Orissa High Court
Tax Authority Must Consider 'Genuine Hardship' to Condone Filing Delays: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has reiterated that tax authorities must exercise their power to condone a delay in filing income tax returns to address "genuine hardship" and not reject such requests mechanically. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman set aside an order of the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (PCCIT), Odisha Region, which had refused to condone the delay in filing income tax returns by The Reserve Bank Employees Co-operative...
GST Demand Stayed As Audit Report Issued By Unauthorised Officer: Orissa High Court Finds Prima Facie Jurisdictional Defect
The Orissa High Court has stayed further proceedings arising from a Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand-cum-show cause notice issued under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, after finding a prima facie jurisdictional defect in the audit process that formed the basis of the demand. The interim order was passed in a writ petition which challenged an audit notice and a consequential demand-cum-show cause. The demand was issued following an audit report...
GST | Parallel Proceedings On Sanctioned Refund An 'Overstep': Orissa High Court Quashes Recovery Proceedings As Appeal Order Stands
The Orissa High Court in a matter concerning, Double Jeopardy on Refund of about Rs. 14 crores where recovery proceedings were initiated under Section 73 for Refund already sanctioned by the Appellate Authority, has quashed the Show Cause Notice for recovery. In a recent judgment, the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman, observed that by initiating recovery the Joint Commissioner sought to revive a Review Order differing with the...
GST Interest/Penalty Waiver Can't Be Denied For Initial Wrong RCM Payment Through ITC Once Cash Compliance Is Made: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has held that a GST interest and penalty waiver application filed by the petitioner cannot be rejected merely because a portion of tax liability under reverse charge mechanism (RCM) was initially discharged through input tax credit, subsequently pays the amount in cash and complies with legal requirements. A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman heard the writ petition filed by Simon India Ltd., a company engaged...
GST Act | Orissa High Court Quashes Recovery Proceedings Premised On 'Mistaken Identity' After Verifying Payment Receipt From Bank
The Orissa High Court in a matter involving 'mistaken identity' where one individual was assessed despite having a cancelled registration number (GSTIN), has quashed Show Cause Notice under Section 73 of the CGST Act, 2017. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman noted the 'mistaken fact' in Section 73 adjudication proceedings. It was clarified that Section 73 was invoked on the premise there was an alleged mismatch in figures disclosed by...
Writ Petition Not Maintainable After GSTAT Becomes Functional; Assessees Must Avail Remedy U/S 112 GST Act: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has dismissed two writ petitions filed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, holding that the availability and operationalisation of the statutory appellate remedy before the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) bars the exercise of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. In Amit Kumar Das v. Joint Commissioner of State Tax, the petitioner had challenged an assessment order passed under Section 73 of the CGST/OGST Acts for...
Non-Availability Of GSTAT Cannot Be Used To Bypass Mandatory Pre-Deposit U/S 112(8) CGST Act: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court held that while a writ petition may be entertained when the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is not constituted or functional, such non-availability cannot be used to bypass the mandatory pre-deposit under Section 112(8) of the CGST Act. Section 112(8) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, outlines the mandatory pre-deposit conditions that an appellant must meet to file an appeal with the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal...
Orissa High Court Grants Interim Stay On ₹512 Crores GST Levy On Assignment Of Right To Use Natural Resources
The Orissa High Court on Thursday, in a plea by ESL Steel concerning the levy of GST on assignment of right to use natural resources as well as statutory charged paid on stamp duty, registration fees, payments for Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), etc, has granted interim stay against GST demand of INR 512 Crores (plus interest and penalty). The Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman were hearing the writ petition filed by ESL Steel whereby Advocates Bharat...
NAFED's 'Society Commission' Deductions From Rice Millers' Bills Contrary To Contract: Orissa High Court Upholds Refund Award
The Orissa High Court bench of Justice (Dr.) Sanjeeb K Panigrahi while dismissing an appeal under Section 37, Arbitration and Conciliation (“ACA”) observed that deductions from invoices made by NAFED under the head “society commission” were contrary to the contractual agreements entered with rice millers and the latter were entitled to reimbursement of such deducted amounts. The Court affirmed the judgment of the District Judge upholding the findings by the Sole Arbitrator who held the...
Banks Cannot Penalise Borrowers For Switching Lenders, Prepaying Loans: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court recently held that banks cannot impose charges that restrict a borrower's freedom to switch lenders, ruling that such practices undermine fair banking standards and violate binding directions of the Reserve Bank of India. A bench of Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi said banks must operate within regulatory limits set by the RBI and cannot create barriers that penalize borrowers for exercising their right to repay or refinance loans. The bank cannot "cannot convert a...
Banks Cannot Penalise Borrowers For Switching Lenders, Prepaying Loans: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court recently held that banks cannot impose charges that restrict a borrower's freedom to switch lenders, ruling that such practices undermine fair banking standards and violate binding directions of the Reserve Bank of India. A bench of Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi said banks must operate within regulatory limits set by the RBI and cannot create barriers that penalize borrowers for exercising their right to repay or refinance loans. The bank cannot "cannot convert a...