GST Department's Effective Adjudication Of Matter Cannot Be Scuttled By Seeking Writ Remedy: Calcutta High Court
Live LawWhile reiterating that it shall not interfere in matters requiring fact-finding and adjudication, which fall squarely within the statutory domain, the Calcutta High Court advised the manufacturer/ supplier to exhaust the statutory remedies provided under the CGST Act, 2017 including submitting a detailed response to the SCN. “The statutory framework under the CGST Act provides adequate mechanisms for addressing the petitioner's concerns, including responding to the SCN, participating in adjudication proceedings and availing appellate remedies if dissatisfied with the outcome”, observed a Single Judge Bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj. Referring to the decision of Apex Court in case of Whirlpool Corporation v. Registrar of Trade Marks, Mumbai and others, the Bench reiterated that writ petitions may be entertained against show cause notices where the petitioners seek enforcement of any fundamental rights, where there is a violation of principles of natural justice or where the order or proceedings are wholly without jurisdiction or where the vires of the Act is itself challenged. Instead, the Bench observed that “the statutory framework under the CGST Act provides adequate mechanisms for addressing the petitioner's concerns, including responding to the SCN, participating in adjudication proceedings and availing appellate remedies if dissatisfied with the outcome”.