Validity of SCN - opportunity of pre-show cause notice...

Validity of SCN - opportunity of pre-show cause notice consultation - As the stand taken by the respondent authorities in the impugned show cause notice dated 31.12.2020 that the petitioner had suppressed material facts, the same would come within the exception as mentioned in Clause 5 (d) of the Circular dated 11.11.2021 and as such it was not mandatory for respondent authorities to have a pre-show cause notice consultation. Another aspect also needs to be looked into, i.e., whether the authority which had issued the Demand-cum-Show Cause Notice dated 31.12.2021 had the authority to do so. The power so exercised by the authority is a statutory power conferred upon the respondent authorities under Section 73 of the Finance Act of 1994 and as such the issuance of the said show cause notice cannot be said to be without jurisdiction. - HC