Dear Shri Alkesh Ji, Shri Kasturi Ji, Shri Padmanatham Ji & all my fellow professional colleagues,
PLEASE TREAT THIS AS PURE ACADEMIC DISCUSSION:
In my post at serial No. 5 above, I had also stated as follows: 'This legal position can not change just because recipient has not taken registration in Haryana (though, he is most likely, liable to take that registration).'
Lets analyse ongoing dispute taking base-case from Shri Alkesh Ji's point of view (in his post at serial No. 9 above) where he felt that Section 12 (2) (a) of IGST Act, 2017 will be applicable, even if services are consumed in Haryana, as supply of crane is supply of service of tangible good/s.
As per said Section 12 (2) (a) of the IGST Act, 2017, The place of supply of services, except the services specified in sub-sections (3) to (14), made to a registered person shall be the location of such person;
Now, issue to my mind is, what is 'location of such registered person (i.e. location of registered recipient of subject services under discussion here)'?
As per Section 2 (70) (b) of the CGST Act, 2017, “location of the recipient of services” means, where a supply is received at a place other than the place of business for which registration has been obtained (a fixed establishment elsewhere), the location of such fixed establishment;
As per Section 2 (50) of the CGST Act, 2017, “fixed establishment” means a place (other than the registered place of business) which is characterised by a sufficient degree of permanence and suitable structure in terms of human and technical resources to supply services, or to receive and use services for its own needs;
Querist, in her post at serial no. 4 above, has already clarified that recipient (who is registered in Maharashtra) has a civil work contract in Haryana.
Logically follows therefrom that this recipient must have a place (which can be even the 'construction-site' where he is executing said civil-work contract)) which is characterised by a sufficient degree of permanence and suitable structure in terms of human and technical resources to supply its civil-work services (otherwise, how he is providing those output civil-work services in Haryana?)as well as to receive and use services for its own needs (such as crane-services so provided by supplier registered in Haryana in this subject matter).
In any case in such contract such as crane-service, PO / Agreement / Understanding between parties clearly states (or known between parties) that these services are required for particular project / place where civil-work is carried by the recipient (which is Haryana, in this case).
Summarising above, I would argue that even if Section 12 (2) (a) of the IGST Act, 2017 is applicable for given crane-services, STILL, location of registered recipient is Haryana. Hence, supplier of crane-service (registered & located in Haryana) needs to charge CGST & SGST & not IGST and 'place of supply' is Haryana.
Your views, including counter arguments, please
P.S.As the cost of repetition, PLEASE TREAT THIS AS PURE ACADEMIC DISCUSSION. I am well aware of implication of above arguments - as put by me - if upheld by court/s in future.