The Delhi high court, in a leading judgement delivered on 3rd June, 2016, has declared service tax audit being conducted by Central Excise and Service tax department as ultra virus, in the matter of Mega Cabs Vs UOI. The matter was argued by Mr. J.K. Mittal, FCA as advocate of the petitioner.
The court held that audit is a specialized function and cannot be delegated to service tax department or Excise department. It has been a general practice of the service tax department to conduct Audit of Service tax assesses for the last 5 years by deputing own officers of the rank of inspectors and Superintendents. Service tax department also seeks voluminous details and seek information in self- specified formats/ annexures. Now this judgement made it clear that the officers of the department have no power to conduct Audit at all. The honorable High Court has also held that the CAG officers have no power to conduct audit of assessee's records.