IMPORTANT POINT
Cancellation of GST registration with retrospective effect should be based on objective criteria and consider the consequences of retrospective cancellation.

JUDGMENT

Sanjeev Sachdeva, J. (Oral)

1. Petitioner impugns order dated 18.02.2022 whereby the GST registration of the petitioner was cancelled retrospectively with effect from 26.07.2018. Petitioner also impugns Show Cause Notice dated 04.01.2022

2. Show Cause Notice dated 04.01.2022 was issued to the Petitioner seeking to cancel its registration for the following reason:

"Any Taxpayer other than composition taxpayer has not filed returns for a continuous period of six months".

3. Petitioner is engaged in the business of the trading of packing of goods, of plastic; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics, other articles of plastics and articles of other materials and possessed the GST registration of the same.

4. Petitioner had submitted an application seeking cancellation of GST registration dated 24.11.2020 on the ground of closure of business.

5. Pursuant to the said application, notice was given to the Petitioner on 13.04.2021 seeking additional information and documents relating to application for cancellation of registration. On account of unsatisfactory reply, order dated 07.06.2021 was passed rejecting the application for cancellation

6. Thereafter, Show Cause Notice dated 04.01.2022 was issued to the Petitioner seeking to cancel its registration. Though the notice does not specify any cogent reason it merely states "Any Taxpayer other than composition taxpayer has not filed returns for a continuous period of six months". Further, the said Show Cause Notice also does not put the petitioner to notice that the registration is liable to be cancelled retrospectively. Thus, the petitioner had no opportunity to even object to the retrospective cancellation of the registration.

7. Thereafter, the impugned order dated 18.02.2022 passed on the said Show Cause Notice also does not give reasons of cancellation. It merely states that the registration is liable to be cancelled for the following reason "whereas no reply to the show cause notice has been submitted". However, the said order in itself is contradictory. The order states "reference to your reply dated 13/01/2022 in response to the notice to show cause dated 04/01/2022" and the reason stated for the cancellation is "whereas no reply to notice show cause has been submitted". The order further states that effective date of cancellation of registration is 26.07.2018 i.e., a retrospective date.

8. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner had applied for cancellation of his registration on 24.11.2020, however, the same was rejected by order dated 07.06.2021 without assigning any reason. It is pointed out that order dated 07.06.2021 records that the reply has been examined and same has not been found to be satisfactory for the following reasons. Thereafter the entire document is blank and states that application is rejected in accordance with the provision of the Act.

9. Learned counsel submits that since the petitioner had applied for cancellation, petitioner did not file the returns and however a notice seeking cancellation of registration was issued on 04.01.2022 on the ground that petitioner had "not filed returns for continuous period of six months" and pursuant thereto the impugned order of cancellation has been passed with retrospective effect effective from 26.07.2018.

10. Learned counsel submits that though petitioner had initially decided to close down his business. However, now he wants to continue the business and as such does not seek the cancellation of the GST registration and seeks its revival.

11. He submits that petitioner is willing to make all necessary compliances under Rule 23 of the Central Goods and Service Tax Rules, 2017 and furnish all returns with delayed fine and penalties. He submits that petitioner has not carried out any business from the date he sought cancellation till date. However, without prejudice will file all necessary returns with fine and penalties.

12. We notice that the show cause notice and the impugned order are ber