M/S Srikanreshwara Traders v. The Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes

ORDER DATED

25.04.2024 (ANNEXURE-B) PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 UNDER SECTION 73 OF CGST/KGST ACT, WHERE THE INPUT TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN DISALLOWED AND DEMAND TAX, INTEREST AND PENALTY HAS BEEN RAISED FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2018-19 AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV

ORAL ORDER The petitioner has sought for setting aside of the Order of Adjudication dated 25.04.2024.

¶2It is the case of the petitioner that it has suffered an exparte order and had failed to make out reply to the show cause notice due to bonafide reasons. It is further submitted that the auditor did not communicate to the petitioner regarding the notices that were sent, which was in the knowledge of the auditor. It is submitted that the premise on which the authority has adjudicated the issue is as regards wrongful claim of ITC. It is submitted that the observation made that the supplier was non-existent is erroneous and the petitioner would demonstrate the same by producing necessary records. Accordingly, it is submitted that if the impugned order

is set aside and matter is remitted for re-consideration, the petitioner would make out reply to the show cause notice on its merits and meet the grounds raised and produce necessary documents to substantiate that the availment of ITC was in order.

¶3Sri K. Hema Kumar, learned Additional Government Advocate submits that the petitioner had not responded to the show cause notice and the authority was constrained to pass orders on the basis of material available. It is submitted that the appeal filed by the petitioner was also rejected on the ground of delay.

¶4Perused the Order of Adjudication. It is noticed that the premise on which the adjudication has been finalized is as regards wrongful claim of ITC. The authority has observed regarding supplier being non-existent.

¶5The aspect of wrongful availment of ITC being densely factual is an aspect that requires to be adjudicated after affording an opportunity to the petitioner. In light of the assertion of the petitioner that it would demonstrate that the

supply was genuine and has documents including bank statements to demonstrate actual transaction and payment, it would be appropriate to afford an opportunity to the petitioner to make out its reply to the show cause notice by remitting the matter back for re-consideration to the adjudicating authority.

¶6Noticing that the appeal was filed belatedly and has been rejected solely on the ground of delay as there is no merger of the order-in-original, this Court could enter into the correctness of the order-in-original. It is also noticed that as regards the same petitioner, W.P.No.10787/2026 has been allowed in a identical factual matrix.

¶7Taking note of the above observations and also stand of the petitioner that it would meet the ground made out in the show cause notice, it would be appropriate to set aside the order-in-original at Annexure-B and remit the matter back for re-consideration. It is also to be noticed that the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that necessary debit has been made in electronic credit ledger as regards demand of tax. Such aspect is also taken note of apart from the submission that 10% of demand of tax has already been made

good before the First Appellate Authority. All contentions are kept open.

¶8In light of setting aside of the order-in-original and remitting the matter back, the respondent authorities to rescind instructions given to the bank pursuant to the steps for recovery, forthwith.

¶9The petitioner to appear before respondent No.2 without further notice on 25.05.2026.

Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE

MD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO.11020 OF 2026 (T-RES) BETWEEN: M/S. SRIKANRESHWARA TRADERS, NO.1798, GROUND AND FIRST FLOOR, ACES A BLOCK BDA LAYOUT, SINGASANDRA, BENGALURU-560 068, REP. BY PROPRIETOR SOUMYA K.R …PETITIONER (BY SRI M.R SHIVAREDDY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES LGSTO-16, 6TH FLOOR V.T.K.-2, TTMC BUILDING, RAJENDRA NAGAR, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU-560 095. 2. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES (APPEALS-4), NO.640, 6TH FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING, 80 FEET ROAD, 6TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU-560 095. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K HEMAKUMAR, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ORDER OR by DEVIKA M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DIRECT QUASHING THE