2025 (9) TMI 867 - HC - VAT / Sales Tax

Respondents ordered to refund Rs16,11,19,226 cash with interest; Rule 92(1A) cannot override Sections 142(7)(b), 142(8)(b)

HC allowed the petition and directed respondents to refund Rs.16,11,19,226 being the 70% pre-deposit paid through Input Tax Credit/Electronic Credit ... Release of refund of the balance amount (70%) of pre-deposit to the Petitioner, alongwith interest - the balance 70% pre-deposit paid by the petitioner at the time of filing the appeal by utilizing the Input Tax Credit (ITC) available in its Electronic Credit Ledger (ECL) was not refunded back to the petitioner by the respondents - HELD THAT:- The undisputed material on record indicates that while 30% pre-deposit was made by the petitioner in Cash on 09.10.2017 and 10.10.2017 before First Appellate Authority, the balance/remaining 70% pre-deposit was made by the petitioner on 20.07.2019 through ITC/ECL in the appeals before the KAT; it is significant to note that this 70% pre-deposit made by the petitioner through ITC/ECL was consciously / voluntarily accepted, received and collected by the respondents from the petitioner without any demur and without raising any objections to the effect that the said 70% pre-deposit cannot be accepted through ITC/ECL and that it ought to have been made by the petitioner only through cash; it is an undisputed fact that the said 70% pre-deposit through ITC/ECL having been accepted by the petitioner without raising any objections, the KAT proceeded to dispose off the appeals in favour of the petitioner and was confirmed by this Court as stated supra as a consequence/result of which petitioner became entitled to refund of the entire 100% pre-deposit including 70% pre-deposit made through ITC/ECL by way of refund back in CASH in terms of in terms of Section 142(7)(b) and 142(8)(b) of the KGST Act; it follows there from that having accepted the 70% pre-deposit through ITC/ECL, respondents are estopped and not entitled to place reliance upon the aforesaid Circular dated 16.04.2018 to contend that the same cannot be refunded back in Cash, particularly in the light of the provisions contained in Section 142(7)(b) and 142(8)(b) of the KGST Act, which clearly contemplate that all types / kinds of amounts refundable/admissible are to be refunded back in CASH without there being any distinction drawn / made between cash deposit or ITC/ECL deposit and as such, the various contentions urged by the respondents cannot be accepted on this score also. Rule 92(1A) cannot be relied upon or made the basis to come to the conclusion that the petitioner is not entitled to refund by CASH, especially in the light of the provisions contained in Section 142(7)(b) and 142(8)(b) of the KGST Act, which clearly contemplate that all types/kinds of amounts refundable/admissible are to be refunded back in CASH without there being any distinction drawn/made between cash deposit or ITC/ECL deposit and the claim of the petitioner deserves to be upheld on this score also. In Tata Chemicals Ltd.,’s case [2014 (3) TMI 610 - SUPREME COURT], the Apex Court held that assessee is entitled to compensation by way of interest for the delay in payment of amounts lawfully due to the assessee. It was also held that refund due and payable to the assessee is debt owed and payable by the revenue and there being no excess amount/ tax collected by the revenue, it cannot shrug off its apparent obligation to reimburse the deductors lawful monies with the accrued interest for the period of undue retention of such monies; the State having received the money without right and having retained and used it, is bound to make the party good, just as an individual would be under like circumstances; the obligation to refund money received and retained without right implies and carries with it the right to interest and whenever money has been received by a party which ex ae quo et bono ought to be refunded, the right to interest follows as a matter of course. The petitioner is entitled to the entire 70% pre-deposit made through ITC/ECL by way of refund in CASH from the respondents who are liable to repay/refund the entire 70% pre-deposit paid through ITC/ECL back to the petitioner together with interest due to delayed refund within a stipulated timeframe. The respondents are directed to refund/release/repay the pre-deposit (70%) amounting to Rs. 16,11,19,226/- back to the petitioner in CASH within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order - Petition allowed. ISSUES PRESENTED AND CONSIDERED 1. Whether a pre-deposit made by a taxpayer by utilising Input Tax Credit (ITC) in the Electronic Credit Ledger (ECL) towards an appealable tax demand under the earlier law is exigible to refund in cash where appellate/ revision/ judicial proceedings result in allowance of the appeal and extinguishment of the demand. 2. Whether transitional provisions in Section 142 of the KGST Act mandate cash refund of amounts found refundable under proceedings relating to the earlier law, irrespective of the mode (cash or ITC/ECL) by which the amount was originally deposited. 3. Whether Circulars or subordinate rules (specifically Circular dated 16.04.2018 and Rule 92(1A) of KGST Rules inserted w.e.f. 23.03.2020) can operate to require re-credit of refunded amounts to the electronic credit ledger instead of refund in cash where deposits were made prior to their effective date. 4. Whether the revenue is estopped from denying cash refund where it accepted pre-deposit by debiting ITC/ECL without objection and subsequently respondents failed to refund the admitted refundable amount. 5. Whether interest is payable on delayed refund of pre-deposit amounts found refundable and, if so, the legal basis and scope for awarding interest. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS Issue 1 - Refundability in cash of amounts deposited by utilising ITC/ECL when appeals succeed Legal framework: Section 142(3), (6)(a), (7)(b) and (8)(b) of the KGST Act provide transitional rules for disposal of claims/appeals/revision/adjudication under existing law (KVAT Act) and expressly state that amounts found admissible shall be refunded 'in cash' under the said law; the 'appointed day' is 01.07.2017 and 'existing law' for present facts is the KVAT Act. Precedent treatment: High Court decisions of coordinate jurisdiction and other High Courts have held that refunds of amounts found payable under transitional provisions are to be paid in cash even where deposits were made earlier by way of credit; authorities cited include decisions treating pre-deposit debited as ITC and still refundable in cash after adjudication in assessee's favour. Interpretation and reasoning: A purposive and harmonious construction of Section 142 demonstrates a conscious and repeated legislative choice to use the expression 'refunded to him in cash' in multiple sub-sections dealing with results of appeals/adjudications/revisions and refund claims. The statutory language makes no distinction between mode of original deposit; therefore, where an appeal leads to allowance and the deposit becomes refundable, the refund must be in cash irrespective of whether the pre-deposit was in cash or via ITC/ECL. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - Section 142's explicit mandate that refundable amounts under transitional proceedings shall be refunded in cash governs the outcome and is binding on the parties. Obiter - peripheral observations about general policy of GST transition are explanatory. Conclusion: Pre-deposit made by utilising ITC/ECL that becomes refundable on successful appeal under the existing law is payable back in cash in terms of Section 142(7)(b) and 142(8)(b). Issue 2 - Effect of Circular dated 16.04.2018 permitting utilisation of ECL and its interplay with Section 142 Legal framework: Circular permits payment/recovery by way of Electronic Credit Ledger or Electronic Cash Ledger; but subordinate instruments cannot override statutory mandates in Section 142 which prescribes cash refund when amounts are found payable. Precedent treatment: Courts have recognised that administrative circulars can explain procedures but cannot supplant express statutory provisions; where statute prescribes cash refund, circular cannot negate that right. Interpretation and reasoning: Clause permitting payment via ECL merely recognises modes of payment but does not effect a legislative change on the mode of refund; given Section 142's clarity that refundable amounts are to be refunded in cash, the Circular cannot be read to require refunds to be credited back to ECL where statute mandates cash refund. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - Circular cannot be invoked to deny cash refund when Section 142 prescribes cash refund. Obiter - discussion of administrative convenience and distinguishing payments of penalties/interest versus principal taxable amounts. Conclusion: Circular dated 16.04.2018 does not entitle revenue to retain refundable amounts in ECL or to insist on re-credit rather than cash refund where Section 142 mandates cash refund. Issue 3 - Applicability and temporal scope of Rule 92(1A) (inserted w.e.f. 23.03.2020) requiring proportionate cash refund and re-credit to ECL for amounts debited from credit ledger Legal framework: Rule 92(1A) provides for sanctioning refund in cash proportionate to amount debited in cash and re-crediting the balance debited from ECL to the electronic credit ledger via FORM GST PMT-03; rule was inserted with prospective effect from 23.03.2020. Precedent treatment: Delegated legislation is ordinarily prospective and cannot be applied retroactively to alter accrued rights where earlier statutory regime governed deposits/refunds. Interpretation and reasoning: Rule 92(1A) being subordinate legislation introduced after the deposit date is prospective and cannot be applied to deposits made prior to its insertion (here, 20.07.2019). Section 142, operative at the material time, determines the entitlement; therefore Rule 92(1A) cannot displace the statutory right to cash refund for pre-2020 deposits. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - Rule 92(1A) is prospective and does not govern deposits made before its commencement; it cannot be used to deny cash refund where Section 142 governs. Obiter - administrative practice after 23.03.2020 may follow Rule 92(1A) for subsequent deposits. Conclusion: Rule 92(1A) is inapplicable to deposits made prior to 23.03.2020 and cannot impede cash refund of such earlier deposits determined refundable under Section 142. Issue 4 - Estoppel arising from revenue's acceptance of ITC/ECL pre-deposit without objection Legal framework: Principles of estoppel and legitimate expectation where revenue's acceptance of a mode of payment without objection, followed by adjudicatory process, precludes changing position to the prejudice of the taxpayer. Precedent treatment: Courts have held that once the revenue accepts a mode of payment and proceeds without objection, it cannot later deny refund on the ground that the mode was impermissible; such conduct may estop revenue from asserting a contrary position. Interpretation and reasoning: Respondents accepted the 70% pre-deposit by debiting ITC/ECL on 20.07.2019 without objection; appellate authorities and this Court disposed matters in favour of the taxpayer. Having accepted the deposit and adjudicated appeals, revenue cannot now rely on circulars or procedural rules to deny cash refund; such a stance would be inequitable and inconsistent with the statutory mandate of Section 142. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - Acceptance of ITC/ECL pre-deposit without objection by revenue estops it from denying cash refund when statutory conditions for refund are met. Obiter - nuances of administrative irregularity do not override statutory direction. Conclusion: Revenue is estopped from refusing cash refund of the ITC/ECL pre-deposit after having accepted it and after adjudication in taxpayer's favour. Issue 5 - Entitlement to interest on delayed refund of pre-deposit amounts Legal framework: Principles established by higher courts recognise that amounts lawfully due and retained by revenue attract interest by way of compensation; statutory and precedent authorities on interest on delayed refunds apply where revenue retains money without right. Precedent treatment: Apex Court and High Courts have held that interest on delayed refunds is payable as compensation; rate and period depend on statutory provisions and facts; when refund becomes due on account of appellate order, interest from date it became payable to date of payment is appropriate unless statute prescribes otherwise. Interpretation and reasoning: The withheld refundable deposit constitutes money retained by the State without right after adjudication in assessee's favour; equitable and legal principles require payment of interest for delayed refund. The statutory transitional provisions coupled with jurisprudence on interest support awarding interest on the total deposit from the date of deposit till date of payment. Ratio vs. Obiter: Ratio - Taxpayer is entitled to interest on delayed refund of amounts found payable in its favour; the right to interest follows the right to refund. Obiter - precise rate may be governed by statutory rule or court discretion depending on circumstances. Conclusion: Interest is payable on the refundable pre-deposit amounts for the period of retention by the revenue, and the taxpayer is entitled to interest on the entire deposited sum from the date of deposit to date of payment. Final Conclusions 1. Section 142(7)(b) and 142(8)(b) mandate that amounts found refundable pursuant to proceedings under the existing law (KVAT Act) be refunded in cash irrespective of the mode (cash or ITC/ECL) by which the amount was originally deposited. 2. Administrative circulars and subordinate rules cannot negate the explicit statutory mandate in Section 142 nor operate retrospectively to deprive the taxpayer of a cash refund for deposits made prior to their effective date; Rule 92(1A) (w.e.f. 23.03.2020) is prospective and does not apply to deposits made on 20.07.2019. 3. Revenue is estopped from denying cash refund where it accepted ITC/ECL pre-deposit without objection and subsequently the appeals were allowed; equitable considerations and statutory text require refund in cash. 4. The taxpayer is entitled to interest on the delayed refund of the entire deposited amount from the date of deposit until the date of payment in cash.