2025 (3) TMI 52
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....shall be inclusive of 'GST & other taxes' turn around and claim that he is entitled to Goods & Services Tax (GST) over and above the rate quoted by him? This is the short question that arises for consideration in these cases. 2. Petitioners are common in these two writ petitions. Since the issues arising for consideration in these two writ petitions are identical, these writ petitions can be conveniently disposed of by a common judgment. The exhibits and the parties referred to in this judgment are they are marked and they appear in W.P.(C.) No.33109 of 2024, unless otherwise indicated. 3. The Petitioner is a partnership firm engaged in undertaking contracts for construction of roads and bridges and is stated to be a registered 'A class' ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....t.P4 letter dated 07.05.2024, Ext.P5 letter dated 02.08.20224 and Ext.P9 letter dated 17.04.2024 in support of the contention that on account of various factors (which are noticed in the Circulars referred to above), the Government had decided that the estimate for a work shall be prepared without factoring GST and GST shall be paid over and above the amounts quoted by the contractor in respect of the work in question. Substantial reliance is placed on the terms of Ext.P4 letter dated 07.05.2024 and to the examples cited therein to indicate that the petitioner was entitled to claim GST over and above the amount quoted by the petitioner in respect of the work. He submits that when the Government has for itself decided that the amount of GST ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....n executed on behalf of the Governor of Kerala. Therefore, the instructions contained in the circulars/letter referred to above clearly apply to the work executed by the petitioner for the Road Fund Board. 5. Smt. Jasmine M.M, the Learned Government Pleader appearing for respondent Nos.1, 3, 4 and 5 would submit that the Circulars and the letters/instructions referred to above are clearly not applicable to a case where the tender document and the agreement clearly specify that the rate to be quoted shall be inclusive of GST. It is submitted that any other interpretation would lead to an anomalous situation where the sanctity of the tender process itself will be affected. In other words, it is submitted that if the petitioner is allowed to ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....or Counsel for the petitioner he did not even suggest that such a rule must apply to the contract in question. 7. The petitioner has no case that the rates quoted by him were exclusive of GST. Its case proceeds on the basis that, going by the Circulars/letters/instructions referred to above, the Government has clarified (along with illustrations) that, in similar situations, the contractor will be entitled to the rate quoted plus GST at the rate of 18% and, therefore, it is entitled to the same. However, this cannot be accepted. A reading of the letters/instructions referred to in the writ petitions clearly show that, those Circulars/letters/instructions do not apply in a case where the Notice Inviting Tender or the agreement executed betw....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....VAT rate Work completed during pre-GST period and full payment received after 01.07.2017 VAT rate Works completed post-GST period and full payment received after 01.07.2017 GST rate Part work completed during pre-GST period and part work completed post GST Period VAT rate for completed works during pre-GST period irrespective of the payment. Remaining works at GST rate Works executed in GST period and advance received during pre-GST period GST rate Agreement executed during pre-GST period and works commenced in GST period. Payment not received GST rate Works not yet started, but advance received before 01.07.2017 GST rate It is clear from the above that the communications/instructions referred to above, on which the petitioner ....