Tvl. Lourdes Matha Cashew Industries Vs Union of India
Date: August 27, 2023
Subject Matter
Impugned order directing to forego Input Tax Credit is unreasonable and cannot be sustained
Summary
The case involves a writ petition filed by 'Lourdes Matha Cashew Industries' challenging an order regarding the migration process from VAT to GST in Tamil Nadu. The petitioner, previously registered under VAT, faced difficulties during the migration process and challenged a notice imposing conditions and forgoing Input Tax Credit retrospectively. The court ruled in favor of the petitioner, quashing the condition related to forgoing Input Tax Credit and directing the authorities to consider the migration application and grant Input Tax Credit based on the details and evidence submitted.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
This writ petition is filed for Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to quash the impugned order, dated 16.11.2022.
2. Heard Mr. Bobby John Pulickaparambil, the Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. R. Nandakumar, the Learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Mrs. S. Ragaventhree, the Learned Junior Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 to 3, Mr. M. Ramesh, the Learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents 4 to 6 and perused the material documents available on record.
3. The petitioner is the Proprietrix carrying on the business in the name and style of ‘Lourdes Matha Cashew Industries’ situated in Kanyakumari District. The petitioner has engaged in selling of Cashew nuts from the year 1986. Before GST regime, the petitioner was an assessee under Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (VAT) and he was having registration in TIN.33816184269. Subsequently, under the new regime, the petitioner’s registration number is GSTIN.33AAZPV5192P1ZE. After registration with GST, the petitioner is bound by GST scheme which is introduced from 01.07.2017. The petitioner is having a Unit in the State of Kerala. The petitioner has completed the process of migration from the VAT to GST in State of Kerala and has also obtained a valid registration under the CGST/KSGST Act in GSTIN.32AAZPV5192P2ZF. However, when the petitioner was attempting to migrate from VAT to GST in Tamil Nadu, the application was not accepted and the process of migration could not be finalized. The petitioner has advertently omitted to take follow up action in the matter. Thereafter he submitted a letter, dated 16.05.2018 to the 5th respondent pointing out the difficulties. Thereafter, the registration is granted but the validity is granted only from 01.06.2018 though the liability to pay tax has commenced from 01.07.2017.
4. But the petitioner is claiming to grant it from 01.07.2017 so that the petitioner could avail the benefits of Tax credit and submitted an application to this effect. The respondents have issued the impugned notice, dated 16.11.2022, wherein it has been stated that the petitioner’s application would be considered with certain conditions and the said conditions are extracted hereunder:
i. Details of outward supplies due to be reported under GST for the period from 01.07.2017 to 31.05.2018
ii. Details of inward supplies for which Input Tax Credit needs to be availed for the period from 01.07.2017 to 31.05.2018
iii. Details of output liability if any payable after adjusting the Input Tax Credit proposed to be made available
iv. Undertaking to forgo the Input Tax Credit if any as a result of extending the validity retrospectively with effect from 01.07.2017
The petitioner is ready and willing to comply with the conditions 1, 2, and 3. However, the petitioner expressed his difficulty to comply with the 4th condition to forgo the Input Tax Credit. The reason stated in the impugned order is that the validity is being granted retrospectively, then the petitioner ought to forgo. It is seen that the petitioner is already as assessee under VAT. The petitioner is seeking to migrate from VAT to GST. Input Tax Credit is available in VAT regime also. In such circumstances the petitioner would have the details and evidence to substantiate his claim of Input Tax Credit and there cannot be difficulty to avail Input Tax credit for the said period. Therefore, the impugned order directing to forego Input Tax Credit is unreasonable and cannot be sustained and the same is liable to be quashed.
5. Accordingly, the impugned order, dated 16.11.2022 is hereby quashed as far as the 4th condition is concerned. The petitioner shall furnish the details as stated in condition 1 to 3 and thereafter the respondents shall consider the application for migration. The Input Tax Credit shall be granted based on the details and evidence that would be submitted by the petitioner.
6. With these observations and directions, this Writ Petition is allowed. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.