Union of India & Ors. Vs Shantanu Sanjay Hundekari & Anr
Date: January 23, 2025
Court: Supreme Court
Bench:
Type: Special Leave Petition
Subject Matter
GST provisions do not impose vicarious liability on employees for a company’s tax liabilities. HC ruling upheld.
Summary
The Supreme Court of India upheld the High Court's decision which quashed a show cause notice issued by the Revenue to an employee of Maersk, demanding recovery of ₹3,731 crores under the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act. The High Court ruled that tax liabilities under GST laws do not extend to employees or authorized signatories of a company, as there is no provision for vicarious liability imposed on them. The court found the Revenue's actions to be excessive and lacking jurisdiction. Although the Supreme Court dismissed the Revenue's appeal and did not interfere with the High Court's ruling, it left open the broader legal interpretation of Sections 122(1A) and 137, thus reaffirming the principle that tax liabilities should fall on the company, not its employees.
FULL TEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT/ORDER
1. Heard Mr. N. Venkataraman, the learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Revenue and Ms. Anuradha Dutt, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.
2. Delay condoned.
3. The High Court while allowing the Writ Petitions filed by the respondents, quashed the show cause notices issued by the Revenue seeking recovery of Rs.3731 Crore holding as under in Paras 32 and 33 respectively:-
“32. For the aforesaid reasons, it is clear from the relevant contents of the show cause notice that the basic jurisdictional requirements/ingredients, are nor attracted for issuance of the show cause notice under Section 74 of the COST Act so as to inter alia invoke Section 122(1-A) and Section 137 against the petitioner. Even otherwise, it is ill-conceivable to read and recognize into the provisions of Section 122 and Section 137, of the CGST Act any principle of vicarious liability being attracted. There could be none. Thus, Respondent no. 3 clearly lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the show cause notice in its applicability to the petitioner. Thus qua the petitioner, the impugned show cause notice is rendered bad and illegal, deserving it to be quashed and set aside.
33. The foregoing discussion would also lead us to conclude that it is highly unconscionable and disproportionate for the concerned officer of the Revenue to demand from the petitioner an amount of Rs.3731 crores, which in fact is clearly alleged to be the liability of Maersk, as the contents of the show cause notice itself would demonstrate, The petitioner would not be incorrect in contending that the purpose of issuing the show cause notice to the petitioner who is merely an employee, was designed to threaten and pressurize the petitioner.”
4. The issue before the High Court was one relating to the interpretation of Section 122(1-A) and Section 137 of the GST Act.
5. The High Court after assigning cogent reasons took the view that the respondent – herein was merely an employee of the Company and he could not have been fastened with the liability of Rs.3731 Crore.
6. We see no good reason to interfere with the common impugned Orders passed by the High Court.
7. However, the question of law as regards the two provisions, referred to above, is kept open.
8. The Special Leave Petitions are, accordingly, dismissed.
9. Pending applications, if any, shall also stand disposed of.