Wedges Trading Corporation vs. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner

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WP/6174/2025HC Andhra PradeshGSTCNR APHC01011668202518 March 2025Bench: R RAGHUNANDAN RAO,K MANMADHA RAO6 pages
For Petitioner: SRI. SHAIK JEELANI BASHAFor Respondent: GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX

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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN RAO AND THE HON’BLE DR JUSTICE K MANMADHA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 6174 OF 2025 Between: M/s. Wedges Trading Corporation, D.No.8-10-348/5, Flat No. 102, Amaravati Enclave, 12the Lane, Syamala Nagar Extn, Pattabhipuram, Guntur - 522 006. State of Andhra Pradesh. Rep. by its Proprietor Mr.Abdul Mahamood Shaik. ...PETITIONER AND 1. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner (ST)-1, Office of the Assistant Commissioner (ST), Kothapet Circle, Guntur-ll Division, Guntur. 2. The Assistant Commissioner (ST), Brodiepet Circle, Guntur. 3. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Revenue (CT) Department, A.P. Secretariat,Amaravati. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or Order or Direction declaring the action of the 1ST Respondent in passing the Summary of the Order in Form GST DRC-07, dated 28.10.2024, for the tax period from 30.11.2021 to 28.02-2022 without considering the objections, without DIN, without signature of the Officer concerned arbitrary, contrary to < // the Provisions of the COST / SGST Acts 2017, bias, perverse, without jurisdiction, not valid in the eye of law and also the same is in violation of Principles of Natural Justice and Rule of law and consequently set aside the Summary of the Order passed by the 1ST Respondent dated 28.10.2024, in Form GST DRC-07 as null and void. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, the High Court may be pleased to Suspend the Operation of the Summary of the Order, dated 28.10.2024, passed for the tax period 30.11.2021 to February 2022, under the provisions of the IGST Act, CGST Act, APGST Act 2017, pending disposal of the above Writ Petition, as otherwise, the Petitionerwill be put to severe loss and hardship. Counsel for the Petitioner(s):SRI. SHAIK JEELANI BASHA Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX

The Court made the following: ORDER

t APHC010116682025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Juri iction) [3525] WEDNE AY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN RAO THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE K MANMADHA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 6174/2025 Between: Wedges Trading Corporation ...PETITIONER AND The Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.SHAIK JEELANI BASHA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX The Court made the following Order: (perHon'bleSn justice R-RaghunantianRaoj The petitioner was served with the assessment order, in Form GST DRC-07, dated 28.10.2024, passed by the respondent, under the Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 [for short “the GST Act”], for the period 30.11.2021 to February, 2022. This order has been challenged by the petitionerin the presentWrit Petition. This assessment order, in Form GST DRC-07, is challenged by the petitioner, on various grounds, including the ground that the said proceedings does not contain the signature of the assessing officer and also DIN number, on the impugned order. 2. 2 ^ % Sections-160 & 169 of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, would not rectify such a defect. Following this Judgment, another Division Bench of this Court, in the case of M/s. M/s. Commissioner ST & ors, in W.P.No.5238 of 2024, following the aforesaid two Judgments, had held that the absence of the signature of the assessing officer, on the assessment order, would render the assessment order invalid and set aside the said order.

5.

The question of the effect of non-inclusion of DIN number on proceedings, under the G.S.T. Act, came to be considered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Pradeep Goya! Vs. Union of India & Ors\ The Hon’ble Supreme Court, after noticing the provisions of the Act and the circular issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (herein referred to as “C.B.I.C.”), had held that an order, which does not contain a DIN number would be non-est and invalid.

6.

" 2022 (63) G.S.T.L 286 (SC)

3 ^ * '* A Division Bench of this Court in the case of M/s. Cluster 2 Enterprises Vs. The Deputy Assistant Commissioner (ST)-2, Kadapa the basis of the circular, dated 23.12.2019, bearing No.128/47/2019-GST, issued by the C.B.I.C., had held that non-mention of a DIN number would mitigate against the validity of such proceedings. Another Division Bench of this Court in the case of Sai Manikanta Electrical Contractors \/s. The Deputy Commissioner, Special Circle, Visakhapatnam^, had also held that non-mention of a DIN number would require the order to be set aside. 7. , on In view of the aforesaid judgments and the circular issued by the C.B.I.C., the non-mention of a DIN number and absence of the signature of the assessing officer, in the impugned assessment order would have to be set aside.

8.9.

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of setting aside the assessment order, in Form GST DRC-07, dated 28.10.2024, passed by the 1 respondent, with liberty to the 1®* respondent to conduct fresh assessment, after giving notice and by assigning a signature and a DIN number to the said order. The period from the date of the impugned assessment order, till the date of receipt of this Order shall be excluded for the purposes of limitation. There shall be no order as to costs. St J SAROJA ASSISTANT REGISTRAR //// SECTION OFFICER To,

1.

The Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of the Assistant Commissioner (ST). Kothapet Circle, Guntur-ll Division, Guntur.

2.

The Assistant Commissioner (ST), Brodiepet Circle, Guntur.

3.

The Principal Secretary, State of Andhra Pradesh. Revenue (CT) Department, A.P. Secretariat,Amaravati.

4.

One CC to SRI. SHAIK JEELANI BASRA, Advocate [OPUC]

5.

TwoCCsto GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX .High Court Of Andhra Pradesh. [OUT]

6.

Three C.D.Copies nm

t % high court DATED:19/03/2025 ORDER WP.No.6174 of 2025 I 18 MAY 2025 \ DISPOSING OF THE WP WITHOTU COSTS

Reproduced from the public record of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.