I cannot comment upon the decision of Surat Commissionerate without knowing the facts of the case. Can you email the copy of order of Surat Commissionerate ?
My further views are as under :-
1. If you have filed an appeal along with stay application, the department cannot recover the amount. (Board's Circular No.1035/23/2016-CX dated 4.7.16 refers). If Govt. dues cannot be recovered, how the same can fall under the category of 'Arrears" ? The matter is sub judice. In other words, under litigation.
2. Under GST regime also, if pre-deposit is made under Section 107 and 112 it is deemed stay order under sub-Section 7 of Section 107 and sub-section 9 of Section 112 of CGST Act refer.
See the definition of "Amount in arrears" provided under Section 121(c) of Chapter V of the Finance (No.2) Act, 2019SVLDRS, 2019. Your case cannot be covered under the category of 'Arrears'.
Suppose you have not filed stay application with the Commissioner (appeals), even then the amount of confirmed demand, penalty etc. cannot be recovered until the appeal period is over. It will become arrears only after the expiry of appeal period and that too, when there is no stay.