Chartered Accountant
Bookmark and Share
click here to subscribe our newsletter
 
 
Corporate News *   CBIC issues draft rules for Customs valuation *  Top Headlines: Threshold for Benami deals, green bond investors, and more *  Govt aims 1-hour clearance for goods at all ports *  Exporters Allowed To Use RoDTEP, RoSCTL Scrips To Pay Customs Duty, Transfer Them; Rules Amended *  Millions of labourers to be affected by brick producers’ strike over hike in GST, coal rates *  Inauguration of ‘kendriya GST parisar’ *  Transporter can seek Release of Conveyance alone, not Goods under GST Act: Madras HC *  GST: Quoting of DIN Mandatory for Responding to Notice, Govt Modifies Portal *  Firms can soon file claims for GST credits of ?400 cr *  CBIC issues modalities for filing transitional credit under GST. *  Mumbai: Man creates 36 fake GST firms, arrested for input tax credit fraud of Rs 23 cr *  Report to restructure Commerce Ministry under study; idea is to set up trade promotion body: Goyal *  Firms can soon file claims for GST credits of ?400 cr *  Gambling Alert! Govt May Levy Up To 28% GST; UP, Bengal Back Move *  EPFO backs raising retirement age to ease pressure on pension funds *  India Moving Up Power Scale, Set to Become Third Largest Economy By 2030 *  Airfares Get Expensive: What Changes for Flyers From Today? *  IRCTC Latest News: Passengers to Pay More For Cancelling Confirmed Rail Tickets Soon. *  IBC prevails over Customs Act, says Supreme Court. *  As GST enters sixth year, a time for evaluation and reassessment *  There’s GST on daily essentials as Centre needs money to buy MLAs: Arvind Kejriwal *  Now, GST on cancellation of confirmed train tickets, hotel bookings *  GST kitty for top States could rise 20% in FY23, says Crisil *  French customs officials seize another cargo vessel over Russia sanctions *  TradeLens builds on Asia momentum with Pakistan Customs deal *  Hike tax on tobacco, reduce affordability & increase revenue: Civil society organizations to GST council *  Bihar: ?10 crore tax evasion on tobacco products detected in raids *  Centre failed on GST, COVID; would it be anti-national? Rajan on Infosys row *  Service Tax not Chargeable on Income Tax TDS portion paid by recipient: CESTAT grants relief to TVS *  Foreign portfolio investors make net investment of Rs 7575cr in Sep so far
Subject News *  Run-up to Budget: Monetary threshold for GST offences may rise to Rs 25 cr *   GST (Tax) E-invoice Must For Businesses With Over Rs 5 Crore Annual Turnover *   Both Central GST and excise duty can be imposed on tobacco, rules Karnataka high court *   CBIC Issues Clarification On Extended Timelines For GST Compliance *   CBIC Issues Clarification On Extended Timelines For GST Compliance *  Budget 2023- 9.6 crore gas connections *  GST: Tamil Nadu Issues Instructions for Assessment and Adjudication Proceedings *  GST: CBIC Extends Last Date for filing of ITC *  GST collection in September surpasses Rs 1.4 lakh crore for straight seventh time *  Dollar smuggling case: Customs chargesheet names M Sivasankar as key conspirator. *  Hike in GST rates fuels inflation *  Assam: CBI arrests GST commissioner in Guwahati *  GST fraud worth ?824cr by 15 insurance Cos detected *  India proposes 15% customs duties on 22 items imported from UK *  Decriminalising certain offences under GST on cards *  Surge in GST collections more due to higher inflation: India Ratings *  MNRE Notifies BCD and Hike in GST Rates as ‘Change in Law’ Events But With a Condition | Mercom India *   Solar projects awarded before customs duty change allowed cost pass-through *  Rajasthan High Court Dismisses Writ Petitions Challenging Levy Of GST On Royalty *   GST revenue in September likely at Rs 1.45 lakh crore *  Govt working on decriminalising certain offences under GST, lower compounding charge *  Building an institution like GST Council takes time, trashing is easy: Sitharaman *  GST collections in Sept may touch ?1.5 lakh crore *  KTR asks Centre to withdraw GST on handlooms *  After Gameskraft, More Online Gaming Startups To Receive GST Tax Claims *  Madras HC: AAR Application Filed Under VAT Does Not Survive After GST Enactment *  Threshold for criminal offences under GST law may be raised *  Bengaluru: Gaming company faces biggest GST notice of Rs 21,000 crore *  CBIC clarifies Classification of Cranes for GST, Customs Duty *  Customs seize gold hidden in bicycle in Kerala airport  

Comments

Print   |    |  Comment

PJ/Case Law /2016-17/3328

Whether technical violations are allowed to come in the way of prosecuting the appeal filed?
Case- NATHA RAMA AND CO. Versus CESTAT
 Citation-2016(44) S.T.R. 414 (Guj.)
Brief Facts-The appellant company, by way of filing present tax appeal, was challenging the legality and validity of the order dated 24-8-2015 passed by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad (for short ‘the Tribunal’) whereby, the Tribunal did not condone the delay which had occasioned in preferring the appeal.
The case of the appellant was that the appellant was engaged in manufacturing of salt at Okha Madhi Salt Works. The appellant took registration under the taxable category of Maintenance or Repair Services and Commercial or Industrial Construction Services on 14-6-2010 and holding a registration number as well. An investigation was carried out by the Central Excise Department regarding the activities of the appellant and based upon certain details gathered during the process of investigation for the years commencing from 2005-06 to 2009-10, the proceedings were initiated for the purpose of recovery of tax by issuing show cause notice on 14-10-2010. The show cause notice was based upon the fact that there was some wilful misstatement and suppression on the part of appellant whereby, there was an intention on the part of appellant to evade the payment of service tax under the provisions of Section 73(1) of the Finance Act. Said notices came to be issued at a later period also, to which the appellant has submitted a reply pointing out that there was no fraud nor any wilful misstatement nor any kind of suppression of fact or even contravention of any of the provisions of the relevant Act. Still, however, after hearing the appellant, the authority below had passed an order-in-original dated 28-6-2013/10-7-2013 and it is against that order-in-original the appellant had filed an appeal before the appellate authority, namely, Commissioner (Appeals), Central Excise, Rajkot. Said appeal also came to be dismissed vide order dated 28-8-2014 and against the said order, the appellant filed the appeal before the Tribunal. The said appeal was delayed by a period of 148 days. Resultantly, an application came to be submitted for seeking condonation of delay. The Tribunal after hearing the appeal has dismissed the application for seeking condonation of delay vide order dated 24-8-2015. It is against that order, present Tax Appeal is filed by the appellant.
 
Appellant’s Contention-Learned Counsel, Mr. Anand Nanavati appearing on behalf of the appellant submitted that delay of 148 days had occasioned on account of genuine cause beyond the control of the appellant and thereby, submitted that though the said factor was submitted before the Tribunal, the Tribunal did not considered and therefore, the order is arbitrary, without assigning cogent reasons and based upon technical consideration. It was submitted by learned Counsel for the appellant that the Tribunal ought to have considered the explanation which had been given in detail not only in the memo of civil application for seeking condonation of delay but, was supported by a separate document in the form of affidavit. Learned Counsel for the appellant had drawn attention of this Court to an affidavit (Pg. 365 of the compilation) wherein, Mr. Bhavesh Madhavjibhai Parmar, partner of the appellant had categorically stated that Mr. Dinesh Nathabhai Parmar, who was the in-charge of the affairs of the company especially legal matters, was not intimated the company about the order and on account of personal work, the said legal matter, namely, present issue had not been taken care of through oversight and on account of aforesaid circumstance. This affidavit was very much placed on record before the Tribunal and therefore, delay which has been explained by submitting this affidavit ought to have been considered by the Tribunal. Considering the averments made in the civil application for seeking condonation of delay, learned Counsel for the appellant submitted that the Tribunal ought to have taken a lenient view in the matter and instead of taking hyper technical view of the matter, ought to have gone into merits of the main proceedings and thereby, requested the Court to set aside the impugned order and consequently, appeal which had been presented may be directed to be dealt with on merits and in accordance with law.
 
Respondent’s Contention-As against this, Mr. Jaimin Gandhi, learned Standing Counsel had submitted that the Tribunal has rightly exercised the discretion by not condoning the delay as the Tribunal found that there was no diligence or sincerity shown by the appellant in preferring an appeal. Learned Standing Counsel had submitted that a detailed affidavit in reply was filed to justify the reasons which were assigned by the Tribunal and thereby, contended that the delay of 148 days which was unexplained cogently, the order of the Tribunal may not be disturbed in the interest of justice.
 
Reasoning Of Judgement-Having heard the learned Counsel appearing for the respective parties and on perusal of the order impugned in the present appeal, the Tribunal found that the relevant explanation which had been projected by the appellant before the Tribunal had not been properly gone into and prima facie, the affidavit which had been submitted before the Tribunal ought to have been considered in right spirit. The reasons which were shown as reflected in Para 5 were not sufficient enough to substantiate the conclusion and therefore, the Tribunal was of the opinion that the delay of 148 days should not be allowed to come in the way of appellant in prosecuting the appeal on merits. It was a settled legal position of law that substantial justice is pitted against the technical consideration, the said technical consideration should not be given a predominance and therefore, considering the overall material on record and the explanation offered by the appellant, the Tribunal was of the opinion that technicality should not be allowed to come in the way of appellant to prosecute the appeal which has been filed.
Considering the overall circumstance and the material adduced before the Court coupled with explanation offered, the order impugned dated 24-8-2015 is quashed and set aside. Delay of 148 days occasioned in preferring the appeal is condoned with a request to the Tribunal to deal with the appeal filed by the appellant on its own merits and in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible. Tax appeal was disposed of accordingly.
 
Decision- Appeal disposed of.
Comment- The gist of the case is that the delay in filling of appeal to  Appellate Tribunal was merely a technical glitch and must not come in way of prosecuting the appeal. As It was apparent that reasons for delay cited by petitioner were not gone into properly and in right spirit by the Tribunal therefore the delay of 148 days was condoned and impugned order was set aside. The matter was remitted to Tribunal for hearing appeal on merits in accordance with Section 35 B of Central Excise Act, 1944.
 
Prepared By -Praniti Lalwani
 
 
Department News


Query

 
PRADEEP JAIN, F.C.A.

Head Office : -

Address :
"SUGYAN", H - 29, SHASTRI NAGAR, JODHPUR (RAJ.) - 342003

Phone No. :
0291 - 2439496, 0291 - 3258496

Mobile No. :
09314722236

Fax No. :0291 - 2439496


Branch Office : -

Address:
1008, 10th FLOOR, SUKH SAGAR COMPLEX,
NEAR FORTUNE LANDMARK HOTEL, USMANPURA,
ASHRAM ROAD, AHMEDABAD-380013

Phone No. :
079-32999496, 27560043

Mobile No. :
093777659496, 09377649496

E-mail :pradeep@capradeepjain.com