Case Law Details
Central GST Delhi – III Vs Delhi International Airport Ltd (Supreme Court of India)
Supreme Court held that User Development Fee (UDF) is in the form of ‘tax or cess’ collected for financing the cost of future projects and is not a consideration for services provided by the assessee to the customer, visitors, passengers, vendors etc.
Facts- In all these appeals, orders of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) are impugned by the service tax authorities (the revenue), who argue that user development fee levied and collected by the airport operation, maintenance and development entities (i.e., the Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd., the Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd., and the Hyderabad International Airport Pvt. Ltd., (the assessees) is subjected to service tax levy, under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1994 (the Act).
Conclusion- The User Development Fee (UDF) is in the form of ‘tax or cess’ collected for financing the cost of future projects and is not a consideration for services provided by the assessee to the customer, visitors, passengers, vendors etc.
In the present case, neither there is any compulsion to levy development fee nor is the collection conditional upon its deposit in the government treasury. However, the absence of these features does not render UDF any less a statutory levy. The collection is not premised on rendering of any service. The amounts collected are deposited in an escrow account, not within the control of the assesses and the utilization of funds, is monitored and regulated by law.
FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT/ORDER
1. In all these appeals, orders of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal1 (hereafter “CESTAT”) are impugned by the service tax authorities (hereafter “the revenue”), who argue that user development fee levied and collected by the airport operation, maintenance and development entities (i.e., the Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd., the Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd., and the Hyderabad International Airport Pvt. Ltd., (hereafter collectively called “the assessees”) is subjected to service tax levy, under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1994 (hereafter “the Act”).
2. All the assessees had entered into joint venture arrangements/agreements (hereafter “OMDA”) with the Airports Authority of India (hereafter “AAI”, a body corporate created by the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 [hereafter “AAI Act”]. Under OMDA, the assesses agreed to undertake some activities enjoined upon the AAI, by the AAI Act. The assessees were authorised, by various notifications (dated 27th February 2009) issued by the Central Government under Section 22A of the AAI Act to collect a “development fee” @ Rs. 100/- for every departing domestic passenger and Rs. 600/- for every departing international passenger at the concerned airports for a period of 48 months.
3. The Commissioner of Service Tax, through various show cause notices demanded payment of tax on the development fee collected for various periods. These notices were adjudicated and confirmed; the CESTAT remanded the matter to the original authority requiring fresh adjudication after taking into consideration the decisions of this court in Consumer Online Foundation Union of India2, Commissioner of Central Excise v. Cochin International Airport Ltd.,3, Acer India Ltd. and Orissa Cement Ltd. v. State of Orissa4 and various instructions issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (hereafter “CBEC”). The original authority disposed of all show cause notices by confirming demands, and also levying penalties under the Act. The adjudicating authority accorded the benefit of “cum-tax” valuation. These orders were challenged before the CESTAT, which, by the orders impugned, allowed the assessees’ appeals, holding that the development fee collected was not liable to service tax levy.
II
The relevant provisions
4. Section 65 (105) (zzm) of the Finance Act, 1994, contains the definition of “airport service” (with effect from 01.07.2010) and states that such service is:
“any service provided or to be provided by airports authority or by any other person in any airport or a civil enclave”
Before the amendment, i.e., before 1 July 2010, the definition, of airport service was as follows:
“to any person, by airports authority or any person authorised by it, in an airport or a civil enclave”
Section 65 (3d) defines airport authority as:
“Airports Authority of India constituted under section 3 of the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 (55 of 1994) and also includes any person having the charge of management of an airport or civil enclave”.
5. Section 68 (1) of the Finance Act provides that every person providing taxable service to any person shall pay service tax at the rate specified in section 66. Section 67 (1) of the Finance Act, provides that where service tax is chargeable on any taxable service with reference to its value then such value shall be the gross amount charged by the service provider for such service provided or to be provided by him.
6. The relevant provisions of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 and the Aircraft Rules, 1937 are extracted below:
Section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 sets out the functions of the authority, and inter alia, reads as follows:
“13. Functions of Authority.
(1) The Authority shall perform the following functions in respect of major airports, namely:–
(a) to determine the tariff for the aeronautical services taking into consideration–
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(b) to determine the amount of the development fees in respect of major airports;
(c) to determine the amount of the passengers service fee levied under rule 88 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 made under the Aircraft Act, 1934 (22 of 1934);…”
Provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937:
“Rule 88. Passenger Service Fee. —The licensee is entitled to collect fees to be called as Passenger Service Fee from the embarking passengers at such rate as the Central Government may specify and is also liable to pay for security component to any security agency designated by the Central Government for providing the security service. Provided that in respect of a major airport such rate shall be as determined under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
Rule 89. User Development Fee —The licensee may, –
(i) levy and collect at a major airport the User Development Fee at such rate as may be determined under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008;
(ii) levy and collect at any other airport the User Development Fees at such rate as the Central Government may specify.”
The relevant provisions of the AAI Act are extracted below:
“Section 22. The Authority may,-
(i) With the previous approval of the Central Government, charge fees, or rent-
(a) for the landing, housing or parking of aircraft or for any other service or facility offered in connection with aircraft operations at any airport, heliport or airstrip
Explanation. –
In this sub-clause “aircraft” does not include an aircraft belonging to any armed force of the Union and “aircraft operations” does not include operations of any aircraft belonging to the said force;
(b) for providing air traffic services, ground safety services, aeronautical communications and navigational aids and meteorological services at any airports and at any aeronautical communication station;
(c) for the amenities given to the passengers and visitors at any airport, civil enclave, heliport or airstrip;
(d) for the use and employment by persons of facilities and other services provided by the authority at any airport, civil enclave heliport or airstrip;
(ii) with due regard to the instructions that the Central Government may give to the authority, from time to time, charge fees or rent from persons who are given by the authority any facility for carrying on any trade or business at any airport, heliport or airstrip.
Section 22A. The Authority may, after the previous approval of the Central Government in this behalf, levy on, and collect from, the embarking passengers at an airport, the development fees at the rate as may be prescribed and such fees shall be credited to the Authority and shall be regulated and utilized in the prescribed manner, for the purposes of-
(a) funding or financing the costs of upgradation, expansion or development of the airport at which the fee is collected; or
(b) establishment or development of a new airport in lieu of the airport referred to in clause (a); or
(c) investment in the equity in respect of shares to be subscribed by the Authority in companies engaged in establishing, owning, developing, operating or maintaining a private airport in lieu of the airport referred to in clause (a) or advancement of loans to such companies or other persons engaged in such activities.”
III
Contentions of the parties
7. Nisha Bagchi, learned counsel for the revenue, submits that assessees function as licensees of Airports. The airports are capable of being licensed by the AAI to operate as aerodromes. It was submitted that grant of licenses is subject to express conditions. Rule 88 provides for collection of fees known as “passenger services fees” from the embarking passengers; Rule 89 provides for collection of “User Development Fee” (hereafter “UDF”) by licensees. Ms Bagchi argued that user development fees are nothing but amounts collected for extending or enhancing various services like providing passenger lounges, passenger amenities, toilets, rest rooms and other facilities inside airports. Even the agreement entered by the assessees with AAI, indicates that UDF is to enhance passenger amenities, services and facilities. Those amounts are to be used for development, management, maintenance and operation and expansion of facilities at the airport.
8. It was urged that the nature of UDF indicates that such fees are amounts collected for rendering various services. The amounts collected is nothing but development fee, meant to be used for funding and financing specific renovation, maintenance, development and upgradation of airports. These are necessary due to cost escalation. These amounts are for services rendered, and providing access by the airport. Such amounts are taxable. Learned counsel also relied on the circular No. 106/Commr (ST)/2009 dated 08.07.2011, which specifically stated that service tax is paid by the various airports on passenger services fee and UDF but no tax is paid on development fees. It was argued that CBEC has clarified that passenger service fee, user development fee and development fee are different and development fee is to be taxed under “airport services”.
9. Learned counsel sought to distinguish the decision of the Kerala High Court in the case of Cochin International Airport Ltd. because in that case, what was in issue was user fee while in the case in hand it is UDF. Counsel reiterated that the findings of the lower authorities are correct and submits that the impugned orders of CESTAT call for interference.
10. Learned counsel pointed out that by Section 22A of the AAI Act, the authority “may”, after the previous approval of the Central Government“levy on, and collect from, the embarking passengers at, an airport, the Development Fees”. It was contended that such levy cannot be called a tax because it is discretionary and subject to the approval of the Central Government, meant for funding or financing the costs of upgradation, expansion or development of the airport at which the fee is collected; or establishment or development of a new airport in lieu of the existing airport or towards investment in the equity in respect of “shares to be subscribed by the authority in companies engaged in establishing, owning, developing, operating or maintaining a private airport in lieu of the airport” or “advancement of loans to such companies or other persons engaged in such activities.” It was also urged that the amounts cannot be termed as levy, because they are not deposited with the government treasury.
11. It was submitted that from a reading of Section 22A, it is clear that it allows for funding or financing the cost of upgradation, expansion or development of the airport at which the fee is collected and establishment or development of a new Airportin lieu of the airport at which the fee is collected. This is a pre-funding collection and imposed for the facility to be provided by the assessees and to be used for funding of project cost which ultimately would result in creation of better facilities and amenities for passengers. The assessees entered into agreements for the purpose of its operation, management and development of airports (OMDA). In terms of such OMDAs, assessees are responsible for the development, design, upgradation of airport. It is for this purpose that they have been permitted to collect UDF from the passengers.
12. It is further submitted that the assessees are authorized to collect UDF by the Ministry of Civil Aviation which granted approval under Section 22A of the AAI Act. Once it is clear that the purpose and object of the UDF is for funding or financing the costs of upgradation, expansion or development of the major Airports, only the rate of fees are determined by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority. The upgradation or development of an airport results in better infrastructure and services to passengers. Collection of the DF could facilitate and provide better services to the passengers who would be the recipient of the airport service. Therefore, the amount cannot be called a tax or levy, but is actually a collection for service, and consequently liable to service tax.
13. The revenue argues that the definition of airport service is wide and includes any service provided or to be provided by any person in the airport. It is a taxable service. Further, without payment of such levy, passengers cannot enter the airport nor can have access to the plane. Thus, the UDF collected by DIAL is covered by the definition of “airport service” and would be liable to payment of service tax. The impugned order has failed to appreciate this submission and hence, the same is liable to be set aside.
14. It was argued that the decision of this court in the case of Consumer Online Foundation v Union of India5had expressed the view that DF appeared to be in the form of tax or cess, but was not a legally collected tax. It was argued that Section 22A provided for the “levy” of DF, but the rate at which the said levy was to be collected had not been prescribed by framing of a separate rule by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) as amended by the 2008 Act. This court held that the collection of UDF by the assessees prior to the notification issued by AERA was considered to be levied and collected without the authority of law. It further found that the levy and collection of UDF by the two airport concessionaires at the rates fixed by the Central Government (by two letters dated 9.2.2009 and 27.2.2009) respectively were ultra vires the AAI Act, and were not saved by Section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897.
15. It is submitted that in the above decision, there is no clear finding that DF is a tax or cess and the same was held to be ultra vires the AAI Act on the ground that the rate could not have been fixed by the Central Government, but only by making a rule by AERA which has not been done. In the present case, we are concerned with the levy of service tax on DF collected by the respondents from the passengers. Also in that decision, this court was not concerned with levy or otherwise of service tax on DF. It was argued that DF has not been collected as tax or cess and therefore, the contention that DF is a tax on which there cannot be any service tax is incorrect. The nature of DF is that these are the charges collected by the respondents for development of facilities for the use of the airport. In fact, the assesses’ contention was these are the charges for the use of the airport services by the passengers and is not a tax.
16. Learned counsel relied on the judgment reported as Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti v Commissioner of Central Excise6and urged that the nature of UDF is similar to the optional collection made by market committees who perform services, which are not in the nature of a statutory activity or a sovereign function, and if such services are rendered for a consideration, they are subjected to levy.
17. Arvind Datar, Mr. Tarun Gulati and Mr. Pritesh Kapoor, learned senior counsel appearing for the assessees, contended that the decision in Consumer Online (supra) has concluded the nature of collections; it is a tax, unrelated to any service provided, and has to be borne in mind that there is no consideration. Learned counsel relied on the following observation in Consumer Online Foundation:
“the object 8 of Parliament in inserting Section 22A in the 2004 Act by the Amendment Act of 2003 is to authorize by law the levy and collection of development fees from every embarking passenger de hors the facilities that the embarking passengers get at the existing airports. The nature of the levy under Section 22A of the 2004 Act, in our considered opinion, is not charges C or any other consideration for services for the facilities provided by the Airports Authority.”
18. It was argued by learned counsel that the taxable activity did not occur in this case, as the collections were intended for future developments whereas the ‘airport’ referred to in Section 65(105) (zzm) is an existing airport. Counsel urged that such statutory levies were in the nature of cess or tax and were not liable to taxation. Counsel emphasized that the ruling of the Kerala High Court in Cochin International Airport Limited vs. Collector Central Excise7has held that UDF is collected to fulfil the funding gap for development of airports, and cannot be termed as service. This ruling was upheld by this court8 . In these circumstances, there is no merit in the revenue’s submission that development fee is collected for rendering services.
19. Learned counsel relied on the impugned orders to say that to be liable to tax, service should be rendered to a person by a specifically described service provider in an airport. The scope of activities of the assessee vis-a-vis passengers who bear the burden of development fee needs a closer look. Passengers in an airport intend to travel by an airline which has the said airport as a scheduled port of call. The contractual nature of this relationship is enshrined in the ticket which provides access to the airport, process through check-in and security, space for waiting and necessary amenities and provision for boarding an aircraft. There is nothing to show that passengers have to make payments for any of these activities. These facilities were available without any additional charge before the imposition of ‘development fee’. Such services continue to be available after its quashing. No additional benefit accrues to the passenger during the period of levy of ‘development fee.’ All facilities are basic facilities inherent in the civil aviation sector in which the appellant, a nonpublic sector entity, is a recent entrant.
20. It was emphasized that moving away from state control, airports entered the phase of regulatory control with the advent of the AAI Act. This transition also had to factor in the larger public interest in safety and security, which meant that some level of control, de-regulation was limited and confined to the financial aspects of airport management. Having created a statutory authority, the statute should have been specific to contain the scope of functions of the AAI. Despite granting financial autonomy, the need for dependence on the State exchequer could not be eliminated and hence appropriate types of levies as well as restrictions on their utilization were incorporated in the statute. It was contended that Sections 22 and 22A of the AAI Act are in the context of substitution of the constitutional funds of the Union of India, for deposit and drawing with that of the accounts of AAI.
21. The assesses urge that Section 22 of the AAI Act enables AAI to charge for the facilities it provides. However, the levy under Section 22A [of the AAI Act] is compulsorily charged from passengers; it is placed in an escrow account owing to the restricted purpose for which such fee collected can be used. Hence, there is a substantive difference between a charge under Section 22 and levy under Section 22A. The charge under Section 22, paid by any passenger, may be a consideration for a service and subjected to service tax. However, the same principles are not applicable to a levy under Section 22A, which is independent of Section 22 and is not for any service rendered.
22. Counsel underlines that this court in Consumer Online Foundation (Supra) has declared the law and has interpreted both Section 22 and Section 22A of the AAI Act. This court has held that charges collected under Section 22 are for different services and facilities provided to the third parties by the lessee of AAI. Collections under Section 22A of the AAI Act, this court has ruled, are “dehors the facilities that the embarking passengers get at the existing airports“. There is also a specific finding that there is no contractual relationship between the passengers and the AAI for the funds collected under Section 22A of the AAI Act. Further, it was highlighted that in the same judgment, it was held that charges under Section 22A:
“are not charges or any other consideration for services for the facilities provided by the Airports Authority.”
The court decisively held that development fee is “really in the nature of a cess or a tax for generating revenue for specific purpose.” And, further, that amounts collected are accountable to the AAI, which would ensure that such fee levied and collected are “utilized for the purposes mentioned in Section 22A (a) of the AAI Act.”
23. It was argued that in view of the declaration of law, CESTAT correctly held that the charges collected by the assesses under Section 22A of the AAI Act cannot be regarded as considered for services rendered.
24. Learned counsel submitted that the decision in Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti (supra) is distinguishable. In that case, the court was concerned only with Section 9 (2) of the Rajasthan Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, which was held not to relate to a statutory function but only a discretionary charge, i.e., renting of premises. Rent for immovable property is materially different from a collection under Section 22A of the AAI Act, which, according to this court, is in the nature of cess or tax and a compulsory exaction in Consumer Online Foundation (supra).
25. The assesses also rely on the decision of this court in Commissioner of Service Tax vs. Bhayana Builders (P) Ltd9, where it was stated that under Section 67 of the Finance Act, 1994, not every amount charged by the service provider is taxable. Upon an analysis of Section 67, it was held that the amount charged should be “for such service provided” to be taxable. The court emphasized the connection between the service and the amount by stating that:
“the Act has provided for a nexus between the amount charged and the service provided”.
26. Counsel pointed out that Consumer Online Foundation (supra) has ruled that there is no nexus between the amounts charged under Section 22A of the AAI Act and any service provided. In the absence of a nexus between the amount charged as DF/UDF and any service rendered, such amounts cannot be liable to service tax.
IV
Analysis and Conclusions
27. In the decision of this court, in Consumer Online Foundation (Supra), the context was the validity of the levy of development fees and their collection from embarking passengers by lessees of airports, under OMDAs, including the DIAL in this case. The court examined the history of airport regulation in India, including the legislation concerning it, and, after analysing the provisions of the AAI Act, including the amendment to it, in 2003, held that:
“12. The functions of the Airports Authority under clause (aa) of subsection (3) of Section 12 also inserted by the Amendment Act of 2003 to establish airports, or assist in the establishment of private airports by rendering such technical, financial or other assistance which the Central Government may consider necessary for such purposes cannot be assigned to the lessee under Section 12A Section 12A of the 1994 Act. The Amendment Act of 2003 which also inserted Section 12A therefore provides in sub-section (1) of Section 12A that the Airports Authority can make a lease of the premises of an airport (including buildings and structures thereon and appertaining thereto) to carry out “some” of its functions under Section 12 as the Airports Authority may, in the public interest or in the interest of better management of airports, deem fit. Obviously, “a lease of premises of an airport” as contemplated in sub-section (1) of Section 12A cannot include establishing an airport or assisting in establishment of private airports as contemplated in clause (aa) of sub-section (3) of Section 12 of the Act.
13. To enable the Airports Authority to perform its statutory function of establishing a new airport or to assist in the establishment of private airports, the legislature has thought it fit to empower the Airports Authority to levy and collect development fees as will be clear from clauses (b) and (c) of Section 22A of the 1994 Act. Such development fees levied and collected under Section 22A can also be utilized for funding or financing the costs of up-gradation, expansion and development of an existing airport at which the fees is collected as provided in clause (a) of Section 22A of the Act and in case the lease of the premises of an existing airport (including buildings and structures thereon and appertaining thereto) has been made to a lessee under Section 12A of the Act, the Airports Authority may meet the costs of up-gradation, expansion and development of such leased out airport to a lessee, but this can be done only if the rules provide for such payment to the lessee of an airport because Section 22A says that the development fees are to be regulated and utilized in the manner prescribed by the Rules. Since the lessee of an airport cannot be assigned the function of the Airports Authority to establish airports or assist in establishing private airports in lieu of the existing airports at which the development fees is being collected, the lessee cannot under sub-section (4) of Section 12A have the power of the Airports Authority under Section 22A of the 1994 Act to levy and collect development fees. This is because sub-section (4) of Section 12A provides that the lessee can have all those powers of the Airports Authority which are necessary for performance of such functions as assigned to it under sub-section (1) of Section 12A in terms of the lease. Moreover, since we have held that the function of establishment and development of a new airport in lieu of an existing airport and the function of establishing a private airport are exclusive functions of the Airports Authority under the 2004 Act, and these statutory functions cannot be assigned by the Airports Authority under lease to a lessee under Section 12A of the Act, the lease agreements, namely, the OMDA and the State Support agreement could not make a provision conferring the right on the lessee to levy and collect development fees for the purpose of discharging these statutory functions of the Airports Authority. We, therefore, do not think it necessary to refer to the clauses of the OMDA and the State Support Agreements executed in favour of the two lessees to find out whether the right of levying and collecting the development fees has been assigned to the lessees or not.”
28. This court further held as follows:
“It will be clear from a bare reading of Sections 22 and 22A that there is a distinction between the charges, fees and rent collected under Section 22 and the development fees levied and collected under Section 22A of the 1994 Act. The charges, fees and rent collected by the Airports Authority under Section 22 are for the services and facilities provided by the Airports Authority to the airlines, passengers, visitors and traders doing business at the airport. Therefore, when the Airports Authority makes a lease of the premises of an airport (including buildings and structures thereon and appertaining thereto) in favour of a lessee to carry out some of its functions under Section 12, the lessee, who has been assigned such functions, will have the powers of the Airports Authority under Section 22 of the Act to collect charges, fees or rent from the third parties for the different facilities and services provided to them in terms of the lease agreement. The legal basis of such charges, fees or rent enumerated in Section 22 of the 2008 Act is the contract between the Airports Authority or the lessee to whom the airport has been leased out and the third party, such as the airlines, passengers, visitors and traders doing business at the airport. But there can be no such contractual relationship between the passengers embarking at an airport and the Airports Authority with regard to the upgradation, expansion or development of the airport which is to be funded or financed by development fees as provided in clause (a) of Section 22A. Those passengers who embark at the airport after the airport is upgraded, expanded or developed will only avail the facilities and services of the upgraded, expanded and developed airport. Similarly, there can be no contractual relationship between the Airports Authority and passengers embarking at an airport for establishment of a new airport in lieu of the existing airport or establishment of a private airport in lieu of the existing airport as mentioned in Clauses and (c) of Section 22A of the 1994 Act. In the absence of such contractual relationship, the liability of the embarking passengers to pay development fees has to be based on a statutory provision and for this reason Section 22A has been enacted empowering the Airports Authority to levy and collect from the embarking passengers the development fees for the purposes mentioned in clauses (a), (b) and of Section 22A of the Act. In other words, the object of Parliament in inserting Section 22A in the 2004 Act by the Amendment Act of 2003 is to authorize by law the levy and collection of development fees from every embarking passenger de hors the facilities that the embarking passengers get at the existing airports. The nature of the levy under Section 22A of the 2004 Act, in our considered opinion, is not charges or any other consideration for services for the facilities provided by the Airports Authority. This Court has held in Vijayalakshmi Rice Mills & Ors v Commercial Tax Officers, Palakot & Ors (supra) that a cess is a tax which generates revenue which is utilized for a specific purpose. The levy under Section 22A though described as fees is really in the nature of a cess or a tax for generating revenue for the specific purposes mentioned in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 22A.
15. Once we hold that the development fees levied under Section 22A is really a cess or a tax for a special purpose, Article 265 of the Constitution which provides that no tax can be levied or collected except by authority of law gets attracted and the decisions of this Court starting from The Trustees of the Port of Madras v M/s Aminchand Pyarelal (supra), cited on behalf of the Union of India and DIAL and MIAL on the charges or tariff levied by a service or facility provided are of no assistance in interpreting Section 22A. It is a settled principle of statutory interpretation that any compulsory exaction of money by the Government such as a tax or a cess has to be strictly in accordance with law and for these reasons a taxing statute has to be strictly construed. As observed by this Court in Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority v Sharadkumar Jayantikumar Pasawalla & Ors. (supra), it has been consistently held by this Court that whenever there is compulsory exaction of money, there should be specific provision for the same and there is no room for intendment and nothing is to be read or nothing is to be implied and one should look fairly to the language used. Looking strictly at the plain language of Section 22A of 1994 Act before its amendment by the 2008 Act, the development fees were to be levied on and collected from the embarking passengers “at the rate as may be prescribed”.
29. The observations and findings extracted above are decisive about the nature of development fee, collected under Section 22A; they are statutory exactions and not fees or tariffs, as was contended by the Union of India. In fact, the court even underlined that the “nature of the levy under Section 22A of the 2004 Act, in our considered opinion, is not charges or any other consideration for services for the facilities provided by the Airports Authority.”
30. By virtue of Section 67 of the Finance Act, the basis of charge is the value of taxable service. Section 67 as it stood, before amendment w.e.f. April 18, 2006, read as follows:
“67. Valuation of taxable services for charging service tax. – For the purposes of this Chapter, the value of any taxable service shall be the gross amount charged by the service provider for such service provided or to be provided by him.
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Explanation 3.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the gross amount charged for the taxable service shall include any amount received towards the taxable service before, during or after provision of such service.”
(i) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration in money, be the gross amount charged by the service provider for such service provided or to be provided by him;
(ii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration not wholly or partly consisting of money, be such amount in money as, with the addition of service tax charged, is equivalent to the consideration;
(iii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration which is not ascertainable, bet he amount as may be determined in the prescribed manner.
After Section 67 (4), the following explanation to the entire section read as follows:
“Explanation.- For the purposes of this section.
(a) “consideration” includes any amount that is payable for the taxable services provided or to be provided;
(b) “money” includes any currency, cheque, promissory note, letter of credit, draft, pay order, travellers cheque, money order, postal remittance and other similar instruments but does not include currency that is held for its numismatic value.”
31. After the amendment, Section 67 of the Act read as follows:
“Section 67. Valuation of taxable services for charging service tax (1) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, service tax chargeable on any taxable service with reference to its value shall-
(i) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration in money, be the gross amount charged by the service provider for such service provided or to be provided by him;
(ii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration not wholly or partly consisting of money, be such amount in money, with the addition of service tax charged, is equivalent to the consideration;
(iii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration which is not ascertainable, be the amount as may be determined in the prescribed manner.”
32. This court, in Bhayana Builders (supra), ruled that to attract service tax levy, a taxable service has to be provided to a recipient, by a service provider, for a consideration and in the absence of any nexus to any service rendered, an amount charged, or value of service or goods provided without a consideration, would not be a taxing incident. The court held that:
“Section 67 clearly indicates that the gross amount charged by the service provider has to be for the service provided. Therefore, it is not any amount charged which can become the basis of value on which service tax becomes payable but the amount charged has to be necessarily a consideration for the service provided which is taxable under the Act. By using the words “for such service provided” the Act has provided for a nexus between the amount charged and the service provided.
Therefore, any amount charged which has no nexus with the taxable service and is not a consideration for the service provided does not become part of the value which is taxable under Section 67.”
33. On 02.08.2011, the Airports Authority of India (Major Airports) Development Fees Rules 2011 (hereafter “the 2011 Rules”) came into force. They, by Rule 3, authorized the collection of development fees; by Rule 4 (1), an Escrow account had to be opened in respect of each airport into which the development fee collections were to be deposited; by Rule 4 (2), AAI is empowered to monitor and regulate the receipts and utilization of fees; by Rule 4 (3), various sub accounts were to be opened [(a) Development Fees Receipt Account; (b) Development Fees Statutory Dues Account; (c) Development Fees Disbursement Account; (d) Development Fees Surplus Account]. By Rule 4 (4), the money collected as development fees is to be deposited in the Development Fees Receipt Account.
34. Besides the rules, the assessee, in the case of DIAL, has placed on the record, a letter issued to it, by AAI which imposes controls on the utilization of amounts collected as development fee; apart from the fact that the amounts are deposited in an escrow, any plan for utilization has to be approved. Unlike fees, rent, charges etc., provided under Section 22 of AAI Act, assessee companies are authorized on behalf of the AAI to levy and collect ‘development fee’ under Section 22A of the AAI Act on behalf of the AAI and was applied for generating revenue for utilization of the same for the specific purpose provided under sub- clause (a), (b) and (c) of section 22(A) of the AAI Act. The UDF collected by the assessee is to bridge the funding gap of project cost for the development of future establishment at the airports. There is nothing on record to show that any additional benefit has accrued to passengers, visitors, traders, airlines etc., upon levy of UDF during the period in question in the present case.
35. There is a distinction between the charges, fee and rent etc. collected under Section 22 of the AAI Act and the UDF levied and collected under Section 22A of the AAI Act. It is that the UDF is in the form of ‘tax or cess’ collected for financing the cost of future projects and there was no consideration for services provided by the assessee to the customer, visitors, passengers, vendors etc. The aggregate of collections in the bank accounts do not form part of profit and loss account.
36. It is also useful to notice that by a circular issued by the CBEC10, on 18.12.2006, it was clarified that collection of amounts, by way of taxes, sovereign or statutory dues, would not be subjected to service tax levy:
“Subject: Applicability of service tax on fee collected by Public Authorities while performing statutory functions /duties under the provisions of a law – regarding
A number of sovereign/public authorities (i.e. an agency constituted/set up by government) perform certain functions/ duties, which are statutory in nature. These functions are performed in terms of specific responsibility assigned to them under the law in force. For example, the Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSL) undertake verification, approval and calibration of weighing and measuring instruments; the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) issues fitness certificate to the vehicles; the Directorate of Boilers inspects and issues certificate for boilers; or Explosive Department inspects and issues certificate for petroleum storage tank, LPG/CNG tank in terms of provisions of the relevant laws. Fee as prescribed is charged and the same is ultimately deposited into the Government Treasury. A doubt has arisen whether such activities provided by a sovereign/public authority required to be provided under a statute can be considered as ‘provision of service’ for the purpose of levy of service tax.
2. The issue has been examined. The Board is of the view that the activities performed by the sovereign/public authorities under the provision of law are in the nature of statutory obligations which are to be fulfilled in accordance with law. The fee collected by them for performing such activities is in the nature of compulsory levy as per the provisions of the relevant statute, and it is deposited into the Government treasury. Such activity is purely in public interest and it is undertaken as mandatory and statutory function. These are not in the nature of service to any particular individual for any consideration. Therefore, such an activity performed by a sovereign/public authority under the provisions of law does not constitute provision of taxable service to a person and, therefore, no service tax is leviable on such activities.
3. However, if such authority performs a service, which is not in the nature of statutory activity and the same is undertaken for a consideration not in the nature of statutory fee/levy, then in such cases, service tax would be leviable, if the activity undertaken falls within the ambit of a taxable service.”
37. This circular was interpreted in Krishi Upaj Samiti (supra). The court held that the fee collected in that case could not be said to be a statutory exaction or levy, but was for consideration:
“10. The aforesaid submission seems to be attractive but has no substance. Section 9(2) is an enabling provision and the words used is “market committee may”. It is to be noted that insofar as sub-section (1) of Section 9 is concerned, the word used is “shall”. Therefore, wherever the legislature intended that the particular activity is a mandatory statutory, the legislature has used the word “shall”. Therefore, when under sub-section (2) of Section 9, the word used is the activities mentioned in Section 9(2)(xvii) cannot be said to be mandatory statutory duty and/or activity. Under Section 9(2), it is not a mandatory statutory duty cast upon the Market Committees to allot/lease/rent the shop/platform/land/space to the traders. Hence, such an activity cannot be said to be a mandatory statutory activity as contended on behalf of the appellants. Even the fees which is collected is not deposited into the Government treasury. It will go to the market committee fund and will be used by the market committee(s). In the facts of the case on hand, such a fee collected cannot have the characteristics of the statutory levy/statutory fee. Thus, under the 1961 Act, it cannot be said to be a mandatory statutory obligation of the Market Committees to provide shop/land/platform on rent/lease. If the statute mandates that the Market Committees have to provide the land/shop/platform/space on rent/lease then and then only it can be said to be a mandatory statutory obligation otherwise it is only a discretionary function under the statute. If it is discretionary function, then, it cannot be said to be a mandatory statutory obligation/statutory activity. Hence, no exemption to pay service tax can be claimed.”
38. The principal holding, so to say, was that the discretionary fee could be levied, and that there was no “duty cast upon the Market Committees to allot/lease/rent the shop/platform/land/space to the traders”. The second reason was that the amounts were credited to a market fund, which was later deposited in the government treasury, even after which it remained a market committee fund.
39. In the present case, undoubtedly, neither is there any compulsion to levy development fee nor is the collection conditional upon its deposit in the government treasury. However, the absence of these features in this court’s opinion, does not render UDF any less a statutory levy. Firstly, the ruling in Consumer Online Foundation (Supra) is conclusive that UDF is a statutory levy. Secondly, the collection is not premised on rendering of any service. Thirdly, the amounts collected are deposited in an escrow account, not within the control of the assesses. Fourthly, the utilization of funds, is monitored and regulated by law. In this regard, the fact that the amount is not deposited in a government treasury, per se, does not make it any less a statutory levy or compulsory exaction. Nor does its discretionary nature, (in the sense that it may not be necessarily levied always) render it any less a statutory levy. Airport management has evolved; it is no longer the monopoly of the government; private participation is recognized. This sector is now regulated through a new regulator, i.e., the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India. As part of the Union’s economic policies, the upgradation and renovation of airports are funded through UDF, which is a statutory levy. Instead of the conventional practise of ensuring that amounts collected are deposited with the Government, an entirely new regulatory regime has been envisioned, under the 2011 Rules, read with specific conditions imposed by the AAI on each assessee, which includes monitoring of amounts, nature of expenditure, submission of plans for expansion, renovation, their sanctioning etc. These rules and controls are in the public interest, and evidently intended to further efficiency in funding and swift taking up and completion of works, rather than funding through Finance Rules, which might entail delay, and cost overruns. However, the public nature of these funds does not in any manner get undermined, merely because they are kept in an escrow account, and their utilization is monitored separately.
40. In view of the foregoing reasons, this court is of opinion that the impugned orders cannot be faulted. The revenue’s appeals therefore fail and are dismissed; in the circumstances, without order on costs.
Notes:-
1 Final Order No, ST/A/50064/2019-CUIDBI dated 18/01/2019 [by the Principal Bench, CESTAT, New Delhi]; Final Order No. A/88830- -88832/16/STB dated 28.01.2016 [by the Western Zonal Bench, CESTAT, Mumbai]; and Final Order No. A/30739/2019 dated 16.09.2019 [by the CESTAT Regional Bench at Hyderabad].
2 (2011) 5 SCC 360
3 2010 (17) STR J 79 (S.C.)
4 1991 Supp (1) SCC 430
5 2011 (5) SCR 911
6 2022 (1) SCR 700
7 2009 (16) STR 401 (Ker.)
8 in 2010 (17) S.T.R. J79 (S.C.)
9 2018 (1) SCR 1128
10 Circular No. 89/7/2006- ST dated 18.12.2006
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