SECTION 11C OF THE CENTRAL EXCISE ACT, 1944, READ WITH SECTION 83 OF THE FINANCE ACT, 1994 AND SECTION 174 OF THE CENTRAL GST ACT, 2017- NO SERVICE TAX ON SERVICES BY WAY OF GRANTING OF “RIGHT OF WAY” BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES DUE TO GENERAL PREVALENT PRACTICE

NOTIFICATION NO. 1/2018-SERVICE TAX [F.NO.137/12/2018-SERVICE TAX], DATED 30-11-2018

Whereas, the Central Government is satisfied that in the period commencing on and from the 1st day of July, 2012 and ending with the 30th day of June, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as the said period), according to a practice that was generally prevalent, there was non-levy of service tax, on the services by way of granting of “right of way'” by “local authorities”, as defined in sub-section (7) of section 3 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885), and this service was liable to service tax, in the said period, which was not being paid according to the said practice.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), read with section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), and clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 174 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017,(12 of 2017), in respect of things done or omitted to be done before the coming into force of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017), the Central Government hereby directs that the service tax payable under section 66B of the Finance Act, 1994, on the services by way of granting of “right of way” by “local authorities”, as defined in sub-section (7) of section 3 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, in the said period, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid.