SC Transfers To Itself Pleas By Gaming Companies Against 28 Per Cent GST

The Supreme Court of India today transferred to itself the petitions from various High Courts challenging the 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on online gaming companies.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra transferred 27 writ petitions from eleven High Courts to the Supreme Court, linking them with a petition filed by GamesKraft.

This decision followed a transfer petition from the Union of India and the next hearing is scheduled for late April 2024. Additionally, other gaming companies like Games 24x7, and Head Digital Works have also contested the GST imposition before the Supreme Court.

In the case involving GamesKraft, the Supreme Court had previously stayed the Karnataka High Court's ruling that nullified a GST Intimation Notice worth Rs 21,000 crore issued to the company. During a short session in January 2024, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, representing the online gaming companies, argued against the GST imposition, stating that there is no 'actionable claim' to justify taxing the entire bet face value or totalisator contributions.

Source: Live Law