2024 (4) TMI 526 - HC - GST

Quantification of pre-deposit of 20% before filing an appeal - Disputed tax amount includes demand of interest or not - Direction to deposit 20% of the disputed remaining unpaid interest within a time frame - HELD THAT - In the case on hand the provision for filing an appeal before the tribunal does not contemplate payment of 20% of the disputed interest and it is specific in stating that no appeal shall be filed under sub-section (1) of Section 112 unless the appellant has paid a sum equal to 20% of the remaining amount of tax in dispute - there is a clear distinction drawn in the said provision restricting the pre-deposit amount to a sum equal to 20% of the remaining amount of tax in dispute. The discretion which the court can exercise has to be in terms of the provision of the statute more particularly when the appellants had filed the writ petition on account of the fact that the appellate tribunal is yet to be constituted under the Act - the legislative intent as amplified in Section 112(8)(b) of the Act clearly restricts the pre-deposit amount to 20% of the remaining amount of tax in dispute and does not speak of interest. The discretion to be exercised by the court should be in terms of the statute and therefore the said condition imposed by the learned Single Bench calls for interference - the portion of the order passed by the learned Single Bench directing the petitioners to pay 20% of the remaining interest is set aside and the respondents are directed not to initiate any recovery proceedings till the writ petition is heard and disposed of. Appeal allowed.

Summary

Issues:
Interim order directing deposit of 20% disputed unpaid interest under GST Act - Interpretation of pre-deposit requirement for filing appeal before appellate tribunal - Legislative intent regarding pre-deposit amount - Exercise of discretion by High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

Detailed Analysis:
The judgment pertains to an intra court appeal against an interim order directing the appellants to deposit 20% of the disputed remaining unpaid interest under the GST Act. The appellants argued that the pre-deposit requirement for approaching the appellate tribunal, as per Section 112 of the GST Act, pertains to 20% of the remaining amount of tax in dispute. The challenge in the writ petition was against an adjudication order demanding interest due to belated filing of returns. Since the appellate tribunal was not yet constituted, the writ petition was filed, leading to the impugned interim order.

The government counsel contended that the interim order was discretionary to safeguard revenue interests and did not contain any error. Referring to a Supreme Court decision, it was highlighted that High Courts, when deciding writ petitions under Article 226, should exercise discretion in line with relevant provisions, such as those related to limitation. The court analyzed the provisions related to filing an appeal before the tribunal, emphasizing that the statute specifies a pre-deposit amount equal to 20% of the remaining tax in dispute, without mentioning interest.

Citing a Karnataka High Court case, the appellants argued that the legislative intent, as reflected in Section 112(8)(b) of the Act, confines the pre-deposit amount to the disputed tax quantum, excluding penalty, fee, and interest. The court agreed that the language of the statute is crucial in determining legislative intent, and in this case, the statute clearly limits the pre-deposit amount to the tax in dispute, not including interest. Consequently, the court held that the discretion to be exercised must align with the statutory provisions, leading to the setting aside of the portion of the interim order directing payment of 20% remaining interest.

In conclusion, the appeal was allowed, and the direction to pay 20% remaining interest was set aside. The respondents were instructed not to initiate recovery proceedings until the writ petition was heard and disposed of. A timeline was set for the respondents to file their affidavit-in-opposition, and the writ petition was listed for hearing before the appropriate bench after six weeks.