Stay on lawyers service tax

BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday stayed service tax imposed on lawyers.Justice S Abdul Nazeer granted interim stay to the notification issued by the Union Government on April 25 bringing the advocates who charge a fee per appearance under the purview of service tax.Advocates Suraj R Manjeshwar and Ravikumar had filed a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of amendments to section 65(105) of the Finance Act,2011 to impose service tax lawyers from May 1, 2011.The petitioners contended that the advocates are members of the bar and are not the officers of court. They assist in dispensation of justice.They cannot be clubbed as service providers to impose service tax, they argued.