Case Law Details
Udayraj Yadav Vs Sales Tax Officer (Delhi High Court)
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has directed the cancellation of GST registration of Udayraj Yadav, a wholesale trader, retroactively from the date of the Show Cause Notice (SCN). This judgment, passed on May 15, 2023, underscores the importance of procedural compliance and provides clarity on the retrospective cancellation of GST registrations. The case revolves around the non-continuation of business activities and alleged wrongful availment of Input Tax Credit (ITC).
The petitioner, Udayraj Yadav, held a GST registration for his wholesale and trading business. However, a Show Cause Notice (SCN) was issued on April 27, 2023, alleging that Yadav had issued invoices without actual supply of goods or services, leading to wrongful ITC claims. This SCN did not indicate the possibility of retrospective cancellation, thereby not providing Yadav an opportunity to contest this aspect.
On May 15, 2023, the GST registration was cancelled retrospectively from July 1, 2017. The cancellation order lacked detailed reasoning and only cited non-reply to the SCN and violation of Rule 21(b) as grounds. Yadav’s subsequent application for revocation of the cancellation was also rejected based on availing ITC from dubious entities without substantial details.
Yadav contended that his business was no longer operational and all necessary GST returns had been filed up to March 2023. The court observed that both the SCN and the cancellation order were devoid of specifics regarding the alleged wrongful ITC claims. It emphasized that retrospective cancellation under Section 29(2) of the GST Act should be based on objective criteria and not applied mechanically.
The court highlighted the adverse impact of retrospective cancellation on the customers of the taxpayer, who would be denied ITC for transactions during the affected period. It clarified that such drastic measures must be justifiable and supported by clear evidence.
Given that both parties—the petitioner wanting to exit the business and the respondent aiming for compliance—sought the cancellation, the court modified the effective date to April 27, 2023, aligning with the SCN issuance.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF DELHI HIGH COURT
Petitioner impugns order dated 15.05.2023 whereby the GST registration of the petitioner was cancelled retrospectively with effect from 01.07.2017 and also impugns Show Cause Notice dated 27.04.2023.
2. Petitioner was engaged in the business of wholesale and trading of various products and possessed GST Registration bearing number 07AJSPY6068K1Z under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).
3. Show Cause Notice dated 27.04.2023 was issued to the Petitioner seeking to cancel its registration. The notice stated, “Issues any invoice or bill without Act, or the rules made thereunder refund of tax. supply of goods and/or services in violation of the provisions of this leading to wrongful availment or utilization of input tax credit.” Said Show Cause Notice does not put the petitioner to notice that the registration is liable to be cancelled retrospectively. Thus, petitioner had no opportunity to object to the retrospective cancellation of the registration.
4. Thereafter, impugned order dated 15.05.2023, passed on the Show Cause Notice, does not give any reasons for cancellation. It merely states that the registration is liable to be cancelled for the following reason “Whereas no reply to notice to show cause has been submitted and whereas, the undersigned based on record available with this office is of the opinion that your registration is liable to be cancelled for following reason(s): Rule 2l (b)- person issues invoice or bill without supply of goods or services or both in violation of the provisions of the Act, or the rules made thereunder”.
5. The order further states that effective date of cancellation of registration is 01.07.2017 i.e., a retrospective date. There is no material on record to show as to why the registration is sought to be cancelled retrospectively.
6. Pursuant to the said impugned order, Petitioner filed an application dated 12.06.2023 seeking revocation of cancellation of GST registration. On the said application, Petitioner was issued Show Cause Notice dated 11.07.2023 for rejection of application for revocation of cancellation of GST registration stating “Reason for revocation of cancellation – Others (Please specify) – You have availed ITC from SAI Enterprises and Mahadev Enterprises.” Petitioner even filed a reply dated 20.07.2023 to the said Show Cause Notice.
7. Thereafter, vide order dated 18.08.2023, the application for revocation of cancellation was rejected on the ground that “Reason for revocation of cancellation – Others (Please specify) – You have availed ITC from SAI Enterprises and Mahadev Enterprises.”
8. As per the Petitioner, all GST returns for the period till March 2023 have been filed.
9. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that petitioner is no longer interested in continuing business and has closed down all business activities.
10. We notice that the Show Cause Notice and the impugned order are bereft of any details. Neither the Show Cause Notice, nor the order spell out the reasons for retrospective cancellation. They also do not give any particulars of the alleged wrongful availment of ITC from SAI Enterprises and Mahadev Enterprises. Accordingly, the same cannot be sustained.
11. In terms of Section 29(2) of the Act, the proper officer may cancel the GST registration of a person from such date including any retrospective date, as he may deem fit if the circumstances set out in the said sub-section are satisfied. Registration cannot be cancelled with retrospective effect mechanically. It can be cancelled only if the proper officer deems it fit to do so. Such satisfaction cannot be subjective but must be based on some objective criteria. Merely, because a taxpayer has not filed the returns for some period does not mean that the taxpayer’s registration is required to be cancelled with retrospective date also covering the period when the returns were filed and the taxpayer was compliant.
12. It is important to note that, according to the respondent, one of the consequences for cancelling a taxpayer’s registration with retrospective effect is that the taxpayer’s customers are denied the input tax credit availed in respect of the supplies made by the tax payer during such period. Although, we do not consider it apposite to examine this aspect but assuming that the respondent’s contention is required to consider this aspect while passing any order for cancellation of GST registration with retrospective effect. Thus, a taxpayer’s registration can be cancelled with retrospective effect only where such consequences are intended and are warranted.
13. It is clear that both the petitioner and the respondent want the GST registration to be cancelled, though for different reasons.
14. In view of the above and the fact that the Petitioner does not seek to carry on business or continue the registration, impugned order dated 15.05.2023 is modified to the limited extent that registration shall now be treated as cancelled with effect from 27.04.2023 i.e., the date when Show Cause Notice seeking cancellation of GST registration was issued.
15. Petitioner shall make the necessary compliances as required by Section 29 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.
16. It is clarified that if there is any wrongful availment of ITC from SAI Enterprises and Mahadev Enterprises or any other ground, it is open to the Respondents to take such appropriate steps for recovery of any tax, penalty or interest that may be due in respect of the subject firm in accordance with law including retrospective cancellation of the GST registration after issuing a proper Show Cause Notice and granting an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
17. Petition is accordingly disposed of in the above terms.
Author Bio
