Manual show-cause replies in GST adjudication require consideration; orders issued before permitted evidence deadlines breach natural justice.

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....Natural justice in GST adjudication requires the Proper Officer to consider a taxpayer's representation under section 74(9) read with rule 142(4). Form GST DRC-06 need not be furnished exclusively through the electronic portal; a manually filed reply acknowledged at personal hearing cannot be disregarded solely because it was unavailable online. Issuing a demand order before expiry of time allowed for supporting documents, without addressing the reply or jurisdictional objection, denies a meaningful hearing. Such procedural defects support writ intervention despite an alternative statutory remedy. The demand order was set aside and remitted for fresh adjudication, with jurisdictional and merits objections left open.....