M/S. Sree Maha Infra Projects vs. The Assistant Commissioner (St)

The present writ petition is filed aggrieved by an Order of Assessment dated 21.03.2025 passed by the 1st respondent on various grounds.

Petitioner, a Registered Tax Payer with GSTIN: 37AEEFS5859M1Z7 on the rolls of 1st respondent, in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition states that on receipt of a phone call from the 1st respondent-office, came to know about impugned proceedings and on verification in the GST portal, it was noticed that the said order has been uploaded in “View Notices and Orders tab.”

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that before passing the impugned assessment order, no notice was served much less a Show Cause Notice dated 13.02.2025 to which a reference was made therein. He also submits that mere uploading of notices in the portal would not be sufficient and in the present case, even the petitioner did not receive any alert Notification either in respect of the Show Cause Notice or the Assessment Order passed pursuant thereto. Incidentally, he also urges that mandatory requirements of Section 75 (4) of Central Goods and Services Tax, 2017 (for short ‘the CGST Act’) was not complied with.

Elaborating the said contention, he submits that in the event the proper officer was intending to make any adverse decision, an opportunity of hearing has to be afforded. Making the said submissions, learned counsel seeks to allow the writ petition by setting aside the impugned proceedings.

On the other hand, learned Government Pleader Mr.M.V.Krishna Rao made submissions to sustain the impugned order. It is his contention that the petitioner failed to utilize the opportunities afforded to it, after issuance of Show Cause Notice dated 13.02.2025 and therefore it is not correct to contend that the order has been passed without complying with the statutory requirements. However, on a specific query of the Court, on instructions, he submits that prior to passing of the impugned order, no further notice of personal hearing more particularly, with reference to Section 75 (4) of the CGST Act was issued to the petitioner.

This Court has considered the submissions made and perused the material on record.

At the outset, in view of the specific submission made by the learned Government Pleader, this Court deems it not necessary to examine various contentions raised in the writ petition. Suffice to state that Section 75 (4) of the CGST Act, contemplates that “an opportunity of hearing shall be granted where a request is received in writing from the person chargeable with tax or penalty, or where any adverse decision is contemplated against such person”.

A Division Bench of this Court had an occasion to deal with this aspect vide order dated 28.04.02021 passed in W.P.No.9162 of 2021. In another decision in W.P.No.22371 of 2024 dated 08.07.2026, referring to Section 75(4) of the CGST Act, it was inter alia held as follows:

In view of the above stated legal position, the impugned assessment order is not sustainable. Accordingly, the same is set aside.

However, the 1st respondent is at liberty to issue fresh notice to the petitioner and pass appropriate orders of assessment, in accordance with the Law, after giving due opportunity to the petitioner.

In the result, writ petition is allowed. No costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.