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2023 (3) TMI 879 - PATNA HIGH COURTMaintainability of petition - availability of alternative remedy of appeal - non-constitution of Tribunal - recovery proceedings for the balance amount - HELD THAT:- It appears that conscious of the fact of non constitution of the Tribunal, a notification dated 11.12.2019 for removal of difficulties, in exercise of powers under Section 172 of the B.G.S.T. Act has been issued by the State of Bihar - the notification dated 11.12.2019 provides that the period of limitation, for the purpose of preferring an appeal under Section 112 of the B.G.S.T. Act, shall start only after the date on which the President or the State President, as the case may be, of the Tribunal, after its constitution under Section 109 of the B.G.S.T. Act, enters office. It is thus apparent that petitioner's statutory right to prefer an appeal survives. Considering the facts and circumstances above, including the admitted position regarding non-constitution of the Tribunal under Section 109 of the B.G.S.T. Act, this Court is of the opinion that keeping the writ petition pending would serve no useful purpose - If the petitioner makes a deposit of a sum equal to 20 percent of the remaining amount of tax in dispute, in addition to the amount deposited earlier under Sub-Section 6 of Section 107 of the B.G.S.T. Act, then the petitioner must be extended the statutory benefit of stay under Sub-Section 9 of Section 112 of the B.G.S.T. Act, for he cannot be deprived of the benefit, due to non-constitution of the Tribunal by the respondents themselves. The recovery of balance amount, and any steps that may have been taken in this regard will thus be deemed to be stayed. The statutory relief of stay on deposit of the statutory amount, in the opinion of this Court, cannot be open ended. For balancing the equities, therefore, the Court is of the opinion that since order is being passed due to non-constitution of the Tribunal by the respondent-Authorities, the petitioner would be required to present/file his appeal under Section 112 of the B.G.S.T. Act, once the Tribunal is constituted and made functional and the President or the State President may enter office. The appeal would be required to be filed observing the statutory requirements after coming into existence of the Tribunal, for facilitating consideration of the appeal. Application disposed off.
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