Order dismissing appeal without assigning necessary reasons not sustainable and is cryptic in nature

Order dismissing appeal without assigning necessary reasons not sustainable and is cryptic in nature The Hon’ble Patna High Court in Pankaj Sharma vs. UOI & Ors. [Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 7431 dated June 01, 2021] set aside the order dismissing the appeal of the assessee passed by the Revenue Department, on the ground that the same is cryptic in nature as it does not contain the reasons necessarily required for making the order self-explainable and/or comprehensible. Held that, the Appellate Authority, summarily dismissed the appeal without assigning any cogent reason, which is seriously prejudicing the assessee’s cause and case. Facts: This petition has been filed by Pankaj Sharma (“the Petitioner”), against the Order-in-Appeal (“OIA”) dated January 28, 2021, (“Impugned order”) passed by the Additional Commissioner of State Taxes (Appeal) (“the Respondent”) dismissing the Petitioner’s appeal, only on the ground that the Petitioner has not submitted the certified copy of the Order-in-Original (“OIO”) dated March 06, 2020  on time, which was passed against the demand notice in Form GST DRC-07 dated March 06, 2020 levying tax, interest and penalty of INR 19,81,531/- for the period April 2018 to March 2019. Issue: Whether the Respondent was correct in dismissing the appeal filed by the Petitioner for non-submission of the certified copy of the OIO on time, by the Petitioner? Held: The Hon’ble Patna High Court in Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 7431 decided on June 01, 2021 held as under:

• Noted that, the Petitioner’s appeal was dismissed only on the ground that the Petitioner did not submit the certified copy of the OIO on time.
• Observed that, the Respondent summarily dismissed the appeal without assigning any cogent reason, which seriously prejudicing the Petitioner cause and case.
• Further noted that, the Petitioner has already deposited 100% of amount making the appeal mature to be heard on merits.
• Held that, the Impugned order passed by the Respondent is cryptic in nature, and needs to be set aside only on the ground that it does not even contain the reasons necessarily required for making the order self-explainable and/or comprehensible.
• Set aside the Impugned order and remanded back the matter to the Respondent and directed the Petitioner to appear before the Respondent through digital mode due to current Pandemic, if possible.
• Further directed the Respondent to grant opportunity to the Petitioner to place on record all essential documents and materials, decide the appeal on merits expeditiously, within a period of 2 months, in compliance of the principles of natural justice and to deal with, in accordance with law and with reasonable dispatch.

Relevant Provisions: Section 107 of CGST Act: “Appeals to Appellate Authority-

107. (1) Any person aggrieved by any decision or order passed under this Act or the State Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act by an adjudicating authority may appeal to such Appellate Authority as may be prescribed within three months from the date on which the said decision or order is communicated to such person.

(2) The Commissioner may, on his own motion, or upon request from the Commissioner of State tax or the Commissioner of Union territory tax, call for and examine the record of any proceedings in which an adjudicating authority has passed any decision or order under this Act or the State Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality or propriety of the said decision or order and may, by order, direct any officer subordinate to him to apply to the Appellate Authority within six months from the date of communication of the said decision or order for the determination of such points arising out of the said decision or order as may be specified by the Commissioner in his order. (3) Where, in pursuance of an order under sub-section (2), the authorised officer makes an application to the Appellate Authority, such application shall be dealt with by the Appellate Authority as if it were an appeal made against the decision or order of the adjudicating authority and such authorised officer were an appellant and the provisions of this Act relating to appeals shall apply to such application. (4) The Appellate Authority may, if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the aforesaid period of three months or six months, as the case may be, allow it to be presented within a further period of one month. (5) Every appeal under this section shall be in such form and shall be verified in such manner as may be prescribed. (6) No appeal shall be filed under sub-section (1), unless the appellant has paid- (a) in full, such part of the amount of tax, interest, fine, fee and penalty arising from the impugned order, as is admitted by him; and (b) a sum equal to ten per cent. of the remaining amount of tax in dispute arising from the said order subject to a maximum of twenty-five crore rupees, in relation to which the appeal has been filed. Provided that no appeal shall be filed against an order under sub-section (3) of section 129, unless a sum equal to twenty-five per cent. of the penalty has been paid by the appellant. (7) Where the appellant has paid the amount under sub-section (6), the recovery proceedings for the balance amount shall be deemed to be stayed. (8) The Appellate Authority shall give an opportunity to the appellant of being heard. (9) The Appellate Authority may, if sufficient cause is shown at any stage of hearing of an appeal, grant time to the parties or any of them and adjourn the hearing of the appeal for reasons to be recorded in writing: Provided that no such adjournment shall be granted more than three times to a party during hearing of the appeal. (10) The Appellate Authority may, at the time of hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to add any ground of appeal not specified in the grounds of appeal, if it is satisfied that the omission of that ground from the grounds of appeal was not wilful or unreasonable. (11) The Appellate Authority shall, after making such further inquiry as may be necessary, pass such order, as it thinks just and proper, confirming, modifying or annulling the decision or order appealed against but shall not refer the case back to the adjudicating authority that passed the said decision or order: Provided that an order enhancing any fee or penalty or fine in lieu of confiscation or confiscating goods of greater value or reducing the amount of refund or input tax credit shall not be passed unless the appellant has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed order: Provided further that where the Appellate Authority is of the opinion that any tax has not been paid or short-paid or erroneously refunded, or where input tax credit has been wrongly availed or utilised, no order requiring the appellant to pay such tax or input tax credit shall be passed unless the appellant is given notice to show cause against the proposed order and the order is passed within the time limit specified under section 73 or section 74. (12) The order of the Appellate Authority disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for such decision. (13) The Appellate Authority shall, where it is possible to do so, hear and decide every appeal within a period of one year from the date on which it is filed: Provided that where the issuance of order is stayed by an order of a court or Tribunal, the period of such stay shall be excluded in computing the period of one year. (14) On disposal of the appeal, the Appellate Authority shall communicate the order passed by it to the appellant, respondent and to the adjudicating authority. (15) A copy of the order passed by the Appellate Authority shall also be sent to the jurisdictional Commissioner or the authority designated by him in this behalf and the jurisdictional Commissioner of State tax or Commissioner of Union Territory Tax or an authority designated by him in this behalf. (16) Every order passed under this section shall, subject to the provisions of section 108 or section 113 or section 117 or section 118 be final and binding on the parties.“ DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are strictly of the author and A2Z Taxcorp LLP. The contents of this article are solely for informational purpose. It does not constitute professional advice or recommendation of firm. Neither the author nor firm and its affiliates accepts any liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of any information in this article nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.