The AAR determined that leasing weekly market space to tender...

The AAR determined that leasing weekly market space to tender contractors for collecting entry fees from vendors/farmers constitutes a function entrusted to Panchayat under Article 243G. The activity is considered a public authority service and falls outside the GST taxable framework. The ruling clarifies that such activities, even when performed through contractors, remain exempt from taxation under Notification No. 14/2017-CT (Rate). The key principle is that the essential constitutional function remains unchanged regardless of administrative execution method. The back-to-back contract arrangement does not alter the fundamental nature of the service, and thus remains non-taxable, effectively preserving the constitutional intent of local government service provision.

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