India: Sales Taxes: VAT, GST

The Karnataka High Court examined whether healthcare services provided by a medical enterprise to patients through a contractual arrangement with another hospital qualify for GST exemption. The Revenue department argued for an 18% tax rate, while the assessee claimed exemption under healthcare service provisions. The Court's decision hinged on interpreting the legislative intent behind healthcare exemptions and determining whether service classification should follow contractual form or substantive nature.

Once perceived merely as functional storage spaces dictated by fragmented tax structures and operational necessity, warehouses today stand transformed into sophisticated logistical and infrastructure assets underpinning the movement of trade, manufacturing, consumption, and capital across the country.

A Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has ruled that Build-Operate-Transfer concessionaires must pay GST on works contract services rendered to NHAI, treating toll collection rights as taxable consideration. This landmark judgment fundamentally reshapes the tax landscape for highway PPP projects, potentially affecting project bankability, investor appetite, and the cost mechanics for developers participating in India's infrastructure development bids.