Categories
Blog Updates

SC Sets Aside GST Order for Lack of SCN Service

SCN service

Case Details: Srideva Sattva (P.) Ltd. vs. State of Haryana [2026] 184 taxmann.com 595 (SC)

Judiciary and Counsel Details

  • Aravind Kumar & Prasanna B. Varale, JJ.
  • Amit DeshpandeSuresh V.Ms Urvashi Tyagi, Advs. & Ms Preeti Gupta, AOR for the Petitioner.
  • Alok Sangwan, Sr. AAG, Samar Vijay SinghHarsh Mehta, Advs. for the Respondent.

Facts of the Case

The appellant was registered under GST and had entered into a logistic support agreement for warehouse operations and business management. Upon expiry of the arrangement, it shifted its entire business unit and warehouse operations from Haryana to Delhi. A show cause notice (SCN) was issued proposing reversal of ITC and demand of tax, pursuant to which an order-in-original was passed ex parte confirming the demand. It filed a writ petition challenging the notice and order; however, the same was dismissed on the ground that an alternate remedy was available. The present appeal contending that the SCN was not served after the change of business premises and that the order-in-original was passed without affording an opportunity of hearing, thereby rendering the proceedings without jurisdiction. The matter was accordingly placed before the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Held

The Supreme Court held that although the order-in-original recorded that the SCN had been served, no material was available on record to substantiate such service in terms of Section 169 of the CGST Act and the Haryana GST Act. It was observed that proper service of notice is a mandatory requirement for valid adjudication and forms the basis of compliance with principles of natural justice. The Court held that passing an ex parte order without establishing service of notice vitiates the proceedings. Accordingly, the impugned order was set aside, with liberty granted to the appellant to file a reply to the SCN, and the matter was remanded to the assessing officer for fresh adjudication in accordance with law.

The post SC Sets Aside GST Order for Lack of SCN Service appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

[Global Financial Insights] IFRS Issues Updated Supporting Materials for IFRS for SMEs and More

IFRS for SMEs

Editorial Team – [2026] 185 taxmann.com 304 (Article)

Global Financial Insights is a weekly feature for the Accounts and Audit Module subscribers of Taxmann.com. It provides you with the latest updates on financial reporting and auditing practices from across the globe. Here is this week’s financial update:

1. IFRS Issues Updated Supporting Materials for IFRS for SMEs

The IFRS Foundation has released updated supporting materials for the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard, reinforcing its role as a simplified and self-contained framework tailored for small and medium-sized entities. Designed to meet the needs of businesses that make up a significant majority of companies globally, the standard aims to balance usability with high-quality financial reporting.

The framework reduces complexity by excluding topics not typically relevant to SMEs and simplifying recognition and measurement principles. It also significantly cuts down disclosure requirements and uses clearer, more accessible language, making it easier for preparers to apply and for jurisdictions to adopt.

Overall, the IFRS for SMEs continues to provide a practical alternative to full IFRS, offering a stable and less burdensome reporting framework while maintaining comparability and transparency in financial reporting.

Source – IFRS Foundation

2. IESBA and IAASB Analyse Linkages Between ISQM 1 and Firm Culture Framework

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), in coordination with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), has released an analysis examining the linkages between ISQM 1 and the IESBA’s Firm Culture and Governance (FCG) viewpoints. The initiative responds to stakeholder calls for greater clarity on how ethical culture frameworks interact with existing quality management standards.

The analysis highlights how both frameworks complement each other in promoting audit quality, while also underscoring key differences in their objectives and scope. ISQM 1 focuses on establishing a system of quality management to ensure consistent engagement quality, with an embedded emphasis on ethical values and firm-wide culture. In contrast, the FCG viewpoints provide a broader, principles-based perspective on fostering ethical culture through defined governance elements.

Importantly, the paper clarifies that while ISQM 1 is a binding standard, the FCG viewpoints are not prescriptive and are intended to support ongoing dialogue on developing a global framework for firm culture and governance.

Overall, the analysis reinforces the interconnected roles of quality management and ethical culture in audit firms, while signalling further developments as the IESBA continues its stakeholder outreach to shape a formal FCG framework.

Source – International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants

Click Here To Read The Full Article

The post [Global Financial Insights] IFRS Issues Updated Supporting Materials for IFRS for SMEs and More appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

HC Sets Aside TRAN Credit Rejection – Orders Reconsideration

transitional credit TRAN-1 TRAN-2

Case Details: Bhawar Life Style vs. Assistant Commissioner Central Tax [2026] 185 taxmann.com 23 (Karnataka)

Judiciary and Counsel Details

  • S Sunil Dutt Yadav, J.
  • E.I. Sanmathi., Adv. for the Petitioner.
  • Aravind V. ChavanUnnikrishnan M, Advs. for the Respondent.

Facts of the Case

The petitioner filed writ petitions challenging the Orders-in-Original (OIO), by which the claims for transitional ITC under TRAN-1 and TRAN-2 were rejected. In respect of TRAN-1, the jurisdictional officer under CGST noted the mismatch in input quantity/value vis-à-vis credit claimed and absence of detailed stock records, treating the credit as irregular and confirming demand. For TRAN-2, it was observed that no particulars of stock and no supporting invoices evidencing tax carried forward were furnished. Subsequently, pursuant to the Court’s directions, the petitioner appeared before the authority and submitted additional documents, while the authority sought CA-certified closing stock, purchase invoices, and sales registers for the relevant period. The matter was accordingly placed before the High Court.

High Court Held

The High Court held that the impugned orders had been passed in the absence of relevant documents which were subsequently produced by the petitioner pursuant to judicial directions. It observed that the authority itself had sought further certified records, indicating that reconsideration was necessary for proper adjudication under Section 140 of the CGST Act and the Karnataka GST Act. The Court further held that denial of transitional credit without examining the subsequently produced material would be improper. Accordingly, the impugned orders were set aside, and the matter was remanded for fresh consideration.

The post HC Sets Aside TRAN Credit Rejection – Orders Reconsideration appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

[Opinion] GAAR Grandfathering Restored—But Tiger Global’s Sting Endures

Tiger Global GAAR Rule 10U amendment

CA Paras K Savla – [2026] 185 taxmann.com 152 (Article)

1. Executive Summary

On 15 January 2026, the Supreme Court of India1 upheld a capital gains tax demand of approximately Rs. 14,500 crore on Tiger Global’s exit from Flipkart, applying GAAR to a pre-2017 investment structure and fundamentally recalibrating India’s treaty-benefit jurisprudence. The CBDT issued Notifications 54 and 55 of 2026 on 31 March 2026, amending Rule 10U (IT Rules, 1962) and Rule 128 (IT Rules, 2026) to exclude income from the transfer of pre-2017 investments from GAAR’s reach.

The amendment has generated two sharply divergent readings in professional discourse. One school reads it as a legislative reversal of Tiger Global on the GAAR question. The other reads it as a codification of the very distinction the Supreme Court drew—between protected “investments” and challengeable “arrangements”—leaving the ruling’s core ratio firmly intact. This article examines both views, the textual puzzle they reveal, and what endures regardless of how the amendment is ultimately read.

2. The Supreme Court’s Ruling in Tiger Global—A Structural Brief

2.1 The Structure and the Dispute

Tiger Global held its Flipkart stake through a layered structure: Mauritius-incorporated holding entities (Tiger Global International II, III and IV Holdings) owned Singapore-incorporated intermediate companies, which in turn held shares in Flipkart India. The investments were assembled before April 1, 2017 i.e., before GAAR came into force. In 2018, when Walmart acquired Flipkart for approximately USD 16 billion, the Mauritius entities received aggregate consideration exceeding Rs. 14,500 crore on the transfer of their Singapore interests.

The Mauritius entities claimed capital gains exemption under Article 13(4) of the India-Mauritius DTAA, relying on Tax Residency Certificates (TRCs) and the grandfathering protection under Rule 10U(1)(d). The Authority for Advance Rulings ruled against Tiger Global in 2020. The Delhi High Court reversed in August 2024. The Supreme Court, on 15 January 2026, reversed the High Court and upheld the tax demand.

2.2 The Court’s Five Core Holdings

Sr.No Holding Significance
1 TRC not conclusive A Tax Residency Certificate creates a rebuttable presumption, not an inviolable shield. It establishes eligibility to claim a treaty, not entitlement to its benefits regardless of substance.
2 CBDT Circulars 682 & 789 superseded Circulars validating TRC-based treaty protection were superseded by the Finance Act 2013 and the 2016 India-Mauritius DTAA amendments. Circulars cannot override statutory intent.
3 GAAR reaches post-2017 tax benefits on pre-2017 investments Rule 10U(2), framed “without prejudice” to the grandfathering clause, enabled GAAR to apply where a tax benefit was obtained on or after 1 April 2017, regardless of when the investment was made. The 2018 exit fell within this window.
4 Azadi Bachao & Vodafone recalibrated These earlier rulings operated in a pre-GAAR, pre-MLI landscape. They no longer confer blanket treaty protection in the post-2017 environment.
5 Substance doctrine affirmed on facts The Mauritius entities lacked independent commercial substance, with investment decisions and control exercised outside Mauritius. The structure was an impermissible avoidance arrangement under Chapter X-A.

Critically, the Revenue had consistently argued before the Court—as recorded in Para 45 of the judgment—that Rule 10U grandfathered only genuine “investments” made prior to 1 April 2017, and not “arrangements” or structures designed to obtain treaty benefits. The Supreme Court accepted this distinction as the correct reading of Rule 10U’s architecture. This point becomes central to understanding what the March 31 amendment actually achieves.

Click Here To Read The Full Article

The post [Opinion] GAAR Grandfathering Restored—But Tiger Global’s Sting Endures appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

ALP of Steam Transfer from Eligible Power Unit to Non-eligible Units Cannot be NIL | ITAT

ALP steam transfer pricing

Case Details: DCM Shri Ram Industries Ltd. vs. Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax [2026] 184 taxmann.com 679 (Delhi-Trib.)

Judiciary and Counsel Details

  • Challa Nagendra Prasad, Judicial Member & S. Rifaur Rahman, Accountant Member
  • Pradeep DinodiaRavi KumarMs Shruti Gupta, CAs for the Appellant.
  • Ms Anima Barnwal, CIT DR for the Respondent.

Facts of the Case

The assessee company was engaged in manufacturing activities and operated an eligible power unit that supplied steam to its non-eligible units. For this specified domestic transaction, the assessee adopted the ‘other method’ and valued the transfer of steam at its cost of production without any mark-up.

During the transfer pricing proceedings, the Transfer Pricing Officer rejected the methodology adopted by the assessee and determined the arm’s length price of steam at nil on the ground that generation of steam was incidental to power generation and its cost was subsumed therein, resulting in a transfer pricing adjustment of about Rs. 107.01 crores. Accordingly, a transfer pricing adjustment was made and incorporated in the final assessment. Aggrieved, the assessee filed an appeal before the Tribunal.

ITAT Held

The Tribunal held that steam is a commercially viable product and cannot be treated as having nil value. Reliance was also placed on decisions in the assessee’s own case for earlier assessment years and in the case of group concerns, wherein similar adjustments had been deleted.

The issue was covered by earlier decisions in the assessee’s own case and that steam, like electricity, is a commercial and marketable product. It was held that the cost of steam cannot be taken as nil merely because it arises during the process of power generation. The Tribunal further noted that ignoring the value of steam would lead to an unrealistic determination of arm’s length price.

Accordingly, the Tribunal held that the transfer pricing adjustment made by the TPO by determining the arm’s length price of steam at nil was unsustainable in law. The addition was deleted, and the issue was decided in favour of the assessee.

List of Cases Reviewed

List of Cases Referred to

The post ALP of Steam Transfer from Eligible Power Unit to Non-eligible Units Cannot be NIL | ITAT appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

SEBI Extends Observation Letter Validity Till Sep 2026

SEBI observation letter

Circular No.HO/49/11/11(123)2026-CFD-RAC-DIL2/I/8760/2026, Dated: 07.04.2026

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted a one-time relaxation by extending the validity of observation letters issued under the SEBI (ICDR) Regulations.

1. Applicability of the Relaxation

The extension applies to observation letters:

  • Expiring between 1st April 2026 and 30th September 2026
  • Such letters will now remain valid up to 30th September 2026

2. Conditions for Availing the Extension

The relaxation is subject to the following condition:

  • The Lead Manager must provide an undertaking confirming compliance with Schedule XVI of the ICDR Regulations
  • Updated offer documents must be submitted, incorporating:
    1. Latest disclosures
    2. Any material changes

3. Rationale Behind the Decision

SEBI has introduced this measure:

  • In light of prevailing market conditions
  • Considering subdued investor participation in the capital markets

4. Regulatory Impact

This relaxation enables:

  • Issuers to retain validity of approvals without reinitiating the process
  • Reduced time and cost burden for companies planning public issues
  • Flexibility in timing market entry

5. Conclusion

The move reflects SEBI’s supportive and pragmatic approach, allowing issuers additional time to access capital markets while ensuring continued compliance with disclosure and regulatory standards.

Click Here To Read The Full Circular

The post SEBI Extends Observation Letter Validity Till Sep 2026 appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

SC Orders Salary Arrears and 8% Interest on Gratuity

salary arrears gratuity

Case Details: Jalim Singh vs. Nand Kishore [2026] 185 taxmann.com 145 (SC)

Judiciary and Counsel Details

  • Vikram Nath & Sandeep Mehta, JJ.
  • Raghavendra S. Srivatsa, Sr. Adv., Ms Komal Mundhra, AOR, Hari Vishnu TiwariAshutosh Singh RanaMs Laxita Upadhyay, Advs. for the Appellant.
  • Anil Kumar MishraMrs Rachna Gupta, AORs, Anurag SinghRajiv KumarMs NeelakshiMs Shradha NarayanAnil Kumar Sinha, Advs. for the Respondent.

Facts of the Case

In the instant case, the appellant was appointed as a Cooperative Supervisor in the respondent Bank in 1971, was suspended in January 1977, and was reinstated in July 1991. He filed a writ petition seeking full salary and emoluments for the suspension period, which the High Court allowed on 17 January 2006; the respondent Bank’s special leave petition was dismissed. He retired on 31 October 2009, but the respondent Bank did not release his retirement benefits.

In 2018, over the non-release of retirement benefits, the respondent, Bank, by order dated 10 July 2018, rejected the appellant’s representation, citing the absence of a substantive post of Cooperative Supervisor and lack of absorption in a Class-III post. On 19 July 2018, the High Court directed the appellant to file a fresh representation, which was again rejected, leading to Writ Petition No. 18568 of 2018.

On 21 January 2019, the High Court allowed the writ petition, set aside the order dated 10 July 2018, and directed the calculation of retirement dues treating the appellant to be absorbed in a Class-III post w.e.f. 16 August 1991.

In an intra-court appeal, by order dated 1 March 2019, the High Court partly allowed the appeal and directed payment within one month of arrears of salary and emoluments due up to retirement, along with all post-retiral dues/benefits of the post of Cooperative Supervisor or an equivalent post, without going into the controversy regarding the existence of the post; it also recorded that the appellant did not possess Intermediate qualification and therefore could not be treated as a Class-III employee. This order formed the basis of the contempt proceedings.

The alleged non-compliance with the order dated 1 March 2019, filed Contempt Application (Civil) No. 1975 of 2019. By judgment dated 7 May 2024, the High Court dismissed the contempt petition, proceeding on the premises that the appellant’s services were not regularised or absorbed in a Class-III post, that he lacked the requisite Intermediate qualification, and that no contribution had been deducted towards gratuity or insurance.

Thereafter, an appeal was made before the Supreme Court.

It was noted that the High Court, in contempt proceedings, ought to have confined its inquiry to compliance with the operative directions contained in the order dated 1 March 2019, which had unequivocally directed the respondent bank to pay to the appellant all arrears of salary and emoluments due up to the date of his retirement, along with all consequential post-retiral benefits.

Further, it was noted that the High Court fell in error in entering into questions relating to regularisation or absorption of the appellant in a Class-III post, instead of enforcing its own directions requiring the respondent bank to pay arrears of salary and emoluments due to the appellant up to date of his retirement, together with all post-retiral dues and benefits attached to post of Cooperative Supervisor or an equivalent post.

Supreme Court Held

The Supreme Court held that the order passed by the High Court dismissing contempt petition was to be set aside and the appellant was entitled to gratuity, which became payable upon his retirement on 31 October 2009, with interest at rate of 8 per cent per annum from 1 November 2009 till date of actual payment and a sum of Rs. 1 lakh towards compensation for prolonged and unnecessary litigation undertaken by the respondent bank.

List of Cases Reviewed

  • High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Contempt Application (Civil) No. 1975 of 2019 Order dated 07-05-2024 (para 15) set aside

The post SC Orders Salary Arrears and 8% Interest on Gratuity appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

[World Corporate Law News] SEC Announces Agenda and Panelists for Roundtable on Options Market Structure

global corporate law weekly update

Editorial Team – [2026] 185 taxmann.com 153 (Article)

World Corporate Law News provides a weekly snapshot of corporate law developments from around the globe. Here’s a glimpse of the key corporate law update this week.

1. Securities Law

1.1 SEC announces Agenda and Panelists for Roundtable on Options Market Structure

On April 2, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the agenda and panelists for its roundtable on options market structure, scheduled for April 16, 2026.

The roundtable will be held at the SEC’s headquarters at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET. The event will be open to the public and webcast live on the SEC’s website. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m. ET.

For online attendance, registration is not necessary. A link to watch the event will be available on April 16 at www.sec.gov, and a recording will be made available on the SEC’s website at a later date.

Source – Press Release

1.2 Explanatory Brief The Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2026

The Minister for National Development and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Mr Chee Hong Tat, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister-in-charge of the MAS, Mr Gan Kim Yong, moved the Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2026 for the First Reading in the Parliament.

The Bill seeks to enable the implementation of the proposed regulatory regime for the Global Listing Board (GLB) that the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading (SGX) and the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) will establish.

The GLB will enable issuers to list on both exchanges under a streamlined regulatory framework simultaneously. The Bill also provides MAS flexibility to adopt a similar framework for dual listing arrangements with other overseas exchanges should future opportunities arise.

MAS has conducted public consultation on the key amendments in the Bill. Comments received have been considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the Bill.

Key Amendments in the Bill

Amendments have been made to two key areas, which are described below.

(a) New Part 13A

The Bill inserts a new Part 13A into the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (SFA) that empowers MAS to make regulations to facilitate the establishment of a dual-listing board (DLB) by SGX and an overseas exchange through a streamlined regulatory framework. The main amendments are as follows:

  • Power to Prescribe Dual Listing Arrangements –  To effect the streamlined regulatory framework, MAS will be empowered to declare an overseas exchange (such as Nasdaq) as a “prescribed overseas exchange”. Likewise, MAS may also declare a dual-listing board set up by SGX (such as the GLB with Nasdaq) as a “prescribed DLB”.
  • Regulation-making Powers – To harmonise potential differences between Singapore’s securities laws and those of the foreign jurisdiction, MAS may make regulations to replace, modify, or disapply the offer-related provisions and market misconduct provisions in the SFA for the prescribed DLB.

The regulation-making powers are subject to safeguards and minimum standards. The new Part 13A sets out the criteria that MAS would consider when deciding whether to prescribe a dual listing board as a prescribed DLB. These include whether the overseas exchange:

(i) enhances issuers’ access to liquidity and international investors; and

(ii) operates in a jurisdiction with securities laws that are in line with international standards in key areas such as disclosure, enforcement and regulatory co-operation.

(b) Other Amendments

In addition to the new Part 13A, the Bill makes other amendments to the SFA that apply to all offers generally. The main amendments are as follows:

  • Earlier Engagement With Retail Investors – Issuers will be able to disseminate their preliminary prospectus when marketing to retail investors, and not only to institutional and accredited investors as is the case currently.
    This will enable issuers to engage retail investors in Singapore before the lodgement of the final prospectus. Such engagements are subject to safeguards. For instance, no official offer can be made based on the preliminary prospectus.
    In addition, the preliminary prospectus must clearly state that its content is subject to further changes. The issuer must also make a reasonable effort to inform recipients when the prospectus is finalised and ready for collection.
  • Treatment of Sponsored Depositary Receipts – For offers of sponsored depositary receipts, the issuer of the underlying securities, rather than the depositary, must register the prospectus. Investors will therefore obtain information about the issuer, rather than the financial institution that acts as an intermediary in issuing the depositary receipts.

Source – Official Announcement

Click Here To Read The Full Article

The post [World Corporate Law News] SEC Announces Agenda and Panelists for Roundtable on Options Market Structure appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

SEBI Grants Minimum Public Shareholding Penalty Relief for Apr–Sep 2026

SEBI MPS penalty relaxation 2026

Circular No. HO/49/14/14(13)2026-CFD-POD2/ I/8772/2026, Dated: 07.04.2026

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has provided a one-time relaxation from the applicability of penal provisions related to Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norms for listed entities.

1. Applicability of the Relaxation

The relaxation applies to cases where:

  • The compliance due date for MPS norms falls between 1st April 2026 and 30th September 2026

2. Relief from Penal Actions

Under this relaxation:

  • Stock exchanges and depositories shall:
    1. Not initiate any penal actions during the specified period
    2. Discontinue any ongoing penal actions
  • Any penal actions already initiated shall be withdrawn

3. Rationale Behind the Decision

The relaxation has been granted:

  • Considering prevailing market conditions
  • To provide temporary relief to companies facing challenges in meeting MPS requirements

4. Regulatory Impact

This measure ensures:

  • Reduced compliance burden for affected listed entities
  • Continuity without immediate enforcement pressure
  • A balanced approach between regulatory compliance and market realities

5. Conclusion

SEBI’s one-time relaxation reflects a pragmatic and supportive regulatory stance, allowing companies additional time to meet MPS norms without facing penalties during the specified window.

Click Here To Read The Full Circular

The post SEBI Grants Minimum Public Shareholding Penalty Relief for Apr–Sep 2026 appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source

Categories
Blog Updates

RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% | Keeps Neutral Stance

RBI repo rate

Press Release: 2026-2027/36, Dated: 08.04.2026

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), after reviewing macroeconomic conditions and financial developments, has announced its latest policy decisions.

1. Policy Rates Remain Unchanged

The MPC has decided to keep key policy rates unchanged:

  • Repo Rate 5.25%
  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate – 5.00%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate – 5.50%
  • Bank Rate – 5.50%

2. Liquidity Adjustment Framework

These rates continue to operate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), ensuring:

  • Stability in short-term interest rates
  • Effective liquidity management in the banking system

3. Monetary Policy Stance

The MPC has decided to maintain a ‘neutral’ stance, indicating:

  • Flexibility to respond to evolving economic conditions
  • A balanced approach between inflation control and growth support

4. Assessment of Economic Conditions

The decision reflects:

  • Resilient economic growth
  • Ongoing evaluation of inflation trends and global uncertainties

5. Conclusion

The RBI’s policy stance signals continuity and caution, aiming to maintain macroeconomic stability while retaining the flexibility to act as economic conditions evolve.

Click Here To Read The Full Press Release

The post RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% | Keeps Neutral Stance appeared first on Taxmann Blog.

source