Aditya Narayan Parida 
The Finance Bill, 2026 marks a decisive shift in India’s income-tax compliance framework. One of the most significant reforms proposed is the replacement of discretionary penalties with fixed, mandatory fees for certain procedural defaults under the Income-tax Act, 2025, effective from 1 April 2026 (Assessment Year …
In a significant relief for the real estate sector, the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), New Delhi, has ruled that Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) does not constitute a taxable service under the Finance Act, 1994. The tribunal has set aside a …
The Jharkhand High Court has reiterated the settled principle that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution cannot be entertained against a GST order-in-original when an effective statutory appellate remedy is available and no violation of the principles …
The Union Budget 2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, brings significant structural and compliance-oriented changes to the income tax framework while keeping tax rates unchanged. Despite widespread expectations of relief through revised income tax slabs, the government chose to …
In a significant ruling on the law relating to consent and false promise of marriage, the Karnataka High Court reaffirmed that a failed consensual relationship cannot be mechanically converted into a criminal offence of rape. Upholding the acquittal of the …
The Union Budget 2026–27, presented on 1 February 2026 by the Finance Minister, places a clear emphasis on tax certainty, simplification of laws, and ease of compliance, rather than major rate changes. Both direct and indirect tax proposals aim to reduce …
In matrimonial disputes, particularly in maintenance proceedings, one recurring issue is suppression or under-disclosure of income by the husband. To address this systemic problem, the Supreme Court of India, in the landmark judgment of Rajnesh v. Neha (2020) 14 SCC 150, introduced a mandatory …
The Bombay High Court, in [2026] 182 taxmann.com 664, has reiterated an important procedural safeguard under the GST law by holding that clubbing of different financial years or tax periods while issuing a show cause notice under Section 74 of the CGST Act, 2017 …
The protection afforded to workmen under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 cannot be diluted by adopting artificial modes of employment. In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court held that where a workman had completed 240 days of continuous service, …
Under GST law, Input Tax Credit (ITC) is a statutory benefit, not an absolute right. Fake ITC arises when credit is: Availed without actual supply of goods or services, or Availed based on invoices issued by fake / non-existent suppliers, or Availed with intent to evade …
The Madras High Court set aside a GST assessment order on the ground that the show cause notice (SCN) was not validly served as per Section 169 of the CGST Act. The Court held that mere uploading of SCN and reminders …
The Karnataka High Court examined whether an assessment order passed without considering the assessee’s reply—due to alleged non-receipt of the show-cause notice (SCN)—could be sustained. The assessee pleaded bona fide and unavoidable circumstances arising from a change in registered email …
The Visakhapatnam Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) held that receipts derived from leasing educational infrastructure along with multifaceted allied services are taxable as business income and not as income from house property. The Tribunal observed that where an assessee is …
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a writ petition seeking the exclusion of the “creamy layer” from the benefits of reservation granted to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The plea raises significant constitutional questions on the scope …
The Hyderabad Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) examined whether interest received on income-tax refund qualifies for deduction under Section 80-IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The dispute arose from partial disallowance of the assessee’s Section 80-IA claim by the …
The Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the sanctity of advocate–client privilege by holding that a court cannot compel a lawyer to disclose the source of documents filed on a client’s instructions. Emphasising the protection under Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, …
The Jharkhand High Court, in State of Jharkhand v. Joy Kumar Mahto (since deceased), has reiterated the principle that an employee who voluntarily opts for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme, accepts all terminal benefits thereunder, and remains silent for a …
The Kerala High Court, in S. Ajith Kumar v. Union of India, WP(C) No. 38316/2025, examined the scope of GST exemption on health insurance premiums in the context of group health insurance policies availed by retired bank employees. The petitioners challenged the …
The concept of intermediary under GST has been a frequent subject of litigation, particularly in cases involving cross-border service arrangements between Indian entities and their foreign affiliates. One of the major consequences of classification as an intermediary is the denial of export …
The Andhra Pradesh High Court, in [2026] 182 taxmann.com 89 (decided on 24-12-2025), has clarified the legal position regarding GST assessment proceedings initiated after the death of a taxpayer. The Court held that assessment or demand proceedings cannot be validly concluded against a deceased …