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  1. Home/
  2. Library/
  3. High Court Of Andhra Pradesh/
  4. 2024/
  5. July

Seil Energy India Limited vs. the Union of India

Decided on 31 July 2024• Citation: WP/15414/2023• High Court of Andhra Pradesh
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                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA  PRADESH                        
                                        ***                                       
             +W.P.Nos.15351, 15358, 15387, 15401, 15405, 15407, 15410, 15414,     
                               15416 & 15419 of 2023                              
            W.P.Nos.15351, 15358, 15401, 15405, 15407, 15414 & 15419 of 2023      
            Between:                                                              
            # 1. M/s. SEIL Energy India Limited                                   
               (formerly M/s. Sembcorp Energy India Limited),                     
                Pyanampuram/ Nelatur Village,                                     
                Muthukur Mandal, Nellore,                                         
                Andhra Pradesh 524344,                                            
                             –                                                    
                Rep. by its Chief Financial Officer,                              
                Mr. Ajay Bagri.                                                   
                                                              Petitioner          
                                                            …                     
                                       AND                                        
            $ 1. The Union of India,                                              
                Through Principal Secretary to the Government,                    
                Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue,                       
                Udyog Bhavan, North Block,                                        
                New Delhi 110 001.                                                
                         –                                                        
             2. The Deputy Commissioner of Central Tax,                           
                Nellore G.S.T. Division, D. No.24-7-48,                           
                GST Bhavan, Annamayya Circle,                                     
                M.S.R. Layout, Mini By-Pass Road,                                 
                Nellore 524 003.                                                  
                      –                                                           
             3. The Principal Commissioner of Central Tax,                        
                Guntur CGST Commissionerate                                       
                Central Revenue Building,                                         
                K.V. Thota, Guntur 522 004.                                       
                                –                                                 
                                                         ... Respondents          
            W.P.Nos.15387, 15410 & 15416 of 2023                                  
            Between:                                                              
            # 1. M/s. SEIL Energy India Limited                                   
               (formerly M/s. Sembcorp Energy India Limited),                     
                Pyanampuram/ Nelatur Village,                                     
                Muthukur Mandal, Nellore,                                         

                                        2                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
                Andhra Pradesh 524344,                                            
                             –                                                    
                Rep. by its Chief Financial Officer,                              
                Mr. Ajay Bagri.                                                   
                                                              Petitioner          
                                                            …                     
                                       AND                                        
            $ 1. The Union of India,                                              
                Through Principal Secretary to the Government,                    
                Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue,                       
                Udyog Bhavan, North Block,                                        
                New Delhi 110 001.                                                
                         –                                                        
             2. The Deputy Commissioner of Central Tax,                           
                Nellore G.S.T. Division, D. No.24-7-48,                           
                GST Bhavan, Annamayya Circle,                                     
                M.S.R. Layout, Mini By-Pass Road,                                 
                Nellore 524 003.                                                  
                      –                                                           
             3. Additional Commissioner, GST Appeals,                             
                D. No.33015, Ring Road,                                           
                Guntur - 522 006                                                  
             4. The Principal Commissioner of Central Tax,                        
                Guntur CGST Commissionerate                                       
                Central Revenue Building,                                         
                K.V. Thota, Guntur 522 004.                                       
                                –                                                 
                                                         ... Respondents          
            Date of Order pronounced on   : 31.07.2024                            
                    HON’BLE  SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN  RAO                      
                                       And                                        
                         HON’BLE  SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                          
            1. Whether Reporters of Local newspapers     : Yes/No                 
              May be allowed to see the judgments?                                
            2. Whether the copies of judgment may be marked : Yes/No              
              to Law Reporters/Journals:                                          
            3. Whether The Lordship wishes to see the fair copy : Yes/No          
              Of the Judgment?                                                    

                                        3                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
              *IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA  PRADESH   AT AMARAVATI                
                   *                                                              
                     HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R. RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                     
                                       And                                        
                         HON’BLE  SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                          
            + W.P.Nos.15351, 15358, 15387, 15401, 15405, 15407, 15410, 15414,     
                               15416 & 15419 of 2023                              
            % Dated:31.07.2024                                                    
            W.P.Nos.15351, 15358, 15401, 15405, 15407, 15414 & 15419 of 2023      
            # 1. M/s. SEIL Energy India Limited                                   
               (formerly M/s. Sembcorp Energy India Limited),                     
                Pyanampuram/ Nelatur Village,                                     
                Muthukur Mandal, Nellore,                                         
                Andhra Pradesh 524344,                                            
                             –                                                    
                Rep. by its Chief Financial Officer,                              
                Mr. Ajay Bagri.                                                   
                                                              Petitioner          
                                                            …                     
                                       AND                                        
            $ 1. The Union of India,                                              
                Through Principal Secretary to the Government,                    
                Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue,                       
                Udyog Bhavan, North Block,                                        
                New Delhi 110 001.                                                
                         –                                                        
             2. The Deputy Commissioner of Central Tax,                           
                Nellore G.S.T. Division, D. No.24-7-48,                           
                GST Bhavan, Annamayya Circle,                                     
                M.S.R. Layout, Mini By-Pass Road,                                 
                Nellore 524 003.                                                  
                      –                                                           
             3. The Principal Commissioner of Central Tax,                        
                Guntur CGST Commissionerate                                       
                Central Revenue Building,                                         
                K.V. Thota, Guntur 522 004.                                       
                                –                                                 
                                                         ... Respondents          

                                        4                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            W.P.Nos.15387, 15410 & 15416 of 2023                                  
            Between:                                                              
            # 1. M/s. SEIL Energy India Limited                                   
               (formerly M/s. Sembcorp Energy India Limited),                     
                Pyanampuram/ Nelatur Village,                                     
                Muthukur Mandal, Nellore,                                         
                Andhra Pradesh 524344,                                            
                             –                                                    
                Rep. by its Chief Financial Officer,                              
                Mr. Ajay Bagri.                                                   
                                                              Petitioner          
                                                            …                     
                                       AND                                        
            $ 1. The Union of India,                                              
                Through Principal Secretary to the Government,                    
                Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue,                       
                Udyog Bhavan, North Block,                                        
                New Delhi 110 001.                                                
                         –                                                        
             2. The Deputy Commissioner of Central Tax,                           
                Nellore G.S.T. Division, D. No.24-7-48,                           
                GST Bhavan, Annamayya Circle,                                     
                M.S.R. Layout, Mini By-Pass Road,                                 
                Nellore 524 003.                                                  
                      –                                                           
             3. Additional Commissioner, GST Appeals,                             
                D. No.33015, Ring Road,                                           
                Guntur - 522 006                                                  
             4. The Principal Commissioner of Central Tax,                        
                Guntur CGST Commissionerate                                       
                Central Revenue Building,                                         
                K.V. Thota, Guntur 522 004.                                       
                                –                                                 
                                                         ... Respondents          
            ! Counsel for the Petitioner  : Sri Lakshmi Kumaran Sridharan         
                                               (in all writ petitions)            

                                        5                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            ^Counsel for Respondents     :   Sri Y N Vivekananda                  
                                             (In all writ petitions)              
                                          :  Sri V. Venakata Nagaraju             
                                             (In all writ petitions)              
                                          :  Sri Suresh Kumar Routhu              
                                             (In W.P.Nos.15358, 15387,            
                                             15410,15416 & 15419 of 2023)         
            <GIST     :                                                           
            >HEAD NOTE:                                                           
            ? Cases referred:                                                     

                                        6                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299472023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15351/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
            1.        V VENKATA  NAGA  RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT                         
                      COUNSEL)                                                    
            2.        Y N VIVEKANANDA                                             

                                        7                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299502023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                    AT AMARAVATI                [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15358/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            Union Of India and Others                ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
            1.        V VENKATA  NAGA  RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT                         
                      COUNSEL)                                                    
            2.        SURESH  KUMAR  ROUTHU   (SR SC FOR CBIC)                    
            3.        Y N VIVEKANANDA                                             

                                        8                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299322023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                    AT AMARAVATI                [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15387/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Siel Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
            1.        V VENKATA  NAGA  RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT                         
                      COUNSEL)                                                    
            2.        SURESH  KUMAR  ROUTHU   (SR SC FOR CBIC)                    

                                        9                                         
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299342023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                    AT AMARAVATI                [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15401/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
              1. V VENKATA NAGA RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT  COUNSEL)                      
              2. Y N VIVEKANANDA                                                  

                                        10                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299552023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15405/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            M/s. Seil Energy India Limited               ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
              1. V VENKATA NAGA RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT  COUNSEL)                      
              2. Y N VIVEKANANDA                                                  

                                        11                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299522023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15407/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
              1. V VENKATA NAGA RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT  COUNSEL)                      
              2. Y N VIVEKANANDA                                                  

                                        12                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299362023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15410/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            M/s Seil Energy India Limited                ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
            1.        V VENKATA  NAGA  RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT                         
                      COUNSEL)                                                    
            2.        SURESH  KUMAR  ROUTHU   (SR SC FOR CBIC)                    
            3.        Y N VIVEKANANDA                                             

                                        13                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299442023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                    AT AMARAVATI                [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15414/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
              1. V VENKATA NAGA RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT  COUNSEL)                      
              2. Y N VIVEKANANDA                                                  

                                        14                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299412023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15416/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
            1.        V VENKATA  NAGA  RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT                         
                      COUNSEL)                                                    
            2.        SURESH  KUMAR  ROUTHU   (SR SC FOR CBIC)                    
            3.        Y N VIVEKANANDA                                             

                                        15                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            APHC010299592023                                                      
                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH                     
                                    AT AMARAVATI                [3488]            
                               (Special Original Jurisdiction)                    
                    WEDNESDAY,   THE THIRTY FIRST DAY OF JULY                     
                        TWO  THOUSAND   AND TWENTY  FOUR                          
                                    PRESENT                                       
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
                           WRIT PETITION NO: 15419/2023                           
            Between:                                                              
            Seil Energy India Limited                    ...PETITIONER            
                                       AND                                        
            The Union Of India and Others            ...RESPONDENT(S)             
            Counsel for the Petitioner:                                           
              1. LAKSHMI KUMARAN   SRIDHARAN                                      
            Counsel for the Respondent(S):                                        
              1. V VENKATA NAGA RAJU(CENTRAL  GOVT  COUNSEL)                      
              2. SURESH KUMAR  ROUTHU  (SR SC FOR CBIC)                           
              3. Y N VIVEKANANDA                                                  

                                        16                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            The Court made the following common order:                            
                                Raghunandan Rao)                                  
              (per Hon’ble Sri Justice R                                          
                 M/s. SEIL Energy India Limited is the petitioner in all these writ
            petitions. As the same issue is raised in all these writ petitions, they are
            being disposed of, by way of this common order.                       
                 2.   Heard  Sri Raghavan  Ramabadran, learned counsel            
            appearing on behalf of Sri Lakshmi Kumaran Sridharan, learned counsel 
            for the petitioner and Sri Y.N. Vivekananda, learned counsel for the  
            respondents.                                                          
                 3.   The petitioner generates electrical power and sells the     
            same to its customers. For the period January 2022 to October 2022,   
            the petitioner had been selling/supplying electricity to M/s. Bangladesh
            Power Development Board. The petitioner, contending that such supply  
            of electricity would amount to an export sale, which is exempted from tax
            under the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (herein referred
                 IGST Act , had sought refund of the input tax credits available to
            to as “     ”)                                                        
            the petitioner for these months.                                      
                 4.   The petitioner had filed separate applications for refund, for
            each month for the period January 2022 to October 2022. These         

                                        17                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            applications were not accepted on the ground that the petitioner had not
            filed the bill of shipping for supply of electricity. This issue was raised by
            way of a show cause notice by the respondents. By this time, earlier  
            orders of rejection, on the same ground, had been challenged before   
            this Court by way of W.P.No.11194 of 2021 and batch. The contention   
            raised by the petitioner, in those Writ Petitions, was that electricity is an
            intangible and the question of obtaining the bill of shipping for such
            intangibles cannot arise. While these cases were pending, there was an
            amendment to Rule 89 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules,     
            2017                               substituting the requirement       
                (herein referred to as “CGST Rules”)                              
            of producing the bill of shipping with the requirement of furnishing the
            Regional Energy Account                       maintained by           
                                 (herein referred to as “REA”)                    
            the concerned Regional Load Dispatch Center, as proof of export, even 
            if the bill of shipping is not produced.                              
                 5.   The question of whether such amendment to the Rule is       
            prospective or retrospective had remained and the same was answered   
            in a Judgment dated 26.08.2022 passed by a Hon‟ble Division Bench of  
            this Court in W.P.No.11194 of 2021 and batch. This Court had taken the
            view that the said amendment should be treated as retrospective and   
            the benefit of the amended Rule would be available to the petitioner. 

                                        18                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
                           nd                                                     
                 6.   The 2  respondent, who had earlier issued a show cause      
            notice requiring the production of bill of shipping, amended the said 
            notice and called upon the petitioner to produce the REA account      
            maintained by the Regional Load Dispatch Center for processing the    
            applications. Consequently, the petitioner produced the said REA      
            account for the periods January 2022 to October 2022. However, these  
                                        nd                                        
            applications were rejected by the 2 respondent by various orders. The 
             nd                                                                   
            2  respondent took the view that Rule 89 of the CGST Rules requires   
            the dealer to place necessary materials such as input tax credit, turnover
            of zero rated supply of goods, adjusted total turnover, etc. for the  
            “relevant period”. He also took the view that the relevant period would be
                                                    nd                            
            the month for which the refund is sought. The 2 respondent noticed    
            that the petitioner, while applying for refund for the month of January
            2022 was filing the REA for the month of December 2021 and so on.     
                 7.   The petitioner being aggrieved by the said orders of        
                                                                    rd            
            rejection had filed appeals, in some of these cases, before the 3     
            respondent, who had dismissed the appeals accepting the contention of 
                nd                                                                
            the 2 respondent. The petitioner had filed appeals in W.P.Nos.15410,  
            15387 & 15416 of 2023 and has approached this Court directly against  
            the orders in original in the remaining writ petitions.               

                                        19                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
                 8.   Sri Raghavan Ramabadran, learned counsel appearing for      
            the petitioner contends that the view taken by the Primary Authority and
            the Appellate Authority is incorrect. He would take us to the provisions of
            the Act and the Rules to contend that supply of electricity, which would
            fall within the ambit of the definition of continuous supply of r/w   
                                           „                 goods‟               
            with other provisions of the Act requires the supplier of such goods to
            raise an invoice, and it is only on that date, that the supply is said to
            have occurred. He would submit that since the invoice for the previous
                                     th                                           
            month was being filed by the 7 day of the succeeding month, the REA   
            account of the previous month would be the relevant REA for           
            considering the application for refund for the succeeding month.      
                 9.   Sri Y. N. Vivekananda, learned counsel for the respondents  
            would support the view taken by the Primary Authority and the Appellate
            Authority. He would submit that the Rule is clear and unambiguous and 
            it is only the REA for the month for which refund is being sought that can
            be looked into for deciding whether a refund is payable or not. He would
            submit that as the petitioner had not filed the REA for the relevant  
            period, the order of rejection cannot be faulted.                     

                                        20                                        
                                                             RRR, J & HN, J       
                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
            Consideration of the Court:                                           
                 10.  A brief review of the provisions of law would be necessary  
            before going into this question. The CGST Act provides for taxation of
            supply of sale of goods and supply of services of various kinds. One  
            such category would be continuous supply of goods or continuous       
            supply of services. The term continuous supply of goods is defined    
                                     “                      ”                     
            under Section 2 (32) of the CGST Act as follows:                      
                 (32) "continuous supply of goods" means a supply of              
                 goods which is provided, or agreed to be provided,               
                 continuously or on recurrent basis, under a contract,            
                 whether or not by means of a wire, cable, pipeline or            
                 other conduit, and for which the supplier invoices the           
                 recipient on a regular or periodic basis and includes            
                 supply of such goods as the Government may, subject              
                 to such conditions, as it may, by notification, specify;         
                 11.  The question as to how such continuous supply of goods is   
            to be taxed would arise because the supply of goods would be in a     
            continuous form and the taxing authority would have to fix a point of time
            where the value of supply of such goods can be assessed and taxed.    
            For this purpose, the legislature, under Section 12 of the CGST Act,  
            fixed the time of supply. This provision reads as follows:            

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                 (1) The liability to pay tax on goods shall arise at the         
                 time of supply, as determined in accordance with the             
                 provisions of this section.                                      
                 (2) The time of supply of goods shall be the earlier of the      
                 following dates, namely:--                                       
                 (a) the date of issue of invoice by the supplier or the last     
                 date on which he is required, under sub-section (1) of           
                 section 31, to issue the invoice with respect to the             
                 supply; or                                                       
                 (b) the date on which the supplier receives the payment          
                 with respect to the supply:                                      
                 Provided that where the supplier of taxable goods                
                 receives an amount up to one thousand rupees in                  
                 excess of the amount indicated in the tax invoice, the           
                 time of supply to the extent of such excess amount shall,        
                 at the option of the said supplier, be the date of issue of      
                 invoice in respect of such excess amount.                        
                 Explanation 1.--For the purposes of clauses (a) and (b),         
                 "supply" shall be deemed to have been made to the                
                 extent it is covered by the invoice or, as the case may          
                 be, the payment.                                                 
                 Explanation 2.--or the purposes of clause (b), "the date         
                 on which the supplier receives the payment" shall be the         
                 date on which the payment is entered in his books of             
                 account or the date on which the payment is credited to          
                 his bank account, whichever is earlier.                          

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                 (3) In case of supplies in respect of which tax is paid or       
                 liable to be paid on reverse charge basis, the time of           
                 supply shall be the earliest of the following dates,             
                 namely:--                                                        
                 (a) the date of the receipt of goods; or                         
                 (b) the date of payment as entered in the books of               
                 account of the recipient or the date on which the                
                 payment is debited in his bank account, whichever is             
                 earlier; or                                                      
                 (c) the date immediately following thirty days from the          
                 date of issue of invoice or any other document, by               
                 whatever name called, in lieu thereof by the supplier:           
                 Provided that where it is not possible to determine the          
                 time of supply under clause (a) or clause (b) or clause          
                 (c), the time of supply shall be the date of entry in the        
                 books of account of the recipient of supply.                     
                 (4) In case of supply of vouchers by a supplier, the time        
                 of supply shall be--                                             
                 (a) the date of issue of voucher, if the supply is               
                 identifiable at that point; or                                   
                 (b) the date of redemption of voucher, in all other cases.       
                 (5) Where it is not possible to determine the time of            
                 supply under the provisions of sub-section (2) or sub-           
                 section (3) or sub-section (4), the time of supply shall--       

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                                                  W.P.No.15351 of 2023 & batch    
                 (a) in a case where a periodical return has to be filed, be      
                 the date on which such return is to be filed; or                 
                 (b) in any other case, be the date on which the tax is           
                 paid.                                                            
                 (6) The time of supply to the extent it relates to an            
                 addition in the value of supply by way of interest, late fee     
                 or penalty for delayed payment of any consideration              
                 shall be the date on which the supplier receives such            
                 addition in value.                                               
                 12.  Section 12 (2) of the CGST Act provides for fixing the time 
            of supply on either of two eventualities. The time of supply can be fixed
            on the date when the invoice for such supply is prepared and sent by the
            supplier or on the date on which the payment for such supply is made by
            the person receiving such goods. However, the legislature has also    
            stipulated that the earlier of these two eventualities would be treated as
            the time of supply for the purpose of assessment of tax. Section 12(2)
            also states that the point of time when the invoice can be raised would
            have to be in accord with the Section 31 (4) of the CGST Act, which   
            reads as follows:                                                     
                 (4) In case of continuous supply of goods, where successive      
                 statements of accounts or successive payments are involved,      
                 the invoice shall be issued before or at the time each such      

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                 statement is issued or, as the case may be, each such            
                 payment is received.                                             
                 13.  A reading of these provisions makes it clear that the time of
            continuous supply of goods is not relevant and it is only the point of time
            when the invoice is raised or price is paid, whichever is earlier, that
            would be relevant for determining the point of tax in time and        
            consequently, the period of supply of goods for which an invoice is   
            raised should be taken into account, rather than the point of time at 
            which the invoice has been raised                                     
                                         , should be taken as the “relevant       
                 .                                                                
            period”                                                               
                 14.  In the present cases, the undisputed fact is that the       
            petitioner was required to raise an invoice for the supply of electricity for
                                     th                                           
            a particular month by the 7 day of the succeeding month. This         
            stipulation is contained in the power purchase agreement executed     
            between the petitioner and M/s. Bangladesh Power Development Board.   
            This would mean that though supply of electricity was done in the month
            of December, the time of supply, by legal fiction, would be the date on
            which the bill was presented in the month of January and so on and so 
            forth.                                                                

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                 15.  In such circumstances, furnishing of the REA for the        
            preceding month, while making an application for refund in the        
            succeeding month would be in accord with the said provisions of the Act
            and Rules.                                                            
                 16.  Accordingly, these Writ Petitions are allowed, setting aside
            the orders in appeal and the orders in original contained in the table set
                                                        nd                        
            out in the present order, with a direction to the 2 respondent to     
            consider the applications of the petitioner for grant of refund, if   
            everything else is in accord with the requirements, by permitting the 
            petitioner to produce the REA of the previous month as the proof of   
            export for the refund applications made in the succeeding month. There
            shall be no order as to costs.                                        
                 As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending, if any shall stand
            closed.                                                               
                                              ________________________            
                                               R RAGHUNANDAN    RAO, J            
                                                        ______________            
                                                        HARINATH.N,  J            
            MJA                                                                   

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            142                                                                   
                THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN   RAO                  
                     THE HONOURABLE   SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N                      
              WRIT PETITION NOs: 15351, 15358, 15387, 15401, 15405, 15407,        
                         15410, 15414, 15416 & 15419 of 2023                      
                                    Justice R Raghunandan Rao)                    
                         (per Hon’ble Sri                                         
                                     31.07.2024                                   
            MJA