HC grants relief to retailers on rent service tax

Bringing some cheer to modern retailers in an otherwise troubled market, the Bombay High Court granted interim relief from payment of service tax on the rents of immovable property. Retailers will not have to pay service tax till the final order in this regard is issued by the Supreme Court (SC). The petitioners will have to file a written undertaking stating that in the event the challenges against such tax was disallowed, they will pay the amount due in accordance with the statutory provisions, the court observed.