04 Apr Audit wing of SGST Authority shall keep all proceedings in abeyance if the subject matter is pending before the CGST Authority
The Audit division of the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Authority is mandated to suspend all actions if a matter is pending before the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Authority, according to a ruling by the Calcutta High Court in the case of Mahabir Prasad Kedia v. Assistant Commissioner of State Tax [MAT No. 2388 of 2023 dated January 9, 2024].
Facts:
- Mr. Mahabir Prasad Kedia, the Appellant, received an audit memo highlighting several discrepancies.
- Upon receiving the audit notice, the Appellant informed the SGST Authority about a show cause notice (SCN) issued by the anti-evasion wing of the CGST Department on March 28, 2023, addressing the same issues for the financial years 2017-2018 to 2021-2022.
- The Appellant responded to the Impugned SCN on May 04, 2023, and the matter was pending adjudication.
- Despite the Appellant's submission, the audit wing of the SGST Authority overlooked it and proceeded with the matter.
- The subject was pending adjudication by the CGST Authority, to whom the Appellant had submitted a reply on May 02, 2023.
Held:
- The Calcutta High Court ruled that the SGST Authority's audit division should suspend proceedings concerning the discrepancy noted, as the matter was under consideration by the CGST Authority.
- Following this decision, the SGST Authority issued an SCN on December 29, 2023, clarifying that the audit wing should not proceed with the matter.
- Consequently, the appeal, along with related applications and writ petitions, was disposed of.
- The SGST Authority was directed to halt all proceedings regarding the noted discrepancy, including the show cause notice issued on December 29, 2023, and adhere to the adjudication order from the CGST Authority regarding the Impugned SCN.
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