SC Upholds CENVAT Credit on Re-Insurance; Dismisses Revenue SLP

The dispute concerned CENVAT credit claimed by an insurance company on service tax paid for re-insurance premium, including payments to domestic and foreign reinsurers and contributions to an insurance pool. The Department issued a show cause notice alleging that such credit was wrongly availed, especially after the 2011 amendment to Rule 2(l) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, which excluded certain services related to motor vehicles.

While the Adjudicating Authority partly allowed the claim for the earlier period, it denied credit for 2011–12. On appeal, the Tribunal allowed the credit, holding that re-insurance services were not covered by the exclusion. This view was upheld by the High Court, following which the Revenue approached the Supreme Court.

Central Issue: Whether re-insurance services fall within the exclusion clause under the amended definition of “input service” under the CENVAT Credit Rules.

SC’s Ruling: The Supreme Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by the Revenue. It found no error in the reasoning adopted by the Delhi High Court and noted that a similar view taken by the Rajasthan High Court had already been affirmed earlier by dismissal of an SLP. The Court effectively upheld the position that re-insance services are fundamentally distinct from insurance services relating to motor vehicles. While the exclusion clause applies to insurance services “in relation to a motor vehicle,” re-insurance operates at a different level it covers the insurer’s own risk exposure and not the insured asset itself.

Since the High Court had correctly appreciated this distinction and followed settled judicial precedent, the Supreme Court declined to interfere. Consequently, the entitlement of the assessee to avail CENVAT credit on re-insurance services for the disputed period stood affirmed, and all pending applications were disposed of.

To Read Full Judgment, Download PDF Given Below