Gauhati High Court Reads Down Section 16(2)(aa) – Relief for Bona Fide Buyers on ITC Mismatch
McLeod Russel India Ltd (Judgment dated 09.12.2025) The Gauhati High Court, in McLeod Russel India Ltd vs Union of India, delivered an important ruling on the constitutional validity and applicability of Section 16(2)(aa) of the CGST/SGST Act. Background Section 16(2)(aa) makes Input Tax Credit (ITC) contingent on the supplier uploading invoices in GSTR‑1 and the same being communicated to the buyer. This led to denial of ITC even where the buyer had paid GST to the supplier and possessed valid documents. Key Issues Raised • Buyers cannot control supplier compliance under Section 37. • Denying ITC for supplier default is arbitrary and shifts the tax burden illegally. • Genuine taxpayers face double taxation—once paid to supplier and again through ITC denial. • The GST framework aims to avoid cascading of…