Bkr Services Private Limited vs. The State Of Karnataka
Original PDF →Facts
A private limited company (P1) and legal heirs (P2, P3) of a deceased proprietor challenged recovery notices and adjudication orders. Recovery notices were issued against P1's bank account for the deceased's proprietary concern's GST dues, while adjudication orders under Section 73 were passed against P2 and P3 for the same dues for the tax period 2021-22.
Held
The Court quashed the recovery notices against P1, holding it distinct from the deceased's proprietary concern. It also quashed the adjudication orders against P2 and P3, restoring the proceedings for re-examination of Section 93 applicability and allowing the heirs to file detailed responses to the show cause notices.
Key Issues
Whether a distinct company can be held liable for GST dues of a deceased proprietor's concern, and if adjudication orders against legal heirs are valid without properly examining Section 93 of the CGST/KGST Act.
Sections Cited
Section 73, Section 93
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
ORDER OF THE THIRD RESPONDENT IN NO CTO/LGSTO- 470/HRR/U/S- 73 ORDER/2025-26 DATED 22.12.2025 IN ANNEXURE G, AND SUMMARY OF THE ORDER IN FORM GST-DRC-DATED 22.12.2025 IN NO CTO/LGSTO-470/HRR/U/S-73 ORDER/2025-26 DATED 22.12.2025 IN ANNEXURE G-1. SECOND ADJUDICATION ORDER IN NO CTO/LGSTO- 470/HRR/U/S-73 ORDER/2025-26 DATED 22.12.2025 AT ANNEXURE H, THE CORRESPONDING SUMMARY OF THE ORDER IN FORM GST-DRC-07 DATED IN 22.12.2025 NO CTO/LGSTO-470/HRR/U/S-73 ORDER/2025-26 AT ANNEXURE H-1, PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 ORAL ORDER
The first petitioner is a Private Limited Company, and the second and the third petitioners are the son and wife of late Mr. Rudraswamy B K, who died on 25.05.2023. The first petitioner's grievance is with the Recovery Notices issued in Form GST DRC - 13 for recovery of the amount under the Adjudication Orders passed under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017/Karnataka Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 [for short, 'the CGST/KGST Act], and the second and the third petitioners' grievance is with these Adjudication Orders and the Summary of such order in Form GST DRC-07. The details of these Adjudication Orders/ Summary of Orders and the Recovery Notices are as follows. HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 Date Description and the Order No. Annexure Tax Period
2025 Adjudication Order in No. CTO/LGSTO- 470/HRR-/U/s 73 order/2025- 26/3803
Annexure G
2021-22 Summary of this Adjudication Order, and the reference No. ZD2912251728607
Annexure – G1 04.07.2027 Recovery Notice relevant to Annexure – G1 Annexure – K
2025 Adjudication Order in No. CTO/LGSTO- 470/HRR-/U/s 73 order/2025- 26/3799 Annexure H
2021-22
Summary of this Adjudication Order, and the reference No. ZD2912251722485
Annexure – H1 04.07.2027 Recovery Notice relevant to Annexure – H1 Annexure – K1
Mr. Chidananda Urs B G, the learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the third respondent could not have issued Recovery Notices in Form GST DRC-13 [Annexure K and K1] to attach the first petitioner's bank account because this petitioner is a distinct and a different Entity from M/s. B. K. R. HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 Swamy Security Agencies [a proprietary concern of the deceased Mr. Rudraswamy B K]; and in elaboration, the learned counsel submits the following.
The first petitioner cannot be fastened with the liability of M/s. B. K. R. Swamy Security Agencies. The law does not permit recovery from the first petitioner which is unrelated to the estate of the deceased.
The proceedings for any GST dues, interest, or penalty could only be against the legal heirs of the concerned Registered Taxable Person [RTP].
Mr. Chidananda Urs B G invites this Court's attention to the provisions of Section 93 of the CGST/KGST Act as regards the second and third petitioners' grievance with the Adjudication Orders and the Summary thereof. The learned counsel also HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 submits that this Court may consider that two separate Show Cause Notices are issued for two different issues for the same tax period [April 2021 to March 2022], and that it would be open to these two petitioners to demonstrate that they have not continued the business and that there is no estate that can support the demand.
Mr. K. Hema Kumar, a learned Additional Government Advocate who accepts notice for the first to fourth respondents, is heard for disposal of the petition. This Court must observe that it remains undisputed that the first petitioner is different and distinct from the proprietary concern constituted by the deceased Mr. Rudraswamy B K, and therefore, the impugned Recovery Notices in Form GST DRC-13 could not have been issued against the first petitioner. Therefore, there must be intervention with these notices on this ground. HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816
As regards the second and the third petitioners' grievance, it is brought to this Court's notice that upon the demise of Mr. Rudraswamy B K, his family members have reported his demise vide letter dated 28.06.2023, and that when served with Show Cause Notices, they have replied stating that neither the second petitioner nor the third petitioner could be treated as the legal heirs for the purposes of the proceedings under the CGST/KGST Act because the third petitioner is a home maker who is not keeping well and the second petitioner is working in a private sector while also stating that many other legal aspects will have to be examined.
It is seen from the impugned Adjudication Orders that whether the proceedings could be sustained because of Section 93(1)(a) or 93(1)(b) of the CGST/KGST Act is not examined and this gives a reason for interference on the ground of failure to HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 consider material circumstances. On the other contention on behalf of the second and third petitioners that two notices for the same tax period, though on different issues, could not have been issued, this Court must opine that this aspect must be left open to be considered with an opportunity to these petitioners to file a detailed response. In the light of the afore, the following. ORDER
The petition is allowed on the following terms:
[A] The third respondent's Recovery Notices dated 04.07.2026 [Annexures - K and K1] addressed to the fifth respondent in GST DRC-13 are quashed.
[B] The impugned Adjudication Orders dated 22.12.2015 and the Summary thereof [Annexures - G, G1, H and H1] HC-KAR
CNR: KAHC010482632026 NC: 2026:KHC:36816 are also quashed restoring both the proceedings with liberty to the second and third petitioners to file a reply to the corresponding Show Cause Notices leaving open all grounds to be considered based on such response.
[C] The second and the third petitioners shall, along with a certified copy of this Order, file a response as now permitted with the third respondent by 14.08.2026. (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE
RB
Reproduced from the public record of the Karnataka High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.