In a relief to telecom major Bharti Airtel, the Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to verify the company’s claim of excess GST of Rs 923 crore within two weeks and refund the amount once verified. Bharti Airtel alleged that there was excess payment of taxes, by way of cash, to the tune of around Rs 923 crore.
“This was occasioned to a great degree due to non-operationalisation of Forms GSTR-2A, GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 and the system related checks which could have forewarned the petitioner about the mistake. Petitioner now desires to correct its returns, but is being prevented from doing so, as there is no enabling statutory procedure implemented by the Government,” said the judgement copy.
“We also direct the Respondents that on filing of the rectified Form GSTR-3B, they shall, within a period of two weeks, verifythe claim made therein and give effect to the same once verified,” the High Court said.