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2021 (7) TMI 1050 - HC - VAT and Sales TaxMaintainability of petition - remedy of appeal was not exhausted - petition entertained only on the ground of delay, valid or not - Validity of assessment order - challenge on the ground that the assessment orders are passed against the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Goods and Services Tax Act, 1956 and in violation of decision of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in various judgments - HELD THAT:- The power of judicial review of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is to scrutinize the processes through which a decision is taken by the competent authority by following the procedures as contemplated, but not the decision itself. Therefore, the routine entertainment of a Writ Petition by dispensing with appellate remedy is not preferable and such an exercise would cause injury to the institutional hierarchy and the importance attached to such appellate institutions. The appellate institutions provided under the statute at no circumstances be undermined by the higher Courts. The appellate forums are the final fact finding authorities and more so, possessing expertise in a particular field. The finding of such appellate forums would be a valuable assistance for the purpose of exercise of judicial review by the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The High Court cannot conduct a roving enquiry with reference to the facts and circumstances based on the documents and evidences. Based on the mere affidavits filed by the litigants, the disputed facts cannot be concluded. Thus, the importance of fact finding by the appellate forums is of more value for the purpose of providing complete justice to the parties approaching the Court of law. The point of delay may be an acceptable ground for the purpose of entertaining a Writ Petition. The practise of filing the Writ Petition without exhausting the statutory remedies are in ascending mode and such Writ Petitions are filed with a view to avoid pre-deposits to be made in statutory appeals and on the ground that the appellate remedies are time consuming. The petitioner is at liberty to prefer an appeal, before the jurisdictional appellate authority, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, in the prescribed format and complying with the provisions of the Acts and rules and in the event of receiving any such appeal from the petitioner, the appellate authority shall consider the same, on merits - Petition disposed off.
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