Advantage India Logistics Private Limited Vs Union of India (Madhya Pradesh HC)
On due of the provisions of Section 4 of the IGST Act, we are of the view that officers appointed under the MPGST Act are authorized to be proper officers for the purpose of IGST and, therefore, the contention of the petitioner that no notification was issued and in absence of any notification under Section 4 of the IGST Act has no force, we cannot accept the contention of the petitioner that the action of the respondent No.4 is wholly without jurisdiction.
FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT ORDER / JUDGMENT
In the present writ petition, the petitioner – Advantage India Logistics Private Limited is praying for quashment of seizure memo dated 15.07.2018 (Annexure-P/1) issued under Section 129(1) of Madhya Pradesh Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017 (in short “the MPGST Act, 2017”).
2. According to the petitioner, M. P. State Government or officials authorized under the MPGST Act, 2017 have no jurisdiction to exercise the powers under the Integrated Goods and Services Act, 2017 (in short “the IGST Act, 2017), particularly under Section 4 of the IGST Act, 2017.
3. It is also averred that there is no separate notification authorizing officials of the State Government under the IGST Act to exercise powers under the IGST Act, 2017, therefore, the respondent Nos.3 and 4 have no power to inspect, search and seize goods under the IGST Act, 2017 and prayed for its quashment.
4. The sole contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that in absence of any notification under Section 4 of IGST Act, 2017, the respondent No.4 is not competent to issue show cause notice and the impugned seizure memo dated 15.07.2018 is wholly without jurisdiction.
5. The IGST Act, 2017 deals with taxability of inter-state supply of goods and services. Section 4 of the IGST Act reads as under :-
4. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act, the officers appointed under the State Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act are authorised to be the proper officers for the purposes of this Act, subject to such exceptions and conditions as the Government shall, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, specify.
6. From perusal of the aforesaid, it is clear that the officers appointed under the MPGST Act, 2017 was authorized to be proper officers for the purposes of the IGST Act.
7. At present, no notification was issued by the Central Government under Section 4 of the IGST Act. By order dated 12.10.2017, the respondent No.4 was authorized as proper officer and was bestowed with powers such as inspection, search and seizure under Section 68 of the MPGST Act. Serial Nos.31 and 57 of the order dated 12.10.2017 (Annexure-R/1) reads as under :-
