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2025 (5) TMI 490 - HC - Service TaxNon-payment of service tax - non-service of notices - SCN issued based on surmise and solely on the basis of data relating to third party received from Income Tax Department - violation of principles of natural justice - HELD THAT - This Court finds force in the submission of Ms. Kananbala Roy Choudhury learned Advocate that the Order-in-Original dated 03.07.2024 could not be challenged before the appropriate forum in terms of remedy available under the Finance Act 1994. Since the Advocate for the Petitioner as well as the Senior Standing Counsel for the Department conceded that the Order-in-Original is served on the Advocate for the Petitioner on 28.03.2025 in view of existence of alternative remedy under the Finance Act 1994 the Petitioner is at liberty to assail the said order before the appropriate forum within a period of three weeks from date. In view of the fact that the Petitioner has been granted two weeks from today to approach the appropriate forum to ventilate its grievance invoking alternative remedy the recovery notice dated 19.03.2025 insofar as it relates to the present Petitioner (Serial No.3 of Annexure-4) is concerned stands vacated. Petition disposed off.
1. ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED
The core legal questions considered by the Court are: (i) Whether the Demand-cum-Show Cause Notices dated 26.04.2021 and 30.06.2021 issued under Section 73 of the Finance Act, 1994, relating to non-payment of Service Tax for Financial Years 2015-16 and 2016-17, were validly served on the Petitioner; (ii) Whether the Order-in-Original dated 03.07.2024, which determined the liability of the Petitioner along with interest and penalty, was duly served on the Petitioner; (iii) Whether the Recovery Notice dated 19.03.2025 instructing the bank to freeze the Petitioner's accounts was valid in light of the alleged non-service of the preceding notices and order; (iv) Whether the Petitioner was deprived of the opportunity to participate in the proceedings due to incorrect or insufficient address details; (v) The availability and adequacy of alternative remedies under the Finance Act, 1994, in the context of the Petitioner's challenge to the Order-in-Original; (vi) The implications of non-service on the validity of the demand and recovery proceedings. 2. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS Issue (i) & (ii): Validity of Service of Demand-cum-Show Cause Notices and Order-in-Original Relevant legal framework and precedents: Service of statutory notices under the Finance Act, 1994, must comply with principles of natural justice, ensuring that the affected party receives proper notice to enable participation in proceedings. Section 73 provides for demand of service tax where tax has not been paid or short-paid. Precedents emphasize that non-service or improper service of notices vitiates the proceedings and renders subsequent orders void or liable to be set aside. Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court examined the record and submissions, including the Form-26AS from the Income Tax Department and the GST Registration Certificate, which showed discrepancies in the address of the Petitioner. The Demand-cum-Show Cause Notices and the Order-in-Original were sent to an address not occupied or recognized by the Petitioner. The Court found credible evidence that these documents were never served on the Petitioner at the relevant time. Key evidence and findings: The Acknowledgment Receipt dated 28.03.2025 demonstrated that the Order-in-Original was returned by the Postal Department citing "insufficient address" and was only served on the Petitioner's authorized representative, an Advocate, on 28.03.2025, well after the date of the Order-in-Original. The Petitioner's counsel stressed that the Petitioner was unaware of the demand until the bank informed them of account freezing pursuant to the Recovery Notice. Application of law to facts: The Court held that since the notices and order were not served properly, the Petitioner was deprived of the opportunity to be heard and to challenge the demand at the appropriate stage. The principle of natural justice mandates valid service to enable participation in proceedings, which was not met here. Treatment of competing arguments: The Department conceded that the notices and order could not be served due to insufficient address and that service was effected only on the Advocate on 28.03.2025. The Court accepted this concession and found the Petitioner's argument regarding non-service to be valid. Conclusions: The Demand-cum-Show Cause Notices and the Order-in-Original were not validly served on the Petitioner, rendering the demand and consequent recovery proceedings premature and unjust. Issue (iii): Validity of Recovery Notice dated 19.03.2025 Relevant legal framework and precedents: Recovery of tax demand under the Finance Act, 1994, is contingent upon the validity of the demand itself and proper service of the order creating the liability. Recovery steps taken without valid service of the demand order are liable to be set aside. Court's interpretation and reasoning: Since the Order-in-Original was not served on the Petitioner prior to issuance of the Recovery Notice, the Court found that the Recovery Notice was issued without the Petitioner having an opportunity to challenge the demand, violating principles of natural justice. Key evidence and findings: The Petitioner became aware of the Recovery Notice only when the bank informed about freezing of accounts. The Court noted the absence of prior valid service of the demand order. Application of law to facts: The Court vacated the Recovery Notice insofar as it related to the Petitioner, recognizing that recovery cannot proceed without valid service and opportunity to contest. Treatment of competing arguments: The Department did not dispute the insufficiency of address and late service, and the Court accordingly set aside the recovery action. Conclusions: The Recovery Notice dated 19.03.2025 was vacated to protect the Petitioner's rights pending proper service and challenge of the demand order. Issue (iv): Deprivation of Opportunity to Participate Relevant legal framework and precedents: The audi alteram partem rule underpins the requirement that a party must be given a fair opportunity to be heard before adverse orders are passed. Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court found that due to incorrect address details, the Petitioner was deprived of the opportunity to participate in the proceedings initiated by the notices and order. This deprivation was fundamental and warranted judicial intervention. Key evidence and findings: The Petitioner's inability to receive notices and the late awareness of proceedings through the bank's communication underscored the denial of opportunity. Application of law to facts: The Court emphasized that proper service is essential to uphold the Petitioner's right to be heard, and failure to do so vitiates the proceedings. Conclusions: The Petitioner was deprived of the opportunity to participate, rendering the impugned actions invalid. Issue (v): Availability and Adequacy of Alternative Remedies Relevant legal framework and precedents: The Finance Act, 1994, provides statutory remedies for challenging demand orders, typically through appellate or revision forums designated under the Act. Courts generally require exhaustion of such remedies before entertaining writ petitions under Article 226. Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court noted that the Petitioner had an alternative remedy to challenge the Order-in-Original before the appropriate forum. Since the order was served on the Petitioner's Advocate on 28.03.2025, the Petitioner was granted liberty to assail the order within three weeks. Key evidence and findings: The Department's concession regarding service on the Advocate and the statutory framework for appeals under the Finance Act. Application of law to facts: The Court balanced the need for judicial oversight with respect for statutory remedies, directing the Petitioner to pursue the alternative remedy. Conclusions: The Petitioner was permitted to challenge the Order-in-Original through the prescribed statutory forum within a stipulated time frame. Issue (vi): Implications of Non-Service on Validity of Proceedings Relevant legal framework and precedents: Non-service or improper service of statutory notices and orders undermines the validity of tax demand and recovery proceedings, as they violate principles of natural justice and statutory procedural requirements. Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court held that non-service rendered the demand and recovery proceedings unsustainable at the present stage. Key evidence and findings: The record and acknowledgments confirmed non-service and late service on the authorized representative only. Application of law to facts: The Court's decision to vacate the recovery notice and allow the Petitioner to pursue statutory remedies reflected the legal consequences of non-service. Conclusions: The proceedings initiated without valid service were set aside to uphold procedural fairness. 3. SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS The Court's crucial legal reasoning includes the following verbatim excerpt from the Acknowledgment Receipt and order: "The Order-in-Original No.25-26/CCE/S.TAX/RKL/2024-25 dated 03.07.2024... could not be served to the Notice by the Postal Department citing 'insufficient address'... The Officers of Rourkela-II Range tried to serve the same, however, the same could not be served because the address provided in the Order-in-Original was not sufficient." Core principles established:
Final determinations on each issue:
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