M/S Alaya International Private Limited vs. The Directorate General Of Goods And Services Tax
Original PDF →Facts
The petitioner, M/s Alaya International Private Limited, filed multiple writ petitions challenging various orders passed by customs authorities. These orders pertained to the clearance of Bills of Entry for used and new goods. The petitioner sought clearance based on FOB values at the prevailing USD rate at the time of filing the Bills of Entry, using self-raised invoices. The authorities re-evaluated used goods as new, disregarded original bills, and did not consider the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) approval granted to the petitioner. Specific Bills of Entry and corresponding orders-in-original and appeal orders are cited. The petitioner argues these actions are contrary to the Customs Act, 1962, and the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, and violate constitutional rights.
Held
The Court held that while writ petitions are maintainable when principles of natural justice are breached, they are not automatically required to be entertained. The Supreme Court, in subsequent judgments like U.P. State Spinning Co. Ltd. v. R.S. Pandey, clarified that for a writ petition to be entertained, something more than a mere breach of natural justice must be shown, such as a matter going to the root of the jurisdiction or causing palpable injustice. The Court noted that the petitioner had not raised any arguments about the competence of the authorities nor demonstrated that availing the alternative remedy would cause palpable injustice. Therefore, in view of the availability of an effective alternative remedy, the writ petitions were not entertained and were disposed of, directing the petitioner to avail the alternative remedy. No issue regarding the merits of the customs re-evaluation or SEZ approval was decided.
Key Issues
1. Whether the High Court should entertain writ petitions challenging customs authorities' orders when an effective alternative remedy is available under the statute? (Question of law turning on Article 226 of the Constitution of India and principles of alternative remedy). Petitioner's contention: The principles of natural justice were breached, making the writ petition maintainable, citing Whirlpool Corporation (supra). Revenue/State's contention: The High Court should not entertain writ petitions when an alternative remedy exists, as per Supreme Court judgments, and mere breach of natural justice is insufficient. The petitioner has not demonstrated palpable injustice if forced to avail the statutory remedy.
Sections Cited
Section 12, Section 17 (2), Section 111, Section 26, Section 27 (7)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
The Court made the following: COMMON ORDER
THE HON'BLE THEACTING CIIIEF JUSTICD SUJOY PAUL AND THE HOIY'BLE SMT. JUSTICE RT![UI(A YARA UIRIT PETITIOil Nos.465, 481 and 53Q of 2O25 COMMON ORDER: (Per tle Hon'ble the Adirq CNef Justie :;uhg Paul) Sri K. R. Sasidharan Nair, learned counsel representing Sri Kuthuru Ravinder Reddy, learned counsel lbr the petitioner and Sri Dominic Fernandes, learned Senior Stan.ding Counsel for CBIC for respondent Nos. 1 and 3 to 7. 2. Regard being had to the similitude of the qrtestions involved, on the joint request, these matters were analogously heard on admission.
The facts are taken from W.P.No.465 of 2025. In this petition, the challenge is mounted to the appe.llate orcier dated 26.06.2024, u'hereby the Order-in-Original No.6ri of 20 19, dated 05.09.20 1 9 was affirmed.
Learnecl counsel for the petitioner submits that although there exists a statutory alternative remedy uncler the Customs Act, 1962, to prefer an appeal before the Tribun,al, in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court reported 1n Whirlp/ool
2 Corporatioa v. Registrar of Trade Marks, Mumbail, the Writ Petition is very much maintainable, more so, when principles of natural justice were grossly violated. 5. karned Standing Counsel for CBIC submits that the petitioner has an effrcacious statutory alternative remedy. He further submits that these petitions have not been frled within the statutory time limit prescribed to approach the Tribunal and therefore, in the light of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Assistant Commissioner (CTl LTU' Kakinada v. Glaxo Smith Kline Consumer Health Care Ltd.z, the Writ Petitions can'not be entertained.
Heard the parties at length. 7 . This is not in dispute that the petitioner had a statutory efficacious alternative remedy to assail the appellate order dated 26.06.2024 before the Tribunal. Learned counsel for the petitioner by placing reliance on the judgment of the Supreme Court in WLirlpool Corporation (supra) submits that if the I (1998) 8 SCC I , l2o2ol t9 scc 681 t'
3 principles of natural justice maintainable. r (2023) I SCC 443 ' (2o05) 8 scc 261 violated, the Writ Pelition is are 8.Inourconsideredopinion,therecannotbeanyquarrelon the question of 'maintainability' of the petition' 'Ihe difference of 'maintainability' and 'entertainability' is conside r'zd in exterso by the Supreme Court rn the case M/s' Gci&eJ Sara Lee Ltd' v' E:rcise and Taxation Olfrcer - cum - Assess'ing Authority3 ' Every petition, which is maintainable' as a cornpulsion' is not required to be entertained' The singular argument advanced by the learned counsel for the petitioner to entertain these pdtions is that the principtes of natural justice were breac"hed and thus' in view of the judgment of the Supreme Corut in Whirlpool Corporation (supra), these petitions can be entertained' Whirlpoot Corlrcration (suPra)
The judgment ln subsequentlY considered bY the Supreme Court in U.P' State Spinning Co. Ltd. v. R.S' Pande5f and it was held as under:- was " 17 . . .. But normally, the High Court 'should not entertain writ petitions unless it is shown that there is ,ometiri.tg moie in a case, something going to the.root "i'iit" t"ii"aiction of the officer, sometlLing which would shou' that it would be a case c'f palpable )
4 injustice to the writ petitioner to force him to adopt the remedies provided by the statute...."
In the aforesajd judgment, the previous judgment was distinguished and it was made clear that mere breach of principles of natural justice will not be sufficient to entertain a petition, Something more must be established which goes to the root of the matter or assails the question of competence of the authority itself. The petitioner has raised no argument about the competence of any authority. karned counsel for the petitioner also could not point out that if the petitioner would have availed the remedy before the Tribunal, it wor:-ld have caused any palpa{e injustice to the petitioner. 1 l. Recently, the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 1O.O4.2O24 in the case of PHR Invent Educational Society v. UCO Banks, disapproved the order of Telangana High Court in W.P.No.5275 of 2021, dated 04.02.2022, wherein a Division Bench of this Court entertained a Writ Petition, despite availability of alternative remedy. The Supreme Court opined that merely because a petition is maintainable, it is not necessary to entertain '(202r) 4 Sr.R. 54 r
5 a petition. It is the discretion of the Court to entertain a petition and not a compulsion. The relevant paragraph reads as under: " 1 5. It could thus be seen that, this 'lourt has clearly held that the High Court will ordinarily not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective remedy is available to the aggrieved Person. It has been held that this rule applies with greater rigour ln matters involving recoYery of texes, cess. fees, other types of public rnoney and the ducs of bankr and other frnancial institutious. The Court clearly observed that, white dealing with the petitions involving challenge to the action taken for recovery of the public . dues, etc., the High Court must keep in mind that the legislations enacted by Parliament and State Legislatures for recovery of such dues are a code unto themselves inasmuch as they not onllr contain comprehensive procedure for recovery of tht: dues but 'r also envisage constitution of quasi-judicial bodies for redressal of the grievance of aly aggrieved person. It has been held that, though the powers of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution are of widest amplitu<le, still the Courts cannot bt: oblivious of the rules of self-imposed restraint evolved by this Court- The Court further held that though tJ:e rule of exhaustion of alternative remedy is a rule qf discretion and not one of comoulsion. sHll it is difiicult to fathom any reeaon why the High Court should entertain a petition filed uader Article 226 of the Constitution." (Emphasis Supplied)
Thus, mere violation of principles of natural justice cannot be a ground to entertain a Petition t I I I
6
In view of availability of alternative remedy, the Writ Petitions are not entertained and accordingly, disposed of' The petitioner may avail the alternative remedy. No order as to costs' Miscellaneous petitions pending, il any, shall stand closed' . P. PADMANABHA REDDY ASS T T REGISTRAR //// S CTION OFFICER to ,. ,n" Directorate General of Goods and Services.Tax' (DGGST)' Ministry of FinanceDepartment,ir-ii""""'Jlin-rFi''llII^L'TdlephoneExchanse' blrtiii;il 5' -dr',iraii cama Place, New Delhi - 1 10066' 2 The Secretary, unron'oi i"i[,'rtili"ittl of Cornmerce and lndustry' New Delhi' 5.ili?:fu r']:Hti?1"*:,1"1{^"""*'11',lgtff ffi#'iJx'331'no#o'nn ivJerabad-500004, Telanoana State' +. rtE?i;Eipr"r c"#i!!i;liE';iC;E"t' GSr Bhavan' L'B stadium Road' - e';ii""ibisn, Hvderabad-500004' TelanganaState' 5. rhe Add ition, I co*,.'ii!!io iJi"iitit#t] -t1yqe.ra bad G ST B hava n' L' B " iftffi ii;ad, basheerbas, Hvderabad-5000-04 6 The Deputv corn.i,tiE'n""? qiiii'c.;!"i";; Depot' container corporatlon or ,f.':'#fl 1;:i;,:H'JJitghll',s3lto""#;"uo-nof .rndiaLimited,(A '33gL:,u*5,H,on""1',#in*:1ltr"mi'Hlixg'a'ii1tooo,,o"' Hvderabad - 500018 a TtE"o!rEl"pmlni c-ommissiner' Deputy D-evelopment Commissiner' visakhapatnam sp""iuiEl"""'ii 2bne'-suo omce 5th Floor' Parisrama B;-;;;;'B;th- e5sh'Ivo;"bad - 50000-4' Telanoana State' e one cc to snr xurLiAii"rifuirlben*nEbbv-pn'{rnp REDDY' Advocate .to 8I"'"% to sRl DoMlNlc FERNANDES' sen'or standing counsel for cBlc ,, to,l"ua? to sRt cADt PRAVEEN KUMAR, Dv' soLlclroR GENERAL oF INDIA [oPUC]
Two CD CoPies PSK, GJP C.".,
HIGH COURT DATED:2910112025 COMMON ORDER WP.Nos.465, 481 & 530 of 2025 DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITIONS WITHOUT COSTS g\4 t31r-l"f ,k r He S r.1 14: 01 ulr)025 .' J ($( ; i/ i. t-. / . r - - -// \-'-y11 --')'z'
Reproduced from the public record of the Telangana High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.