In a case adjudication proceeding were pending, the Court may decide not to make any observations until completion of such proceedings.

In a case adjudication proceeding were pending, the Court may decide not to make any observations until completion of such proceedings.

Goods & Services Tax

Seizure, Detention and Confiscation—Petitioner’s was consignor of goods which were intercepted and detained on grounds that no e-way bill along with declaration was accompanied with vehicle and GSTIN mentioned was incorrect—Hence, present petition directing state tax officer for concluding proceedings under section 129 of CGST Act, 2017—Held, it was contended that GSTIN was correct but proper officer was mistaken—In addition, e-way bill could not be generated due to technical glitches on common portal—Case under study was being examined by Department, therefore, petition was disposed of with directions to proper officer for considering Petitioner’s points—Appeal Dismissed.

The petitioner, a businessman in Tamilnadu, is the consignor of goods sent across to Kerala. On 7.3.2018 the Assistant State Tax Officer, Palakkad, detained the goods on these two grounds.


i. GSTIN of the recipient is incorrect, which is in violation of Rule 46 of the CGST Rules, 2017 r/w section 31 of CGST Act, 2017;


ii. No e-way Bill/e-declaration has accompanied the transport.


2. When the petitioner filed this writ petition, the Court, through an interim order dated 9.3.2018, allowed the petitioner to get the detained goods released on its furnishing bank guarantee for the amount covered by Ext.P2. The petitioner did that.


3. Now the petitioner's counsel wants to have this writ petition disposed of with a direction to the Assistant State Tax officer to conclude the pending proceedings under Section 129 of the CGST Act, expeditiously. He, nevertheless, insists that neither ground is tenable.


4. To elaborate, the learned counsel draws my attention to Ext.P1(a) and submits that the GSTIN number has been correctly mentioned. But the officer has read it mistakenly. On the second objection, he submits that by the time the petitioner transported the consignment, the official machinery was not ready to let the businessman generate an e-way bill.


5. As the Assistant State Tax Officer has already taken up the issue, it is inappropriate for this Court to observe anything on the merits. I nevertheless hold that the officer will take into account the petitioner's plea as recorded above while he considers the petitioner's request under Section 129 of the CGST Act. With these observations I dispose of this writ petition.



Sd/-

DAMA SESHADRI NAIDU

JUDGE