Section 144 of CGST Act 2017: Presumption as to Documents in Certain Cases

Provisions under Section 144 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017 relating to “Presumption as to Documents in Certain Cases”, are as under:

Section 144 of CGST Act 2017: Presumption as to Documents in Certain Cases (CHAPTER XXI – MISCELLANEOUS)

Where any document–

(i) is produced by any person under this Act or any other law for the time being in force; or

(ii) has been seized from the custody or control of any person under this Act or any other law for the time being in force; or

(iii) has been received from any place outside India in the course of any proceedings under this Act or any other law for the time being in force,

and such document is tendered by the prosecution in evidence against him or any other person who is tried jointly with him, the court shall—

(a) unless the contrary is proved by such person, presume—

(i) the truth of the contents of such document;

(ii) that the signature and every other part of such document which purports to be in the handwriting of any particular person or which the court may reasonably assume to have been signed by, or to be in the handwriting of, any particular person, is in that person’s handwriting, and in the case of a document executed or attested, that it was executed or attested by the person by whom it purports to have been so executed or attested;

(b) admit the document in evidence notwithstanding that it is not duly stamped, if such document is otherwise admissible in evidence.

Amendments History:

1. CBEC notifies 01/07/2017 as the Commencement date for Section 144 of the CGST Act 2017, vide Central Tax Notification 9/2017 dt. 28/06/2017.

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Note: The CGST Act, 2017 has been notified vide GOI Notification dt. 12/04/2017, which has subsequently been amended through CGST (Extension to J&K) Act 2017, Finance Act 2018, CGST Amendment Act 2018, Finance (No. 2) Act 2019, Finance Act 2020, Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance 2020, Finance Act 2021, including various Notifications issued by the Govt./ CBIC from time to time, relating to the commencement dates of various Sections/ Provisions in the respective CGST/ Amendment Acts, wherever required. Information on this page is a Section-wise compilation of Amendments made by all such Notifications, with best possible efforts for accuracy. In any case, E&OE. For official/ updated information, please visit CBIC website.