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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 42505

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
C. Saravanan, J
Mylapore Ambika Appalam Depot – Appellant
Versus
State Tax Officer – Respondent
W.M.P.Nos.16568 and 16569 of 2026



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Suresh T
For the Respondents: P.Selvi

The court may allow de novo adjudication of tax assessments in exceptional circumstances, subject to the petitioner's willingness to pre-deposit a portion of the disputed tax, even after the lapse of the statutory appeal period.

Headnote:The petitioner challenged an order passed under S. 73 of the Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 and Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, claiming violation of natural justice. Despite receipt of a show cause notice and multiple reminders, the petitioner failed to appear for hearings or submit a reply, leading to the ex-parte assessment. The court noted the statutory appeal period had expired. The core issue is whether the court should exercise its writ jurisdiction to allow for de novo adjudication despite the petitioner's failure to participate in the assessment proceedings. The ratio decidendi rests on the petitioner's willingness to perform a pre-deposit of 25% of the disputed tax and the court's discretion to permit a fresh assessment to ensure the case is heard on merits in accordance with law. The writ petition is disposed of by remitting the case back to the authority for a fresh order upon the petitioner depositing 25% of the disputed tax within thirty days, and providing liberty to the authority to recover the tax if the stipulations are not met.

Table of Content
1. procedural compliance and the consequences of failing to respond to assessment notices. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5)
2. remission of case for de novo adjudication conditional upon pre-deposit of taxes. (Para 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10)
3. stipulations and liberty of respondent upon failure to comply with court directives. (Para 11 , 12 , 13)

ORDER

Mrs.P.Selvi, learned Government Advocate takes notice for the Respondent.

2. This Writ Petition is being disposed of at the stage of admission itself with the consent of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Government Advocate for the Respondent.

3. In this Writ Petition, the Petitioner has challenged the impugned Order dated 12.02.2025, which was preceded by a Show Cause Notice in GST DRC-01 dated 22.11.2024 wherein the Petitioner was called upon to file a reply and to appear for a personal hearing. However, the Petitioner did not take advantage of the same and has thus suffered the impugned Order dated

12.02.2025.

4. The Petitioner was also issued with Reminders on 26.12.2024, 03.01.2025 and 11.01.2025, which called upon the Petitioner to file a reply and to appear for a personal hearing. The Petitioner however neither filed any reply nor appeared for the personal hearing fixed on 10.01.2025 and 20.01.2025.

Thus, the impugned Order has been passed.

5. It is noticed that the limitation for filing an appeal under Section 107 of the respective GST enactments, 2017 against the impugned Order has already expired long before. However, the present Writ Petition has been filed only on

01.04.2026.

6. At this stage, the learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is willing to pre-deposit 25% of the disputed tax as a condition for denovo adjudication.

7. The learned counsel for the Petitioner has also made an following endorsement to that effect in the Court bundle which has been extracted hereunder:-

“Petitioner agree to pay 25% of Tax due and Bank A/c may lifted.”

8. Recording the above consent given by the Petitioner, the case is remitted back to the Respondent to pass a fresh order on merits subject to the Petitioner depositing 25% of the disputed tax in cash or from the Petitioner's Electronic Cash Register within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

9. Within such time, the Petitioner shall also file a reply to the Show Cause Notice in GST DRC-01 dated 22.11.2024 together with requisite documents to substantiate the case by treating the impugned Order dated

12.02.2025 as an addendum to the Show Cause Notice dated 22.11.2024.

10. In case the Petitioner complies with the above stipulations, the Respondent shall proceed to pass a final order on merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three (3) months of such reply/pre-deposit. Subject to the Petitioner complying with the above stipulations, the attachment of the bank account of the Petitioner if any, shall also stand automatically vacated.

11. It is made clear that bank attachment shall be lifted subject to the Petitioner depositing 25% of the disputed tax as ordered above and the Petitioner not being in arrears of any other amount for any other tax period barring the amount demanded under the impugned Order.

12. In case the Petitioner fails to comply with any of the stipulations, the Respondent is at liberty to proceed against the Petitioner to recover the tax in accordance with law as if this Writ Petition was dismissed in limine today.

13. Needless to state, before passing any such order, the Respondent shall give due notice to the Petitioner.

14. This Writ Petition stands disposed of with the above observations.

No costs. Connected Writ Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

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