Goods and Services Tax

Vikas Coal and Minerals wins bid to operate Jalna dry port
GST
Dated:- 21-2-2026
PTI
Jalna, Feb 21 (PTI) Nagpur-based Vikas Coal and Minerals Pvt. Ltd has secured the mandate to operate the Jalna Dry Port for 15 years, following the National Highway Authority accepting its bid, a senior NHAI official said.

Inaugurated in March 2024, the facility spreads across nearly 400 acres of land on the outskirts of Jalna city and is being developed to function as a Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP).

The dry port is strategically located near the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor as well as along major national transportation routes.

“Out of the six bids received by the NHAI, the tender of Vikas Coal and Minerals Pvt. Ltd has been a

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freight consolidation and slash logistical cost from 14 per cent to less than 10 per cent of GDP on par with International Standards.

The project was approved in 2014. However, actual cargo movement had not commenced due to operational delays and repeated tender processes. The project was later transferred to the NHAI from JNPA, which floated fresh tenders.

“Initially, 400 acres of land were acquired and secured with a compound wall. Although the project faced delays, renewed follow-ups helped accelerate progress. Key infrastructure, including customs clearance for imports and exports, has already been approved,” said the official.

He said essential facilities have been developed on 64 acres, and a dedicated railway line has been

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Facility for Withdrawal from Rule 14A
GST
Dated:- 21-2-2026

GSTN has enabled a new online facility for eligible taxpayers to apply for withdrawal from the option availed under Rule 14A of the CGST Rules by filing Form GST REG-32 on the GST Portal.

1. Who can apply

• Active Taxpayers who are registered under Rule 14A, may apply for OPT OUT in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. How to apply on the GST Portal

• After login, navigate to:

Services -> Registration -> Application for Withdrawal from Rule 14A

The link will be visible only if the taxpayer is registered under Rule 14A and is active.

• The field “Option for registration under Rule 14A” will be selected as “No” by default

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will have to undergo either OTP based Aadhaar authentication or Biometric based Aadhaar Authentication.

• Authentication is required for:

• Primary Authorised Signatory (mandatory), and

• At least one Promoter/Partner (where applicable).

• ARN will be generated only after successful Aadhaar authentication.

5. Important timelines

• Draft application must be submitted within 15 days of creation.

• Aadhaar/Biometric authentication must be completed within 15 days from submission.

• If authentication is not completed within the prescribed time, ARN will not be generated.

6. Restrictions during processing

• While Form GST REG-32 is pending after submission, Taxpayer ca

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Natural justice: Cancellation of GST registration requires objective reasons and specific particulars; vague show-cause notices are invalidated.
Case-Laws
GST
Vagueness in a show-cause notice and failure to disclose material particulars violated natural justice: cancellation of GST registration must rest on objective satisfaction of jurisdictional facts and independent quasi-judicial reasoning, not on investigative dictation. A non-speaking order repeating investigative allegations without identifying tax periods, invoices, suppliers or quantification is invalid. Consequently the impugned notices and cancellation orders were set aside and the petitioner's registration restored; the authority may, if advised, issue a fresh detailed show-cause notice specifying precise allegations, periods, invoices, suppliers and quantification and afford a reasonable hearing.
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Videography of statements during GST summons allowed as limited humanitarian accommodation where cooperation and serious illness are shown.
Case-Laws
GST
Petitioners sought accommodation for videography of statement recordings and presence of counsel during summons in a GST summons inquiry, asserting genuine transactions, banked payments, and pending appeals by suppliers. The petitioner with serious illness sought humanitarian consideration; petitioners offered cooperation. The court accepted a limited, non precedential accommodation-permitting videography and humane treatment consistent with cooperation-and directed disposal on terms similar to a prior coordinate bench order, while noting the relief is exceptional and fact specific.
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Profiteering under GST: respondent ordered to refund profiteered sums to homebuyers with applicable interest and penalty.
Case-Laws
GST
Profiteering under the GST regime was found where the Respondent accepted the DGAP-calculated excess and complainants withdrew complaints; the Tribunal directs the Respondent to pass on the profiteered amount of Rs.98,72,474 to homebuyers and to pay applicable interest under Rule 133(3)(b) of the CGST Rules, 2017, with compliance reporting to the jurisdictional CGST/SGST Commissioner and DGAP within prescribed timelines. The Tribunal also holds that penalty under the post 2020 penalty provision applies because the contravention period spans 01.07.2017 to 31.03.2024, making penalty leviable under the applicable statutory provision for profiteering.
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Condonation of delay barred beyond the statutory 30 day extension; appeals filed late are time barred and not adjudicated on merits.
Case-Laws
GST
Condonation of delay in filing appeals against AAR orders is limited to a maximum extension of 30 days beyond the normal 30 day appeal period; the Appellate Authority (AAAR) lacks power to extend beyond that statutory window, so appeals filed beyond that limit must be rejected as time barred without consideration of merits. Rule permitting manual filing where electronic filing is prescribed does not excuse delay caused by non uploading of an order on the portal. The note also records the classificatory issue that transactions in immovable property may be outside Schedule III but treated as a service under Schedule II clause 5(e), though merits were not reached due to time bar.
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Classification of paper bags rests on tariff heading and biodegradability; lacking proof, bags attract the standard 18% GST rate.
Case-Laws
GST
Paper bags composed of paper/paperboard are classifiable under Chapter 48's packing containers heading and, absent evidence of biodegradability, do not qualify for the concessional 5% rate for “Paper Sacks/Bags and bio-degradable bags.” Carton-specific entry for corrugated/non-corrugated cartons is inapplicable to bags. The product falls in the residual category of the packing-containers heading, bringing it under the cited Schedule II entry and attracting an 18% GST rate (9% CGST + 9% SGST).
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Classification of polymer bags: concessional GST applies only if biodegradable; authority cannot determine biodegradability; certification insufficient alone.
Case-Laws
GST
Classification turns on the material and HSN heading: the bags are classified under Chapter 39 (plastics, heading 3923) regardless of claimed compostability. The Authority finds a compostability certificate was produced but holds it lacks competence to verify scientific biodegradability or the sufficiency of testing procedures; that determination lies with environmental authorities and falls outside its jurisdiction under the CGST framework. The concessional GST rate for 'Paper Sacks/Bags and bio-degradable bags' is conditional on actual biodegradability; if the goods are biodegradable the concessional 5% rate applies, otherwise general Chapter 39 rates apply.
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Input Tax Credit: foundation and structural supports can be plant and machinery, but no ruling where work was already completed.
Case-Laws
GST
Advance ruling maintainability and ITC eligibility are considered for construction of foundations and structural supports for heavy machinery. The Explanation to section 17 treats foundation and structural supports as part of ''plant and machinery'' (excluding land, buildings and similar civil structures), making them potentially eligible for ITC when used for outward supplies. The application lacked documentary proof on ITC eligibility, payment, availing and filings, and the works were completed before the AAR application; because advance rulings apply only to supplies being undertaken or proposed, the authority declined to rule on the merits.
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Extension of Time for Appeal: grant of time with protection from dismissal on limitation and merits adjudication.
Case-Laws
GST
Extension of time for filing the appeal granted until 16-3-2026 with express protection that if filed by that date the appeal shall not be dismissed on limitation and shall be adjudicated on merits; pre-deposit requirement for the statutory appeal does not preclude this relief as the petition is disposed of on that basis. The court declined to interfere with the impugned High Court order and disposed of the Special Leave Petition subject to the time-extension and non-dismissal on limitation safeguard.
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Interest computation now uses minimum cash balance; portal auto populates non editable minimum interest while taxpayers may increase it.
News
GST
From January 2026 the portal's GSTR 3B filing is enhanced: interest is computed using the net tax liability minus the minimum cash balance in the Electronic Cash Ledger from the return due date to payment date (per proviso to Rule 88B(1)), and that system computed interest in table 5.1 will be auto populated as a non editable minimum while taxpayers may self assess and increase it. The portal will auto populate the tax liability breakup in GSTR 3B from document dates in GSTR 1/GSTR 1A/IFF for earlier periods; values are suggestive and may be raised by taxpayers. From January 2026 IGST exhaustion permits cross utilisation of CGST/SGST ITC in any sequence. Delayed final returns (GSTR 10) will collect interest for late last GSTR 3B filings.
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Medical grounds for bail: release ordered where investigation is complete, subject to sureties and passport surrender.
Case-Laws
GST
Bail was granted on medical grounds where investigation was reported complete and custodial interrogation was not required; the petition cited completed probe despite recovery of incriminating physical and digital evidence indicating tax evasion under the GST Act. The court accepted petitioner's documented MRI diagnosis and advised neurosurgery and directed release on bail subject to furnishing a bail bond with two sureties who must be income taxpayers and to surrender the petitioner's passport to the trial court while furnishing bonds.
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Validity of service after registration cancellation requires alternative service; fresh notice and entitlement to personal hearing follow.
Case-Laws
GST
Validity of service by uploading a show-cause notice on the common GST portal after cancellation of registration was treated as deficient; the prevailing principle requires alternative modes of service where registration is cancelled, following prior authority. The impugned adjudication order issued after portal-only service was quashed, with liberty to the revenue to issue a fresh notice and re-adjudicate. The petitioner must be afforded an opportunity for personal hearing in accordance with the statutory right to be heard (audi alteram partem) during re-adjudication.
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Remand for fresh adjudication subject to a 10% deposit and filing a reply; ledger debits allowed during attachment.
Case-Laws
GST
The High Court found the impugned order was passed by the State Tax Officer rather than the Commissioner and remitted the matter for fresh adjudication on merits; remand is conditional on the petitioner depositing 10% of the disputed tax (confirmed in the impugned order) in cash or from the Electronic Cash Ledger within 30 days and filing a substantive reply with documents, treating the impugned order as an addendum to the Show Cause Notice. Because the petitioner's bank account is attached, the respondent may debit 5% each towards CGST and TNGST from the petitioner's Electronic Cash Ledger; failure to comply permits statutory recovery as if the writ were dismissed.
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Arbitration Agreement Separability: arbitrator fees attract reverse charge on payment, arbitration cost reimbursements are not taxable.
Case-Laws
GST
Doctrine of Separability: the arbitration agreement is autonomous and survives invalidity or termination of the underlying contract. Liquidated damages are pre estimated contractual compensation for breach. Section 142(2)(a) applies only where there is an upward price revision pursuant to contracts entered before 01.07.2017 and requires issuance of a supplementary invoice/debit note to be treated as outward supply. Arbitral tribunal fees paid by the recipient attract GST under reverse charge at time of bank debit; reimbursement ordered as arbitration cost is a mere flow of money and not taxable. Most awarded claims are supplies (and many qualify as liquidated damages) except specified reimbursements for materials, quarrying, higher grade cement and infrastructure shifting.
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Tobacco leaves retain character after curing, grading or butting, so they qualify for concessional GST classification.
Case-Laws
GST
Cured, graded or butted tobacco leaves retain the essential character of tobacco leaves and therefore fall under tariff heading 240110 as 'tobacco, not stemmed or stripped'. Curing, grading and removal of butts are treated as non transformative physical operations that do not convert leaves into stemmed/stripped tobacco; accordingly such supplies qualify for the concessional GST classification provided to goods under tariff 240110 and attract the lower notified GST rate.
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Classification of Parts: condenser fans supplied for air conditioning machines are classed as parts of air conditioning machines, not industrial fans.
Case-Laws
GST
The note on parts classification requires parts that are goods included in a chapter heading or are suitable solely or principally for a particular machine to be classified with that machine; applying this, condenser fans and blowers used as components of bus rooftop or vehicle air conditioning systems function to expel hot air from condenser coils or engine compartments and are principally integrated into HVAC assemblies. Consequently, when supplied for use with air conditioning machines they are classifiable as parts of air conditioning machines under Heading 8415 90 rather than under the heading for industrial fans and blowers.
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Goods classification: printed reproductions on acrylic and wood take the essential character of the picture-frame and keychain classified accordingly.
Case-Laws
GST
Classification rests on the essential character and Chapter 49 notes: printed reproductions (including photos reproduced by UV printing) fall under printed matter heading 4911 when not more specifically covered elsewhere, and frames of a kind and value normal to the picture form part of the picture; accordingly the UV-printed acrylic photo frame is classifiable under 49119990 (not 39269099). Photo-frame clocks of the described type are classifiable under 91059990. An MDF wood keychain with a printed photo derives from wood and is correctly classed under 44219990.
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Attention : Update on Advisory on Interest Collection and Related Enhancements in GSTR-3B
GST
Dated:- 20-2-2026

In continuation to the advisory posted on the GST Portal on 30th January, 2026 on the above subject, it is hereby informed that the functionality to utilise CGST or SGST ITC for payment of IGST liability, in any order of payment after complete exhaustion of IGST Credit (ref point no 3 of the advisory), shall be available from February-2026 period.

 Advisory on Interest Collection and Related Enhancements in GSTR-3B

It is hereby informed that from January-2026 period onwards, the following enhancement have been made in filing of GSTR-3B:

Update in Interest Computation for GSTR-3B

From January-2026 tax

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x (No. of days delayed / 365) x Applicable Interest Rate

1. System-Computed Interest in Table 5.1:

The interest auto-populated on the basis of the revised computational formula mentioned above, in table 5.1 of GSTR-3B shall be non-editable and taxpayers would not be allowed to amend the auto-populated values downward. It may be noted that the interest auto-populated in GSTR-3B is only the minimum interest that is required to be paid by the taxpayer. However, the taxpayers needed to self-assess their correct interest liability, and amend the auto populated values upward, if required.

2. Auto-Population of Tax Liability Breakup Table in GSTR-3B

The 'tax liability breakup table' in GSTR-3B capture the supplies of previous tax perio

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pwards these values based on their own records and computations, if required.

The auto-populated breakup can be viewed at:

Login → GSTR-3B Dashboard → Table 6.1 (Payment of Tax) → Tax Liability Breakup

3. Update in Table 6.1 – Suggestive Cross-Utilization of ITC

From January-2026 period onwards, once the available IGST ITC has been fully exhausted, the GST Portal will allow to pay IGST liability in Table 6.1 of GSTR-3B using available CGST and SGST ITC in any sequence,

4. Collection of Interest in GSTR-10 for Delayed Filing of Last Applicable GSTR-3B

In case of cancelled taxpayers, if the last applicable GSTR-3B return has been filed after the due date, then the interest applicable on such delayed filing sha

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Nodal Officer designation for GST intelligence under IGST Act section 14A(3) appointed, superseding prior notification and now in force.
Notifications
GST
Central Government designates the Principal Additional Director General/Additional Director General (Intelligence) of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence Headquarters as the nodal officer for implementation of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025 in relation to section 14A(3) of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, superseding an earlier notification; the designation is operative from publication in the Official Gazette.
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Suspension pending disciplinary inquiry: prima facie misconduct from chronology, suspension not to continue and inquiry to proceed.
Case-Laws
GST
Suspension pending disciplinary inquiry is evaluated through a prima facie assessment of misconduct based on the chronology of events; the timeline showed an adverse inspection report pre-dating a fraudulent input tax credit claim, supporting initial misconduct findings. The article emphasises that departmental proceedings must be completed within specified timeframes with limited adjournments and that subsistence allowance during suspension is governed by applicable rules. Where a charge sheet has been issued, the Disciplinary Authority must proceed to conduct the departmental inquiry, and continuation of suspension is not warranted on the facts summarized.
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Appellate remand prohibition: remanding GST matters back to adjudicating authority is impermissible, petitioner need not be relegated.
Case-Laws
GST
Appellate remand power under Section 107(11) was challenged and the court found that the appellate authority's practice of remitting matters back to the adjudicating authority is impermissible; consequently the court refused to direct the writ petitioner to pursue relief before the GST appellate forum. The court noted connected orders dated 28.06.2024 and 31.05.2024 which remanded matters back and held such remands not permissible under law, and therefore declined the objection seeking relegation to the appellate tribunal for adjudication.
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Composite GST notices for multiple years can be quashed; fresh year wise notices permitted and pendency excluded from limitation.
Case-Laws
GST
The note examines sustainability of composite notices issued under the CGST/SGST scheme for multiple assessment years, holding that the concept of a “valid return” and the limitation linked to the financial year constrain multi year adjudication. It recognises that officers may investigate instances spanning years but stresses that consolidated adjudication can prejudice the taxpayer; therefore impugned multi year notices were quashed with liberty to issue fresh, year wise notices and with the pendency period excluded from limitation while other contentions remain open.
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Limitation for filing appeal paused when certified adjudication order is supplied; appeal to be filed and decided on merits.
Case-Laws
GST
High Court directed petitioner to file an appeal under the Finance Act, 1994 within fifteen days and ordered that if the appeal is filed within that period the appellate authority shall not raise limitation objection because a certified copy of the adjudication order was supplied; petitioner must file the certified copy with the Appellate Authority within seven days of receipt. Subject to statutory formalities (other than limitation), the appeal must be admitted and decided on merits; writ petition disposed of accordingly.
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Manual Filing of Appeal: appellate offices must accept manual appeals when the e filing portal prevents electronic submission.
Case-Laws
GST
Where an appellant cannot upload an appeal on the common electronic portal because the portal refuses filing absent deposit of a separate demand item, the office must accept a manually filed appeal; the core legal point is that a technical or procedural barrier on the e filing system that prevents initiation of an appeal constitutes a valid ground for manual presentation and obliges the appellate authority to receive and process the appeal manually.
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