Case Law Details
Hind Energy and Coal Benefication (India) Ltd. v. Union of India (Delhi High Court)
1. The issues raised in this petition, which involves a challenge to the validity of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 (`AW), are more or less similar to those raised in W.P. (C) No. 7459/2017 (Mohit Minerals Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India).
2. In the present case, it is stated that the Petitioner has already paid the Clean Energy Cess under Chapter VII of the Finance Act, 2010 CFA 2010′) on the coal lying in stock on 30th June, 2017. Such stock is stated to be around 2,85,418 tonnes, on which the cess already paid is to an extent of Rs. 11.41 crores.
3. In that view of the matter, with regards to the additional levy in terms of the impugned legislation on the aforementioned stock of coal on which the Petitioner has already paid the Clean Energy Cess, the Petitioner should not be required to make any further payment during the pendency of the present petition. However, as far as the stocks of coal on which no Clean Energy Cess was paid, any payment made in terms of the impugned legislation would be subject to the result of this petition. It is ordered accordingly.
4. It is made clear that, in the event of the Petitioner succeeding in the present petition, the Petitioner shall be entitled to a refund of the amount of compensation cess paid under the impugned legislation on such terms as the Court may determine in the final order.
5. To facilitate the implementation of this interim order, it is necessary for the officers of the concerned Department, charged with the responsibility of levying and collecting Clean Energy Cess on coal to depute a team to the Petitioner’s business premises to verify on how much of the stock of coal Clean Energy Cess under the FA, 2010 already stands paid. Subject to the Petitioner furnishing to the satisfaction of the officers proof of such payment, the Petitioner will be given credit for such payment and will not be required to make any further payment under the impugned Act for effecting sales and clearances. Till such time the said exercise is completed, no coercive steps will be taken agai nst the Petiti oner to recover the I evy under the impugned Act.
6. It is made clear however, that on those stocks for which the Petitioner is not able to produce a satisfactory proof of already having paid the Clean Energy Cess under the FA, 2010, the Petitioner will be required to pay the cess under the impugned Act. This would be subject to the directions issued herei nbef ore.
7. In a separate order passed today by this Court in C.M. No. 32866/2017 in W.P. (C) No. 7459/2017 it was noticed that the CB EC is in the process of evolving an appropriate method for implementing the interim order dated 25th August 2017 passed in that case which permitted the Petitioner there to avail and uti I i se the credit of the cess al ready paid while paying taxes. At the instance of that Petitioner who explained the difficulties faced in utilising such credit and reflecting it in the electronic returns, this Court has issued certain further interim directions.
8. On the same lines it is directed that the Petitioner here will continue to pay the taxes as and when they fall due after availing and utilizing the credit for the cess already paid. This will, however, be subject to the final orders passed by this Court. As regards to the non-filing of returns by the Petitioner on the due dates, till such time an appropriate method/system is evolved by the Respondent which would facilitate utilization of the credit and provide for it in the returns filed electronically, the Respondents will not take any coercive steps against the Petitioner for the failure to file such electronic returns on time
9. List on 25th September 2017.
