No notice for payment of service tax/GST to be issued to lawyers: Orissa HC

The Orissa High Court has directed the GST Commissioner to issue clear instructions to all officers in the state that no notice demanding payment of service tax/GST will be issued to lawyers.

The Orissa High Court has issued clear instructions to the GST Commissioner and all officers in the state that no notice demanding payment of service tax/GST will be issued to lawyers rendering legal services. In an order, the bench headed by Chief Justice Dr S Muralidhar and Justice B P Routray said that practicing advocates should not have to face harassment on account of the department issuing notices, calling upon them to pay service tax when they are exempted from doing so. In this process, they also have to prove that they are practicing advocates. The petition was filed by advocate Devi Prasad Tripathy after documentary evidence was sought from him to prove his claim that he was a practicing individual lawyer and does not fall under the provisions of GST or service tax.