Appellate Authority must not dismiss appeals for default without determining points on merits as per statutory obligations.

1. Petitioner challenges the orders of the Appellate Authority under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act , 2017 (for short, the CGST Act') for the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

2. Pursuant to orders issued under S.73 of the CGST Act for the aforementioned two financial years, petitioner preferred appeals before the respondent. However, by the impugned orders, both the appeals were dismissed after noticing the non - appearance of the petitioner. Despite granting three adjournments, when the petitioner failed to appear for hearing, the Appellate Authority dismissed the appeals without formulating any of the points for determination and even without giving any reason except the non - appearance of the petitioner. Aggrieved by the above two orders, petitioner has approached this Court under Art.226 of the Constitution of India.

3. I have heard Smt. Ammu Charles, the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Smt. Jasmin M. M., the learned Government Pleader.

4. The question that arises for determination is whether the Appellate Authority under the CGST Act can dismiss appeals for default?

5. S.107(12) of the CGST Act specifically states that the order of the Appellate Authority disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for determination and the reasons for the decision. In the light of sub-clause (12) of S.107 of the CGST Act, it is evident that the Appellate Authority has to consider the matter on merits and is not entitled to dismiss an appeal merely for non - appearance. Of course, when there is failure of the appellant to appear, the Appellate Authority shall not grant more than three adjournments to a party during the hearing of the appeal. Despite the failure of an appellant to appear, the Appellate Authority has to pass an order after determining the points for consideration, and the decision should be on merits.

6. Interpreting S.107 of the CGST Act, a Division Bench of the High Court of Patna had, in Purushottam Stores vs. State of Bihar , [2023 (75) GSTL 276 (Patna)] observed as follows;

"The specific statutory mandate is that after hearing the appellant, the Appellate Authority is to make further enquiry, if found necessary and pass such orders as it thinks just and proper, confirming, modifying or annulling the decision or order appealed against. Such affirmation, modification or annulment shall not be an empty formality nor can it be mechanical, without the consideration of the grounds of appeal. We observe so, specifically when the Appellate Authority is empowered to refuse the prayer for adjournment made by an appellant, if on three prior occasions, such adjournment has been allowed, in which case also the Appellate Authority cannot absolve itself from the obligation to conduct such further enquiry as is mandated under sub-section (11) of S.107. Sub-section (12), it has to be further emphasized, also requires the order of the Appelate Authority disposing of the appeal to be in writing and specifically stating the points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for such decision. When an appeal is dismissed for reason only of absence of the appellant or lack of effective prosecution, then the Tribunal should be found to have abdicated its powers and not followed the statutory mandate."

7. Apart from the above, the Division Bench of the Patna High Court has also considered the observations of the Supreme Court in Commissioner of Income Tax, Madras v. Chenniappa Mudaliar, Madurai , [(1969) 1 SCC 591] while dealing with the Income Tax Act.

8. In the light of the above principle, when the impugned order is appreciated, it is noticed that the points for determi