Central Goods and
Services Tax Act, 2017, Section 29
Cancellation of
registration--Order
passed without any reason--Validity of
Conclusion: Where no reason was recorded
while passing the order of cancellation of registration, the impugned order was
liable to be set aside.
GST registration of
the assessee was cancelled by the authority under section 29 of the Act. The
assessee submitted that the order of cancellation was passed without any
application of mind. Held: As no reason was recorded while
passing the order of cancellation of the registration, the same was thus not in
accordance with law, and hence, the impugned order was set aside.
Decision: In favour of assessee
Relied: Surendra
Bahadur Singh v. State of U.P. case (Writ
Tax No.172 of 2023) : 2023 TaxPub(GST) 1257 (All-HC)
IN THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
SHEKHAR B. SARAF, J.
Shiv Shakti Construction & Suppliers v. CCT
Writ Tax No. 508 of 2024
3 April, 2024
Petitioner by: Pooja Talwar
Respondent by: C.S.C.
Shekhar B. Saraf, J.
Heard Mrs. Pooja Talwar, learned counsel for the petitioner
and Sri Ravi Shanker Pandey, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the
State.
2. This is a writ petition
under article 226 of the Constitution of India, wherein the petitioner
challenges the order in original for cancellation of registration dated
1-3-2023 and the order dated 15-3-2024 passed in appeal under section 107 of
the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as
"the Act").
3. Learned counsel appearing
on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the order for cancellation of
registration has been passed without any application of mind whatsoever and the
same is clear from the very first two lines of the order dated March 1, 2023.
The relevant part of the said order is quoted below:
"This has reference to your
reply dated 16-2-2023 in response to the notice to show cause dated 15-1-2023
Whereas no reply to notice to show cause has been submitted"
4. Learned counsel appearing
on behalf of the petitioner submits that in the first line, the order states
that a reply was filed by the petitioner on 1-1-2022 whereas the second line
contradicts the above statement saying that no reply was filed by the petitioner.
He relies upon a Division Bench judgment of this Court in Writ Tax No.172 of
2023 : 2023 TaxPub(GST) 1257 (All-HC) titled as Surendra Bahadur Singh
v. State of U.P. and others decided on 23-8-2023, wherein the Division
Bench has held as follows:
"6. Learned counsel for the
petitioner argues that although no fault can be found with the appellate order
dismissing the appeal as Appellate Authority does not have the power to condone
the delay in terms of the scheme of the Act, however, he argues that the order
cancelling the registration is without application of mind; he draws my
attention to the impugned order dated 07-1-2023, which does not disclose any
application of mind. He, thus, argues that the quasi judicial order which has
an adverse effect on the right of the petitioner to run business as guaranteed
under article 19 of the Constitution of India, the same has been done without
any application of mind which is neither the intent of the Act nor can it be
held to be in compliance of the mandate of article 14 of the Constitution of
India. He further argues that as the appeal has not been decided on merit, the
doctrine of merger will have no application and it is only the order dated
7-1-2023 which affects the petitioner and as the same is devoid of any reasons,
the same can be challenged before this Court as decided by the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in the case of Whirlpool Corporation v. Registrar of Trademarks,
Mumbai and Ors. (1998) 8 SCC 1.
7. He further places reliance on
the judgment of this Court in the case of Om Prakash Mishra v. State of U.P.
& Ors.; Writ Tax No.100 of 2022 decided on 06-9-2022 : 2022
TaxPub(GST) 1471 (All-HC) wherein this Court had recorded that every
administrative authority or a quasi judicial authority should necessarily
indicate reasons as reasons are heart and soul of any judicial or
administrative order.
8. In the present case from the
perusal of the order dated 7-1-2023, clearly there is no reason ascribed to
take such a harsh action of cancellation of registration. In view of the order
being without any application of mind, the same does not satisfy the test of
Article 14 of the Constitution of India, as such, the impugned order dated
07-1-2023 (Annexure - 2) is set aside. The petition is accordingly allowed.
9. It is, however, directed that
the petitioner shall file reply to the show-cause notice within a period of
three weeks from today. The Adjudicating Authority i.e. Assistant Commissioner,
Gonda shall proceed to pass fresh order after giving an opportunity of hearing
to the petitioner and after considering whatever defence he may take."
5. Learned counsel for the
petitioner further relies upon a coordinate Bench judgment of this Court in Writ
Tax No.1476 of 2022 : 2023 TaxPub(GST) 1549 (All-HC) titled
as M/s Namo Narayan Singh v. State of U.P. and others decided on
10-10-2023 to emphasis the point that providing of reasons in order is of
essence in judicial proceedings.
6. In the present case, the
facts are similar to one in Surendra Bahadur Singh's case (supra),
wherein the appeal was barred by time under section 107 of the Act. However,
the Division Bench in Surendra Bahadur Singh's case
(supra) took into consideration the original order and set aside the same
being non-reasoned and allowed the petitioner therein to file reply to the show
cause notice.
7. In light of the above, I
am of the view that the orders impugned herein are liable to be set aside.
Accordingly, the order in original dated 1-3-2023 and the appellate order dated
15-3-2024 are quashed and set aside. The petitioner is directed to file its
reply to the show cause notice within three weeks from date and the
adjudicating authority is directed to proceed de novo and pass order after
granting opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
8. With the above
directions, the writ petition is allowed.