Levy of Service Tax - Joint venture - expenditure incurred by...

Levy of Service Tax - Joint venture - expenditure incurred by the appellant, in respect of its employees and assets which were deployed for undertaking joint operations at the blocks, where it was acting as the Operator - Infact, the appellant had as a co-venturer, in furtherance of the venture as its capital contribution to the venture, deployed manpower and assets for its own benefit and in the furtherance of the venture. This cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be regarded as a service being provided, so as to attract levy of service tax. - AT