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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Manmohan, Navin Chawla, JJ.
Shri Dhan Laxmi Trade House Pvt. Ltd. - Appellant
Versus
Principal Commissioner of Goods and Service Tax - Respondent
W.P.(C) 13080 of 2021
Decided On : 22-11-2021




Provisional attachments under GST cease after one year if no show cause notice is issued, affirming the need for timely communication in tax proceedings.

Headnote:(A) Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 - Sections 67 and 83(2) - Provisional attachment of bank account - Petitioner's current account was debit frozen due to proceedings initiated under Section 67 - Court held that attachment ceases effect after one year without notice - Respondents directed to de-freeze account within three days. (Paras 1-8)

(B) Writ jurisdiction - The Court examined the legality of the attachment and the necessity for notice prior to continuing such measures after one year, affirming the rights of the petitioner. (Paras 3-7)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought de-freezing of a bank account after it was subjected to provisional attachment on account of potential tax liabilities initiated under CGST Act. The attachment was claimed to surpass the statutory limit of one year without any show cause notice issued to the petitioner.

Findings of Court:
The court found that the provisions under the CGST Act were not complied with, necessitating the de-freezing of the account.

Issues: The key issue was whether the continued attachment of the petitioner's account beyond one year without a show cause notice was lawful.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that Section 83(2) mandates that provisional attachments must cease after one year unless further action is justified by issuing appropriate notices.

Result: Writ petition allowed; account to be de-frozen.

Table of Content
1. provisional attachment under cgst act and its duration (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. acceptance of notice by respondents regarding provisional attachment (Para 4 , 5 , 6)
3. direction to de-freeze the account (Para 7)
4. disposal of writ petition (Para 8)

JUDGMENT

Manmohan, J.: (Oral)

C.M.No.41260/2021

Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

Accordingly, the application stands disposed of.

W.P.(C) 13080/2021

1. By way of the present petition, Petitioner seeks directions to the Respondents to defreeze the Petitioner's Current Account No.181905001156 with Respondent No.2-Bank.

2. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner states that the Petitioner's account had been directed to be debit freezed by Respondent No.1 vide letter dated 10th August, 2020 written to the Respondent No. 2-Bank. He states that the account had been attached merely on account of initiation of proceedings by Respondent No.1 against the Petitioner under Section 67 of the CGST Act i.e. to determine if there is any tax amount due and payable by the petitioner.

3. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that Section 83(2) of the CGST Act, 2017 provides that every provisional attachment shall cease to have effect after the expiry of one year from the date the order had been made under sub-Section (1). He states that in the instant case though the account of the petitioner had been debit freezed vide letter dated 10th August, 2020 and the period of one year had ended on 9th August, 2021, yet the account of Petitioner has not been de-freezed. He emphasises that the Petitioner has not been issued any show cause notice for any amount liable to be paid by it.

4. Issue notice.

5. Mr.Dhruv Bhattacharya, Advocate accepts notice on behalf of respondent no.1 and Mr.Rachit Bigghe, Advocate accepts notice on behalf of respondent no.2/ICICI Bank.

6. At Court's direction, learned counsel for respondent no.1 has obtained instructions. He admits that every provisional attachment shall cease to have effect after the expiry of period of one year from the date the order had been passed under Section 83(1) of the Act.

7. In view of the aforesaid statement, the present writ petition is allowed and the Respondents are directed to de-freeze the Petitioner's Current Account No.181905001156 with Respondent no.2-Bank, within three working days of uploading of the present order.

8. With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

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