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January 2025

Goods And Services Tax

By Puloma Dalal | Jayesh Gogri | Mandar Telang, Chartered Accountants
Reading Time 17 mins

I SUPREME COURT

77 2024-TIOL-121-SC-CX — M/s. Bharti Airtel Ltd. Vs. The Commissionerof Central Excise, Pune Dated: 20thNovember, 2024

Hon. Supreme Court resolves conflicting interpretation on applicability of CENVAT credit on telecom towers.

FACTS

Appellant operates as a Mobile Service Provider (MSP) by supplying Sim cards to provide wireless telecom services. They usually own and operate infrastructure such as cell towers, Base Transceiver System (BTS) along with accompanying network equipment and structures like PFBs electricity generating sets, battery backup and stabilizers. A separate set of assessees offer passive infrastructure services including towers and incidental equipment to telecom companies at completely various sites. Telecom towers and shelters were fabricated offsite and supplied in a completely Knocked Down Condition (CKD) form and thereafter fastened to civil foundation for operational stability.

CENVAT credit availed on mobile towers as well as Pre-Fabricated Buildings (PFBs) was the centre point of dispute since the Bombay High Court in Bharti Airtel (earlier Bharti Televentures Limited vs. Commissioner of Central Excise, Pune) 201