENTION — AS PER THE CONCERNED OFFICER:
OFFICER SUBMISSION DATED 19.01.2022
3.1 M/s. Mahalaxmi Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. engaged in the business of Civil work of infrastructure projects has received the sub-contract work order from M/s. Mahalaxmi Infra – B.T. Patil, Honai Construction (JV) for sub-contracting work of construction of Jeur Tunnel under Krishna Marathwada Irrigation project. The said work order awarded by Godawari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC), Aurangabad (Maharashtra Government undertaking).
3.2 Sch.-B annexed with work order shows, particulars of work items, Unit, quantity, Rate and Total Amount for work to be executed & particulars of various work items as per Sch-B are as below-
Item No. 1: Excavation for Tunnel work in all kind of soft-strata including ventilation arrangement (work order in Cubic Meter).
Item No. 2: Excavation for Tunnel work in all kind of rock including ventilation arrangement (work order in Cubic Meter).
Item No. 3: Providing and fabrication, transporting and erecting structural supports (work order in Metric Ton).
Item No. 4: Providing and rock bolting in position (work order in running meter).
Item No. 5: Providing and fixing in position M.S. reinforcement (work order in metric ton).
Item No. 6: Providing and applying material component shot crating in two layers (work order in sq. meter).
Item No. 7: providing ad fixing chain link (work order in square meter).
Item No. 8: providing and laying in situ cement concrete in grade M-15 (work order in cubic meter).
Item No. 9: Providing and laying in situ cement concrete in grade M-20 (work order in cubic meter).
Item No. 10: removing excavated stuff from underground excavation. (Work order in cubic meter).
Item No. 11: providing drainage arrangement and bailing out water (work order in BHP per 400)
As per work order, applicant has been awarded various items involving supply of services along with supply of goods. The work items executed by the applicant cannot be said as naturally bundled one to qualify as Composite supply, as work items mentioned above has been ordered and measured in separate units and rate for the said units varies from item to item (either service or goods). Moreover, GMIDC has awarded work to Principal contractor M/s. Mahalaxmi Infra — B.T. Patil, Honai Construction (1V) & in turn same work (in 50% ratio) was sub-let by the said At firm to applicant sub-contractor. As seen from various work items awarded, supplies of services or goods effected by the applicant are not naturally bundled but are artificially bundled together for the commercial convenience by the principal Contractor or by GMIDC, by whom contract was awarded to the JV. In fact, the Principal Contractor and in turn the applicant, can allot t h e work items mentioned in Schedule-B, independently to individual suppliers of services or goods as the case may be.
3.4 As per Education guide issued by CBIC, ‘If various elements of a bundled service are naturally bundled in the ordinary course of business, it shall be treated as provision of a single service which gives such bundle its essential character’. As seen from variable nature of services and goods supplied by the applicant, the impugned supply of services and goods are not naturally bundled in the ordinary course of business and cannot be treated as provision of a single service which gives such bundle its essential character. Further, as per Education guide issued by CBIC, whether services are bundled in the ordinary course of business and whether subcontractor applicant fulfills the same can be ascertained from several indicators as below-
1) Single Price — as per schedule of work order, various work items for various units and different rates are awarded by Principal Contractor. Although work order given is for composite price, work item schedule annexed to work order is for various units of measurement and various prices. Hence, it cannot be said that Composite price is involved in execution of above work order.
2) Different elements aren’t available separately — As per work order, various supply of services and goods such as :
