Case Law Details
B L Pahariya Medical Store Vs State of U.P. (Allahabad High Court)
The recent case of B.L. Pahariya Medical Store v. State of U.P [Writ Tax No. 981 of 2023 dated August 22, 2023 has cast light on a pivotal issue in the realm of judicial proceedings: the significance of the opportunity for a personal hearing before passing an adverse order. The Hon’ble Allahabad High Court’s determination brings clarity to the expectations of the Adjudicating Authority.
Hon’ble Allahabad High Court set aside the demand order passed by the Adjudicating Authority and held that, the assessee is not required to request for opportunity of personal hearing, and it remained mandatory upon Adjudicating Authority to afford such opportunity before passing an adverse order.
Facts:
B.L. Pahariya Medical Store (“the Petitioner”) was served a Show Cause Notice on July 12, 2022 (“the SCN”) by the Revenue Department (“the Respondent”) seeking his reply within 15 days.
The Petitioner filed the reply to the SCN on December 30, 2022.
The Adjudicating Authority passed an order dated March 21,2022 (“the Impugned order”), whereby demand and penalty of INR 26 crores has been confirmed against the Petitioner.
The Petitioner relied upon the Judgement of Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals v. Commissioner Commercial Tax & 2 Ors. [(2022) 48 VLJ 325] and on Section 75(4) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act (“the CGST Act”) and contended the Adjudicating Authority was bound to afford opportunity of personal hearing to the Petitioner before he may have passed an adverse assessment order.
The Petitioner relied upon the Judgement of M/s Hitech Sweet Water Technologies Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Gujarat, [2022 UPTC (Vol. 112) 1760] wherein the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court set aside the Impugned Order on the ground that the lower authority was non-compliant of principles of natural justice in form of not giving opportunity of personal hearing.
Issue:
Whether the Adjudicating Authority can pass order without offering opportunity of being heard?
Held:
The Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in Writ Tax No. 981 of 2023 held as under:
- Noted that, the stand of the Petitioner may remain unclear unless minimal opportunity of hearing is first granted.
- Directed to issue a fresh SCN to the Petitioner within a period of two weeks.
- Relied upon the Judgement of Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals v. Commissioner Commercial Tax & 2 Ors. [(2022) 48 VLJ 325] wherein the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court held that, the Adjudicating Authority was bound to afford opportunity of personal hearing to the Petitioner before he may have passed an adverse assessment order.
- Held that, a principle of law is laid down that the Petitioner is not required to request for “opportunity of personal hearing” and it remained mandatory upon Adjudicating Authority to afford such opportunity before passing an adverse order.
- Set aside the Impugned Order and remanded back the matter to Adjudicating Authority.
Our Comments:
Similarly, in the case of Mohini Traders v. State of U.P. [WRIT TAX No. 551 of 2023 dated May 3, 2023] the Allahabad High Court held that, it is mandatory to provide opportunity of personal hearing even if the assessee has opted ‘No’ on the against column description “Date of personal hearing” on the common portal.
Conclusion: The B.L. Pahariya Medical Store v. State of U.P. case serves as a watershed moment, accentuating the necessity of adhering to principles of natural justice in the judicial realm. By ensuring the right to a personal hearing is upheld, not only are the principles of justice served, but it also paves the way for more comprehensive, well-reasoned judgments that reflect the true spirit of the law.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
1. Heard Sri Aditya Pandey, learned counsel for the assessee and Sri Nimai Das, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State Respondents.
2. In absence of any dispute as to fact, the matter has been proceeded with the consent of parties at the fresh stage itself.
3. Challenge has been raised to the order dated 21.03.2023 passed by the Deputy Commissioner, State Tax, Sector-1, Karvi, for the tax period July 2017 to March 2018, whereby demand in excess to Rs. 26 Lacs has been raised against the present petitioner.
4. Solitary ground being pressed in the present petition is, the only notice in the proceedings was issued to the petitioner on 12.07.2022 seeking his reply within 15 days.
5. Relying on Section 75(4) of the U.P. GST Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’) as interpreted by a coordinate bench of this Court in Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals Vs. Commissioner Commerical Tax & 2 Ors., (2022) 48 VLJ 325, it has been then asserted, the Assessing Authority was bound to afford opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner before he may have passed an adverse assessment order. Insofar as the assessment order has raised disputed demand of tax and penalty about Rs. 26 Lacs, the same is wholly adverse to the petitioner. In absence of opportunity of hearing afforded, the same is contrary to the law declared by this Court in Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals (supra). Reliance has also been placed on a decision of the Gujarat High Court in M/S Hitech Sweet Water Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Vs. State of Gujarat, 2022 UPTC (Vol. 112) 1760.
6. Having hearing learned counsel for the parties and having perused the record, Section 75(4) of the Act reads as under :
“An opportunity of hearing shall be granted where a request is received in writing from the person chargeable with tax or penalty, or where any adverse decision is contemplated against such person.”
7. We find ourselves in complete agreement with the view taken by the coordinate bench in Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals (supra). Once it has been laid down by way of a principle of law that a person/assessee is not required to request for “opportunity of personal hearing” and it remained mandatory upon the Assessing Authority to afford such opportunity before passing an adverse order, the fact that the petitioner may have signified ‘No’ in the column meant to mark the assessee’s choice to avail personal hearing, would bear no legal consequence.
8. Even otherwise in the context of an assessment order creating heavy civil liability, observing such minimal opportunity of hearing is a must. Principle of natural justice would commend to this Court to bind the authorities to always ensure to provide such opportunity of hearing. It has to be ensured that such opportunity is granted in real terms. Here, we note, the impugned order itself has been passed on 21.03.2023, while reply to the show-cause-notice had been entertained on 30.12.2022. The stand of the assessee may remain unclear unless minimal opportunity of hearing is first granted. Only thereafter, the explanation furnished may be rejected and demand created.
9. Not only such opportunity would ensure observance of rules of natural of justice but it would allow the authority to pass appropriate and reasoned order as may serve the interest of justice and allow a better appreciation to arise at the next/appeal stage, if required.
10. Accordingly, the present writ petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 21.03.2023 is set aside. The matter is remitted to the Respondent No.2/Assistant Commissioner, State Tax, Sector-1, Karvi, to issue a fresh notice to the petitioner within a period of two weeks from today. The petitioner undertakes to appear before that authority on the next date fixed such that proceedings may be concluded, as expeditiously as possible.
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