GST anti-profiteering cases may be taken up by appellate tribunal

The GST Council in its Saturday meeting might mandate the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) to adjudicate anti-profiteering cases and introduce "sunset date", allowing filing of such complaints only up to April 1, 2025.

- SHRIMI CHOUDHARY

This is in line with the recommendation of the law committee under the GST Council after Competition Commission of India (CCI) expressed its inability to handle such matters, saying that it was not their core function.

CCI has disposed of just 27 cases since December 1, 2022. While about 140 cases are pending for adjudication. Besides, 184 matters are pending in various high courts where the order of previous authority were challenged.

The anti-profiteering provisions under the GST law make it mandatory for suppliers of goods and services to pass on the benefit of any reduction in the rate of tax, or the benefit of input tax credit, to recipients by way of commensurate reduction in prices.