Government went into a huddle following a far-reaching Supreme Court judgement in the Vodafone case having revenue implications of about Rs 11,000 crore.Immediately after pronouncement of the SC ruling, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister Salman Khurshid held consultations on the issue. Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth too called on the Finance Minister.
“It is a judgement of the Supreme Court. Naturally, we will have to study the judgement,” Mukherjee said without elaborating.
Although the issues relating to taxation of overseas deals are likely to be resolved with implementation of the Direct Taxes Code (DTC), in the Vodafone case the government has an option to either file a review petition or effect legislative changes.
“Right now we only know that it is a unanimous judgement that has gone against the revenue authorities. We have to examine. We obviously need revenue for government’s important programmes and the other thing is the certainty in law – we have to examine both areas,” Khurshid said.
The overall revenue implication of the ruling could be Rs 11,000 crore at a time when government is facing resource crunch because of slowdown.
In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court has set aside the Bombay High Court ruling and asked the Income Tax Department to return Rs 2,500 crore deposited by Vodafone International Holdings within two months along with 4 per cent interest.
The apex court also asked its registry to return within four weeks, the bank guarantee of Rs 8,500 crore given by the telecom major.
A three-judge bench headed by chief justice S H Kapadia held that the IT department has “no jurisdiction” to levy tax on overseas transaction between companies incorporated outside India.
Khurshid further said, “We will have to read the judgement, analyse it, and then only make a comment on it. Even the finance minister has not seen the judgement, it concerns his ministry directly…”
“It is difficult to say what are the reasons and grounds now for reversing it. Unless we have the time to understand and reflect what exaclty is the reason that they have given”.
The ruling is important because it will have implications on various cross-border deals.
I completely agree with above comment, yes why not interest to take up 2G scam? Because people are scared and that dont want to put a leash on their neck.
The comments from the minister invite humour. “We obviously need revenue for government’s important programmes . The overall revenue implication of the ruling could be Rs 11,000 crore at a time when government is facing resource crunch because of slowdown.”
Why not govt show the same interest in the great 2G scam, CWG scam and fast track the procedings, book the guilty, recover the enormous wealth swindled and make use of the same for govt projects – in all these cases, the speed is shown is giving bail,
“tell m the man, i will tell u the rule – is today’s mantra.