IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
P. B. BAJANTHRI and SUNIL DUTTA MISHRA, JJ.
CWJC No.9658 of 2024
(4.3.2025)
M/s Maa Gaytri Distributor ... Petitioner
vs.
State of Bihar & Ors. ... Respondents
Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 – Section 107 – Show cause notice – Uploading of notices and not informing concerned taxpayer is not fair procedure for reasons that respondent-State cannot expect taxpayer to keep on watching portal from time to time whether any notices have been issued by official respondent/ State authority or not – Order of appellate authority as well as order of determination of tax set aside – Petitioner is now aware of show cause notice and reminders – Petitioner hereby directed to furnish detailed explanation/ reply within a period of six weeks – Thereafter, concerned authority shall proceed to pass further orders insofar as determination of tax in accordance with law – Writ Petition allowed. (Paras 4, 5 and 6)
P. B. Bajanthri, J.—Heard learned counsels for the parties.
2. In the instant petition, petitioner has prayed for following reliefs:—
“(a) For issuance of writ of certiorari against order dated 08.02.2021 (Annexure-3) issued by respondent no. 3 without giving opportunity of hearing and violating the principles of natural justice and also quashing of the order dated 19.03.2024 (Annexure-6) issued by respondent no. 4 without giving any opportunity of hearing and violating the Principles of natural justice as well as provisions of Sec 107(8) of BGST Act.
(b) For any other consequential relief or reliefs for which the petitioner is found entitled during the course of hearing of the writ petition.”
3. Petitioner’s appeal has been rejected by the appellate authority on the sole ground that it was beyond the time-limit stipulated under Section 107 of the GST Act.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that from the inception there is defect insofar as not providing opportunity to meet the show cause notice. Show cause notice and consequential reminders or additional notices were uploaded in the portal and it has not been noticed by the petitioner. Uploading of notices and not informing the concerned taxpayer is not fair procedure for the reasons that respondent- State cannot expect taxpayer to keep on watching portal from time to time whether any notices have been issued by the official respondent/ State authority or not? Principle is fairness and reasonableness of procedure and Judicial Review has been elaborately considered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs. Union of India & Ors. reported in (2023)13 SCC 401. This decision would assist the case of the petitioner in not providing copy of the notice timely through fair mode. On this short ground petitioner has made out a case so as to interfere with the order of the appellate authority dated 19.03.2024 as well as order of determination of tax dated 08.02.2021 and are set aside.
5. Petitioner is now aware of the show cause notice and reminders, therefore, petitioner is hereby directed to furnish detailed explanation/ reply within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of this order. Thereafter, the concerned authority shall proceed to pass further orders insofar as determination of tax, if any, and in accordance with law. The above exercise shall be completed by the official respondents within a period of two months from the date of receipt of petitioner’s explanation/ reply to the show cause notice/ additional show cause notice etc.
6. Accordingly, the present writ petition stands allowed.
The court emphasized the necessity of effective notice service to uphold natural justice, ruling that failure to provide a fair opportunity to respond invalidates the impugned order.
An adverse decision must be accompanied by an effective opportunity of hearing as mandated by statutory provisions; failure to do so renders the decision invalid.
An order assessing tax cannot be sustained if the proper officer denies an effective opportunity of hearing, as mandated by Section 75(4) of the WBGST Act, 2017.
The court affirmed that timelines in tax appeal processes are directory, not mandatory, allowing for flexibility under circumstances of procedural injustice.
A writ petition is not maintainable when an effective statutory remedy is available, particularly concerning the principles of natural justice and appropriate communication.
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