2020 (8) TMI 604 - HC - GST

Direction to the respondents to issue copies of the seized documents - territorial Jurisdiction - transfer of the investigation to Kollam - HELD THAT - The petitioners will no doubt be entitled to seek copies of the documents seized from their premises, if and when they are confronted by the respondents with any notice or other proceeding, wherein reliance is placed on the said seized documents. I, therefore, make it clear that in the event of any notice or other proceedings being issued to the petitioners in connection with the investigation that is currently ongoing, wherein reference is made to any document seized from the petitioners, the respondents shall permit the petitioners to take copies of those documents relied upon in the said notice/proceedings, before proceeding further in the matter. After the stage of investigation, the respondents shall return to the petitioners, all such seized documents as are not relied upon by them for proceeding further against the petitioners. Transfer of the files to Kollam and to base the investigation in Kollam - HELD THAT - The said prayer of the petitioners cannot be acceded to. In matters of investigation the respondents are to be given a certain degree of leeway while deciding such administrative matters such as the place at which an investigation is to be based and the manner in which it is to proceed. With such administrative decisions of the investigating authority this Court would be loath to interfere, in proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Petition allowed in part.

Summary

Issues:
1. Request for copies of seized documents turned down by respondents.
2. Inconvenience caused to petitioners due to investigation based in Ernakulam.
3. Prayer for transfer of investigation to Kollam.
4. Administrative decisions of investigating authority.

Analysis:
1. The petitioners sought copies of documents seized by the respondents during an ongoing investigation under the GST Act. They claimed that their request for copies was denied by the respondents, leading to the present writ petitions. The petitioners argued that the investigation, centered in Ernakulam, caused inconvenience as their business activities were spread across different locations like Karunagappally, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Ernakulam. The prayer in the writ petition was for the respondents to issue copies of the seized documents and transfer the investigation to Kollam to avoid inconvenience.

2. The respondents, through a statement, explained that the investigation was based on internal work arrangements aimed at facilitating speedy disposal of the case. They highlighted that the allocation of files and work arrangements to tax officers was a matter of policy and administration within the Commercial Taxes Department. The respondents emphasized that the petitioners' request for a transfer of files to Kollam was not bonafide and was an attempt to delay the process. They also noted that the majority of the business operations of the group were concentrated in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, justifying the investigation's location.

3. The court acknowledged the petitioners' right to seek copies of seized documents when confronted with notices or proceedings relying on those documents. It directed the respondents to permit the petitioners to take copies of such documents before proceeding further. However, the court rejected the petitioners' prayer for transferring the investigation to Kollam. It held that administrative decisions regarding the investigation's location fell within the investigating authority's discretion, and the court would not interfere in such matters under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

4. In conclusion, the court disposed of the writ petition by rejecting the transfer request to Kollam and directing the respondents to provide copies of the seized documents as required. The judgment emphasized the balance between the petitioners' rights to copies of documents and the investigating authority's administrative decisions, maintaining the integrity of the investigation process.