Recovery proceedings stayed until authority considers reply to notice and communicates its decision on objections.

The competent authority was required to consider the petitioner's reply to the recovery notice before taking further coercive action, because the reply was still pending consideration. The Court directed the authority to examine the reply dated 11 November 2024, received on 13 November 2024, and communicate its decision on the petitioner's contentions. It further restrained initiation of any recovery proceeding until that communication is made, thereby keeping recovery in abeyance pending the decision on the reply.

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Issues: Whether the authority should be directed to consider the petitioner's reply to the recovery notice and whether recovery proceedings could be initiated before communicating that decision.

Analysis: The reply filed by the petitioner was stated to be pending consideration. Since recovery proceedings had not yet been initiated, the Court directed the competent authority to consider the reply dated 11 November 2024, received on 13 November 2024, and to communicate its decision on the petitioner's contentions. The Court further directed that no recovery proceeding be initiated until such communication is made.

Outcome: The writ petition was disposed of with directions to consider the reply and keep recovery in abeyance until communication of the order.

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