01 May Assessment Order Invalid: Kerala HC Rules on GST Registration Cancellation
Introduction
The Kerala High Court recently addressed a crucial issue regarding the validity of an assessment order when an assessee could not file a reply due to the cancellation of their GST registration. This article delves into the details of the case and the court’s ruling.
Facts of the Case
The case, Vadakkot Chackoo Devassy v. State of Kerala and Others, involved a writ petition filed against an assessment order passed under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The petitioner, Vadakkot Chackoo Devassy, contested that the show cause notice was issued on the very next day after the notice in Form GST ASMT-10, and no official copies of these documents were provided to them. Additionally, the petitioner could not file a reply as their GST registration had been canceled before the issuance of the show cause notice.
Issue
The central issue addressed in the case was whether the assessment order remained valid when the petitioner was unable to file a reply due to the cancellation of their GST registration.
Court’s Decision
The Kerala High Court, in its ruling on WP (C) No. 42265 of 2023, made the following observations:
- The petitioner was not given any time to file a reply to the notice in GST ASMT-10.
- The petitioner's GST registration was canceled before the said notices were uploaded on the GST Portal.
- The court deemed the situation to be a violation of the principles of natural justice.
Violation of Principles of Natural Justice
The court emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of natural justice, which include the right to be heard and the opportunity to present one’s case. In this case, the cancellation of the petitioner’s GST registration deprived them of the chance to respond to the show cause notice, leading to a clear violation of these principles.
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