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2023 Supreme(All) 2784

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
PIYUSH AGRAWAL, J.
J.K. Cement Ltd. - Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. and 3 Others - Respondents
WRIT TAX NO. - 44 OF 2023.
Decided On : 28-08-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner: Shubham Agarwal.
For the Respondent: Rishi Kumra A.C.S.C.

Headnote:(A) Goods and Services Tax Act - Section 129(3) - The petitioner, a registered company, contested a penalty imposed for transporting goods without an e-way bill. The court determined that the goods were exempt from the e-way bill requirement per applicable notifications from Madhya Pradesh. The impugned orders were deemed arbitrary and not justified due to lack of relevant discrepancies. (Paras 4, 9, 11)

(B) Legal Principle - Registered entities fulfil G.S.T. obligations while exemptions exist for certain goods under specified circumstances, and penalties cannot be imposed in the absence of discrepancies regarding the goods' transport documentation. (Paras 9, 11)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner attempted to transport goods from Gwalior to Panna, Madhya Pradesh, and was penalized under the G.S.T. Act for non-possession of an e-way bill despite holding valid tax invoices and G.R. receipts.

Findings of Court:
The penalty was incorrectly imposed as the goods are exempt from e-way bill requirements during transit within Madhya Pradesh with no discrepancies found in documentation.

Issues: Whether the penalty was justified given the lack of discrepancies in documentation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court reasoned that the goods did not require an e-way bill due to applicable state notifications, and the seizure was unjustified as there was no intent to evade tax.

Result: Writ petition allowed; the impugned orders set aside.

Table of Content
1. facts surrounding the petitioner's case. (Para 2 , 3 , 4)
2. petitioner's arguments regarding e-way bill. (Para 5 , 6)
3. respondent's argument supporting the impugned order. (Para 7)
4. court's observations about the correct interpretation of the law. (Para 8 , 9 , 10 , 11)
5. court's final decision and order. (Para 12)

JUDGMENT

Piyush Agrawal, J.

Heard Mr. Shubham Agarwal for the petitioner and Mr. Rishi Kumar, learned A.C.S.C. for the respondent authority.

2. The present writ petition is being entertained by this Court at this stage as no G.S.T. Tribunal has been formed in the State of U.P.

3. By means of present petition, the petitioner is assailing the order dated 8.10.2021 and 12.11.2021 passed by respondent nos. 4 and 3 respectively.

4. Brief facts of the case are that the petitioner being registered company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cements, wall putty, adhesives etc. The petitioner is duly registered under the GOODS AND SERVICES TAX ACT and paying the taxes as and when its due. In the normal course of business, the petitioner has sent five consignments of J.K. Cement White MaxX Premium White Portland Cement, J.K. Cement WallmaxX putty and J.K. MaxX waterproof Putty and five invoices were also issued. The said goods were transported from Gwalior to Panna, Madhya Pradesh by which two G.R. number i.e. 612 and 611 were also issued in which vehicle number was also mentioned as MP 20 HB4370. The goods on its onward journey from Gwalior to Panna, Madhya Pradesh passes through the State of UP where the said goods were intercepted during transit on the ground that e-way bill was not accompanying the goods. On the said basis, the impugned order was passed under Section 129 (3) of the Act by which the penalty of Rs. 175236/- was imposed under G.S.T. Act, against which the first appeal was preferred, which was also dismissed. Hence the present petition.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that petitioner is registered company engaged in the business of aforesaid goods and was also registered under the G.S.T. Act. He submitted that a notification was issued on 14.8.2018 in State of Madhya Pradesh in which it has been provided that only the items mentioned at serial numbers 1 to 11 of the said notification, are required to carry e-way bill during transportation and on the strength of said notification, he submitted that the goods in question during transit, were not required to carry e-way bill on its movement within the State of Madhya Pradesh. He further submitted that it is not in dispute that the goods were accompanying with all requisite documents such as tax invoices and G.R on which no discrepancy whatsoever was found.

6. He further submitted that it is not in dispute that the goods were originated from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and to be terminated in Panna, Madhya Pradesh and once this fact is admitted by the authorities, the impugned order passed against the petitioner under Section 129 of G.S.T. Act is arbitrary and illegal. He further submitted that the petitioner being a registered company, the proceedings ought to have been initiated under Section 122 (XIV) of GST Act. He further submitted that once there is no discrepancy having been found with regard to quantity, quality or movement of the goods originating from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and to be terminated at Panna, Madhya Pradesh, the impugned orders are not justified. He prays for allowing the writ petition.

7. Per contra, Mr. Rishi Kumar, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel supports the impugned order and submitted that the goods in question was not carrying e-way bill which was required to be carried while the goods were in transport. He further submitted that the Notification dated 24.4.2018 is of no help to the petitioner as its reference to the State of Madhya Pradesh and not of State of U.P. He prays for dismissal of this writ petition.

8. The Court has perused the re

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