40. Reliance was also placed on the judgment of the Supreme Court in
the case of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Anr. Vs. Union of
India (UOI) and Ors. [282 ITR 273] wherein the Apex Court laid
down the crucial significance of holding the license required to
operate the equipment in question. It is only the person who holds
the requisite license as required by the statute, who can be said to
operate, use and control the equipment in question,. In the
present case, the license required by the statute for operating the
satellite and all its parts, components and systems is held only by
AsiaSat and not by its customers. Further, AsiaSat is prohibited
from parting with control of any part of the operations of the
satellite to its customers.
I. The impugned transaction is in the nature of sale, liable to VAT
and therefore consideration received from the lessee
representing revenue from the sale of minerals cannot be
subjected to service Tax. Section 65B(44) of the Act defines
services that are exigible to service tax under Section 66B of
the Act and the definition of service expressly excludes a
24
transaction which constitutes nearly a transfer of title in goods
for a consideration. The entire 100% of receipts from mining
of quarried resources has already been subjected to applicable
VAT at the hands of the lessee. The levy of VAT and Service
Tax are mutually exclusive and reliance is placed on the
decisions in Gujarat Ambuja Cements Lad. v. UOL, 2006 (3)
S.TR. 608 (S.C.), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited vs UOI
reported at 2006 (2) ST.R. 161 (S.C.)
I. The impugned transaction is in the nature of sale, liable to VAT
and therefore consideration received from the lessee
representing revenue from the sale of minerals cannot be
subjected to service Tax. Section 65B(44) of the Act defines
services that are exigible to service tax under Section 66B of
the Act and the definition of service expressly excludes a
24
transaction which constitutes nearly a transfer of title in goods
for a consideration. The entire 100% of receipts from mining
of quarried resources has already been subjected to applicable
VAT at the hands of the lessee. The levy of VAT and Service
Tax are mutually exclusive and reliance is placed on the
decisions in Gujarat Ambuja Cements Lad. v. UOL, 2006 (3)
S.TR. 608 (S.C.), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited vs UOI
reported at 2006 (2) ST.R. 161 (S.C.)
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that no
factual dispute exists in the matter thus even the writ petition is
maintainable. He would not be contesting the writ petition on
(4 of 6)
[ CW-17427/2017]
facts, but, advance arguments purely on question of law, that too,
in reference to Article 366 (29A) of the Constitution of India. It is
to show that in few cases, there cannot be split between service
and sale and the issue is squarely covered by the judgment in the
cases of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. & Anr. Vs. Union of
India (UOI) & Ors. reported in AIR 2006 SC 1383, Tata Main
Hospital Vs. The State of Jharkhand & Ors. reported in 2008
(2) JCR 174, Fortis Health Care Limited and Ors. Vs. State
of Punjab & Ors. reported in 2015(2) TMI 1014 & M/s.
International Hospital Pvt. Ltd. Vs. State off UP & 2 Ors.
reported in 2014(2) ADJ 474. Accordingly, the petitioner
company may not be relegated for the alternative remedy of
appeal as it cannot be taken to be a bar for exercising jurisdiction
under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.