Formal initiation under the tax demand regime requires a...

Formal initiation under the tax demand regime requires a distinct Show Cause Notice and a Statement; a summary in FORM GST DRC-01 is supplementary and cannot substitute for the Section 73 Show Cause Notice, so attachment of a tax-determination statement to DRC-01 does not validly initiate proceedings. Documents constituting the SCN, Statement or final Order must be authenticated by the Proper Officer with electronic/digital e-signature under applicable rules; unauthenticated attachments lack legal efficacy. Where an adverse decision is contemplated, a personal hearing must be afforded as a statutory safeguard; failure to provide the mandated hearing breaches natural justice. The impugned order was set aside and fresh proceedings are permitted, with a specified exclusion for limitation.