Court overturns GST registration cancellation, stresses natural justice

The Court set aside the order cancelling registration under the Goods and Service Tax Act due to inconsistencies in the reasoning provided. The Court granted liberty to the respondent to issue a fresh order in compliance with the law, emphasizing the importance of adhering to principles of natural justice and fairness in administrative actions under the GST regime. The writ petition was allowed without costs.

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Issues Involved:
Challenge to order cancelling registration under Goods and Service Tax Act - Availability of alternative remedy under Section 30 of CGST Act - Maintainability of writ petition - Grounds for cancellation of registration - Contradiction in order - Request for setting aside the impugned order.

Analysis:
The petitioner filed a writ petition seeking to quash the order dated 14.04.2020, cancelling their registration under the Goods and Service Tax Act. The respondent raised a preliminary objection, contending that the petitioner had an alternative remedy under Section 30 of the CGST Act for revocation of the impugned order. The petitioner argued that since the impugned order was prima facie illegal and passed without due application of mind, the writ petition was maintainable despite the availability of an alternative remedy.

On the merits of the case, the petitioner, a registered entity under the GST Act, detailed the sequence of events leading to the cancellation order. The petitioner received a notice in April 2019 and responded accordingly. Subsequently, a show cause notice for cancellation was issued, and the petitioner's counsel appeared seeking details. The impugned order cancelling registration was passed on 14.04.2020, citing non-attendance at a Personal Hearing (PH) and failure to submit a reply as reasons for approval of cancellation. The petitioner contended that the order was arbitrary and contradictory as it referenced the petitioner's reply in the same order while stating otherwise in the cancellation rationale.

During the hearing, the respondent's counsel conceded that the impugned order could not be sustained legally and suggested remanding the matter for a fresh order. The Court observed the contradiction in the cancellation order where it mentioned the absence of a reply despite referencing the petitioner's response in the same document. Consequently, the Court set aside the order dated 14.04.2020 and granted liberty to the respondent to pass a fresh order in compliance with the law. The writ petition was allowed, with no costs imposed.

In conclusion, the Court found the cancellation order to be flawed due to the inconsistency in citing the petitioner's reply. By setting aside the order and allowing the respondent to issue a fresh decision, the Court upheld the principles of natural justice and fairness in administrative actions under the GST regime.

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