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2023 DIGILAW 476 (KAR)

Shree Pampapathy Enterprises v. Union Of India, Through Its Secretary, Ministry Of Finance, Department Of Revenue, Room No. 137, North Block, New Delhi

2023-03-21

M.I.ARUN

body2023
ORDER : 1. Aggrieved by the order of confiscation of goods conveyance and demand of penalty and fine passed under Section 130 of CGST Act, 2017 and MOV-11, dated 07.02.2023 in order No.27/2022-23 by respondent No.3, the petitioner has preferred this writ petition. 2. The petitioner being owner of certain goods was transporting the same from Mundgod, Uttara Kannada to Ongloe Prakasham, Andhra Pradesh. The goods and conveyance were seized near Ananthpur Bypass Toll Plaza, Ballari, proceedings were initiated and the impugned order has been passed under the provisions of Section 130 of the CGST Act. 3. The said order has been challenged on the ground that the same has been passed without affording proper opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and the same is in violation of Section 130(4) of the CGST Act, 2017 and in violation of the principles of natural justice and on other grounds. 4. Learned AGA upon instructions submits that the impugned order is passed in accordance with law. That the petitioner was given an opportunity to reply to the allegations made and he has filed a written reply and the same has been considered before passing the order and if he is aggrieved, he has an alternative efficacious remedy to file an appeal under Section 107 of the CGST Act, 2017. 5. The impugned order reveals that an opportunity was given to the petitioner to file his reply and he has filed his reply, which has been considered and rejected by respondent No.3. Section 130(4) of the CGST Act, reads as under: “130. Confiscation of goods or conveyance and levy of penalty. XXXXX (4) No order for confiscation of goods or conveyance or for imposition of penalty shall be issued without giving the person an opportunity of being heard.” 6. Section 130 of the CGST Act is a code by itself, which provides for confiscating the goods and the conveyance and under certain eventualities the confiscated material vests with the Government and the same can be auctioned. When such harsh measures are initiated against any person, it is very essential that a proper opportunity of hearing has to be given and what is contemplated in Section 130(4) is “an opportunity of being heard” and not a mere opportunity of filing objections to the action contemplated. When such harsh measures are initiated against any person, it is very essential that a proper opportunity of hearing has to be given and what is contemplated in Section 130(4) is “an opportunity of being heard” and not a mere opportunity of filing objections to the action contemplated. In the instant case, the petitioner has been granted an opportunity to file his objections but not an opportunity of hearing. Hence, on the short point, the writ petition is liable to be allowed by setting aside the impugned order and remanding the matter back to respondent No.3 to give an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and thereafter pass appropriate order. ORDER (i) The writ petition is hereby allowed. (ii) The impugned order dated 07.02.2023 passed in Order No.27/2022-23 by respondent No.3 under Section 130 of the CGST Act, and MOV-11 (vide Annexure-H) is hereby set aside. (iii) The matter stands remanded to respondent No.3 with a direction to provide an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and thereafter pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. (iv) The petitioner shall appear before respondent No.3 on 10.04.2023 without further notice. (v) In view of allowing of the writ petition, pending applications, if any, do not survive for consideration and the same are accordingly disposed off.