HC held that notices issued to cancel petitioner-dealer's...

HC held that notices issued to cancel petitioner-dealer's permission to pay tax at compounded rate under Section 8(f)(iv) KVAT for 2010-11 and 2011-12 were unsustainable. Proceedings initiated on 15.03.2018 were beyond the reasonable five-year limitation inferred for such action, rendering them time barred even independently of Section 25(1). HC further held Section 25AA(5) KVAT to be retrospectively applicable, as it was introduced after the VAT regime solely to govern such past situations; hence, only the suppressed turnover could be assessed at the scheduled rate without cancelling the compounding option for that year. Though initiation of cancellation proceedings was otherwise validly founded on intelligence reports, the impugned notices were quashed and the petition allowed.

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