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CDJ 2026 MHC 715
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| Case No : W.P. (MD) No. 2662 of 2026 & W.M.P (MD) No. 2251 of 2026 |
| Judges: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY |
| Parties : Dream Infotech, Rep. by its Proprietor M.Rajesh, Tuticorin Versus The State Tax officer (Ins)-1, Office of the Joint Commissioner (Ins), Tirunelveli & Others |
| Appearing Advocates : For the Petitioner: A. Satheesh Murugan, Advocate. For the Respondent: R. Suresh Kumar, AGP. |
| Date of Judgment : 02-02-2026 |
| Head Note :- |
Constitution of India - Article 226 -
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| Summary :- |
1. Statutes / Acts / Rules / Orders Mentioned:
- Article 226 of the Constitution of India
- GST Act
2. Catch Words:
- Limitation
- Natural Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Show Cause Notice
- Clubbing
- Quash
- Assessment Order
- Writ of Certiorari
3. Summary:
The petitioner filed a writ under Article 226 seeking certiorari and records of the impugned GST assessment order dated 29‑10‑2025, alleging illegal jurisdiction and violation of natural justice. The respondent’s counsel appeared, and the matter was taken up at the admission stage by consent. The Court relied on its earlier order dated 21‑07‑2025 in W.P. Nos. 29716 of 2024, which held that the GST Act permits show‑cause notices only for a single tax period and that clubbing notices for multiple financial years is impermissible. Since the impugned order covered the period 2019‑20 to 2023‑24, it was deemed without jurisdiction. Accordingly, the assessment order and the related show‑cause notice were quashed, and the respondent was directed to initiate separate proceedings for each year. The petition was disposed of without costs, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed.
4. Conclusion:
Petition Allowed |
| Judgment :- |
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(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for records pertaining to the impugned proceedings passed by the 3rd Respondent vide his order in GSTIN. 33BYUPR0782D1Z4 dated 29-10-2025 (Tax Period 2019-20 to 2023-24) and quash the same as it is illegal, without jurisdiction and in gross violations of the Principles of Natural Justice.)
1. This writ petition has been filed challenging impugned order dated 29.10.2025 passed by the respondent.
2. Mr.R.Suresh Kumar, learned Additional Government Pleader, takes notice on behalf of the respondent.
3. By consent of the parties, the main writ petition is taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the issue involved in the present petition is with regard to the bunching of show cause notice/orders, i.e., issuance of single show cause notice/orders for five financial years, viz., 2019-20 to 2023-24.
5. Further, he would submit that the aforesaid issue has already been decided by this Court vide common order dated 21.07.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.29716 of 2024, etc., batch, wherein it has been held as follows:
“28. (i) The GST Act permits only for issuance of show cause notice based on the tax period. Therefore, if the annual return is filed, the entire year would be considered as a tax period and accordingly, the show cause notice shall be issued based on the said annual returns.
(ii) If show cause notice is issued before the filing of annual returns, the same can be issued based on the filing of monthly returns;
(iii) If show cause notice is issued after the filing of annual returns or after the commencement of limitation, the said notice shall be issued based on the annual returns with regard to the relevant financial year.
(iv) No show cause notice can be clubbed and issued for more than one financial year since the same is impermissible in law.
(v) In these cases, without any jurisdiction, the impugned show cause notices/orders came to be issued/passed for more than one financial year, which is impermissible in law and hence, the same is liable to be quashed. Accordingly, the impugned show cause notices/orders stand quashed based on the aspect of clubbing of show cause notices for more than one financial year.”
6. Hence, he would submit that the above order is squarely applicable to the present case and requests this Court to quash the impugned order passed by the respondent. 7. In reply, the learned Additional Government Pleader had fairly confirmed all the submissions made by the respondent and requests this Court to pass appropriate orders.
8. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents and also perused the entire materials available on record.
9. In the case on hand, it is very clear that the impugned order came to be passed for more than one financial year, i.e., 2019-20 to 2023-24. When such being the case, by following the aforesaid order dated 21.07.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.29716 of 2024, etc., batch, this Court holds that in this case, the impugned order was passed by the respondent without any jurisdiction, which is impermissible in law and hence, the same is liable to be quashed. Accordingly, this Court passes the following order:
(i) The impugned assessment order dated 29.10.2025 and all the other consequential orders are quashed.
(ii) Further, the show cause notice dated 02.07.2025 is set aside and the respondent is granted liberty to initiate separate proceedings, against the petitioner, for each financial year.
10. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No cost. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is also closed.
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