Cancellation of GST Registration without stating a reason in SCN/Order is cryptic in nature

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that cancelling a GST registration without providing clear reasons in the Show Cause Notice (SCN) or the final order is unlawful. The court found such orders to be "cryptic" and in violation of natural justice principles. Consequently, the court set aside the cancellation of Gigamade Machineries Private Limited's GST registration and allowed the authorities to issue a fresh notice if necessary.

The Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in Gigamade Machineries Private Limited v. State of Gujarat [R/Special Civil Application No. 17599 of 2022 dated February 10, 2023] quashed and set aside the Show Cause Notice ("SCN") and consequential order cancelling the GST Registration of the assessee, on the grounds of being violative of principles of natural justice, as the reasons for cancellation of GST Registration were not stated. Held that, the order is not only non-speaking but also cryptic in nature, which entails penal and pecuniary consequences and the Revenue Department ought to have referred to the contents of the SCN and have followed the principles of natural justice. 

Facts

Gigamade Machineries Private Limited ("the Petitioner") is a firm to whom a SCN dated May 9, 2022 ("the Impugned SCN") was issued by the Revenue Department ("the Respondent") under Section 29 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 ("the CGST Act") read with Rule 22(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 ("the CGST Rules") stating that, the Petitioner was found non-existing or non-functioning at the principal place of its business and proposing to cancel the  GST Registration of the Petitioner. However, the Impugned SCN, did not disclose the basis for suo moto initiating process for cancellation of GST Registration.

The Petitioner filed a reply of the Impugned SCN stating that, it does not give any reasons for initiating process of cancellation of GST registration of the Petitioner and has been issued by a person who is not authorized in law to initiate process for cancellation of GST Registration. Subsequently, an order dated June 4, 2022 ("the Impugned Order") was passed, cancelling the GST Registration of the Petitioner, wherein, the reasons for such cancellation were not mentioned. 

Being aggrieved, this petition has been filed. 

Issue

Whether the Impugned Order passed for cancellation of GST Registration without specifying the reasons is maintainable?

Held

The Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in R/Special Civil Application No. 17599 of 2022 held as under:

• Observed that, the Impugned SCN is absolutely vague,bereft of any material particulars and the Impugned Order is also vague and a non- speaking order.
• Stated that, the Respondent ought to have at least referred to the contents of the Impugned SCN and the response thereto, which was not done.
• Further stated that, the Respondent ought to have followed the principles of natural justice, which has not been done. 
• Opined that, the Impugned Order is not only non-speaking but also cryptic in nature and the reason of cancellation of GST Registration of the Petitioner is not decipherable therefrom.
• Held that, the principles of natural justice stand violated and the Impugned Order entails penal and pecuniary consequences.
• Quashed and set aside the Impugned SCN and the Impugned Order. 
• Permitted the Respondent to issue fresh notice for cancellation of GST Registration, in accordance with the law.
• Revived the GST Registration of the Petitioner.

Relevant provisions

Section 29 of the CGST Act

"Cancellation or suspension of registration.

(1) The proper officer may, either on his own motion or on an application filed by the registered person or by his legal heirs, in case of death of such person, cancel the registration, in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed, having regard to the circumstances where––

(a) the business has been discontinued, transferred fully for any reason including death of the proprietor, amalgamated with other legal entity, demerged or otherwise disposed of; or

(b) there is any change in the constitution of the business; or

(c) the taxable person is no longer liable to be registered under section 22 or section 24 or intends to optout of the registration voluntarily made under sub-section (3) of section 25:
Provided that during pendency of the proceedings relating to cancellation of registration filed by the registered person, the registration may be suspended for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The proper officer may cancel the registration of a person from such date, including any retrospective date, as he may deem fit, where,––

(a) a registered person has contravened such provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder as may be prescribed; or
(b) a person paying tax under section 10 has not furnished 5 the return for a financial year beyond three months from the due date of furnishing the said return; or
(c) any registered person, other than a person specified in clause (b), has not furnished returns for such continuous tax period as may be prescribed; or
(d) any person who has taken voluntary registration under sub-section (3) of section 25 has not commenced business within six months from the date of registration; or
(e) registration has been obtained by means of fraud, wilful misstatement or suppression of facts:

Provided that the proper officer shall not cancel the registration without giving the person an opportunity of being heard.

Provided further that during pendency of the proceedings relating to cancellation of registration, the proper officer may suspend the registration for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The cancellation of registration under this section shall not affect the liability of the person to pay tax and other dues under this Act or to discharge any obligation under this Act or the rules made thereunder for any period prior to the date of cancellation whether or not such tax and other dues are determined before or after the date of cancellation.

(4) The cancellation of registration under the State Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be a cancellation of registration under this Act.

(5) Every registered person whose registration is cancelled shall pay an amount, by way of debit in the electronic credit ledger or electronic cash ledger, equivalent to the credit of input tax in respect of inputs held in stock and inputs contained in semi-finished or finished goods held in stock or capital goods or plant and machinery on the day immediately preceding the date of such cancellation or the output tax payable on such goods, whichever is higher, calculated in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that in case of capital goods or plant and machinery, the taxable person shall pay an amount equal to the input tax credit taken on the said capital goods or plant and machinery, reduced by such percentage points as may be prescribed or the tax on the transaction value of such capital goods or plant and machinery under section 15, whichever is higher.

(6) The amount payable under sub-section (5) shall be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed."

Rule 22(1) of the CGST Rules

"Cancellation of registration

(1) Where the proper officer has reasons to believe that the registration of a person is liable to be cancelled under section 29, he shall issue a notice to such person in FORM GST REG-17, requiring him to show cause, within a period of seven working days from the date of the service of such notice, as to why his registration shall not be cancelled."