Case Law Details
Union of India & Ors. Vs Shantanu Sanjay Hundekari & Anr. Etc. (Supreme Court of India)
The Supreme Court of India upheld a High Court ruling that employees and authorized signatories of a company cannot be held personally liable for penalties under Sections 122(1-A) and 137 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act. The case arose when the Revenue issued a show cause notice to an employee of Maersk, seeking recovery of ₹3,731 crores. The High Court quashed the notice, stating that the GST provisions do not impose vicarious liability on employees for a company’s tax liabilities. It held that the Revenue lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the notice and deemed the demand against the employee as excessive and unjustified.
The Supreme Court, while dismissing the Revenue’s appeal, found no reason to interfere with the High Court’s judgment. However, it left open the broader legal question regarding the interpretation of Sections 122(1-A) and 137. This decision reaffirms that tax liabilities should be imposed on the company itself rather than its employees, unless explicitly provided by law. The ruling provides clarity on the extent of liability under GST laws and ensures that employees are not unduly pressured in corporate tax disputes. The Special Leave Petitions were dismissed, and all pending applications were disposed of. Also Read: Bombay HC Dismisses Rs. 3731 Crore CGST Act Penalty Notice issued to Salaried Employee
FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT/ORDER
1. Heard Mr. N. Venkataraman, the learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Revenue and Ms. Anuradha Dutt, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.
2. Delay condoned.
3. The High Court while allowing the Writ Petitions filed by the respondents, quashed the show cause notices issued by the Revenue seeking recovery of Rs.3731 Crore holding as under in Paras 32 and 33 respectively:-
“32. For the aforesaid reasons, it is clear from the relevant contents of the show cause notice that the basic jurisdictional requirements/ingredients, are nor attracted for issuance of the show cause notice under Section 74 of the COST Act so as to inter alia invoke Section 122(1-A) and Section 137 against the petitioner. Even otherwise, it is ill-conceivable to read and recognize into the provisions of Section 122 and Section 137, of the CGST Act any principle of vicarious liability being attracted. There could be none. Thus, Respondent no. 3 clearly lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the show cause notice in its applicability to the petitioner. Thus qua the petitioner, the impugned show cause notice is rendered bad and illegal, deserving it to be quashed and set aside.
33. The foregoing discussion would also lead us to conclude that it is highly unconscionable and disproportionate for the concerned officer of the Revenue to demand from the petitioner an amount of Rs.3731 crores, which in fact is clearly alleged to be the liability of Maersk, as the contents of the show cause notice itself would demonstrate, The petitioner would not be incorrect in contending that the purpose of issuing the show cause notice to the petitioner who is merely an employee, was designed to threaten and pressurize the petitioner.”
4. The issue before the High Court was one relating to the interpretation of Section 122(1-A) and Section 137 of the GST Act.
5. The High Court after assigning cogent reasons took the view that the respondent – herein was merely an employee of the Company and he could not have been fastened with the liability of Rs.3731 Crore.
6. We see no good reason to interfere with the common impugned Orders passed by the High Court.
7. However, the question of law as regards the two provisions, referred to above, is kept open.
8. The Special Leave Petitions are, accordingly, dismissed.
9. Pending applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.
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