GST Adjudication Set Aside: Lack of Proof of Hearing Notice - Maya Store Ruling

For a business, receiving an adverse GST order without a chance to explain your side is a major procedural failure. The Calcutta High Court has clarified that "lack of proof" is "lack of service."

"8. Since it has not been proved before this Court... that the petitioners have been afforded an opportunity of hearing prior to the impugned decision being taken, therefore the said decision falls foul of the principles of natural justice as well as the provisions of Section 75(4) of the said Act of 2017."

The "Principle of Natural Justice" is a cornerstone of any administrative or legal proceeding. One of its key pillars is Audi Alteram Partem—the right to be heard. This is not just a moral requirement; it is a statutory right. If the government intends to pass an order that will negatively affect a taxpayer, it is legally bound to provide a fair opportunity for that taxpayer to represent their case.

Key Takeaways

• Service of hearing notice must be provable; lack of proof invalidates the order.
• Section 75(4) mandates personal hearing before adverse decisions.
• Internal system lapses do not excuse denial of hearing rights.

Who This Applies To

GST taxpayers challenging adjudication orders passed without a properly served hearing notice.

The Facts

The case involves Maya Store, which challenged a GST adjudication order passed under Section 73 for the period July 2017 to March 2018. The petitioner argued that the order was passed without any opportunity for a personal hearing.

In response, the GST Authorities filed an affidavit admitting that they hadn't sent a physical letter. They claimed that the hearing date was provided "online" via the ACES-GST Application. However, they admitted that the application was withdrawn in June 2025, and they had no record, no proof, and no screenshot to show that the notice was actually ever issued to the petitioner.

The Law

• Section 75(4) of the CGST / WBGST Act, 2017: This section states that a personal hearing must be granted where a request is received in writing or where any adverse decision is contemplated.
• Section 73: The provision used by the Proper Officer to pass the original order for demand of tax.

Arguments

The petitioner contended that the order violated the statutory mandate of Section 75(4) because no hearing was actually provided, making the entire adjudication process illegal. The Revenue argued that they had fulfilled the requirement by putting the notice online, but were unable to prove it due to the withdrawal of the internal application.

The Court held that the burden of proving service of notice lies squarely on the department. The withdrawal of an internal software application (ACES-GST) is an administrative decision by the government and cannot be used as an excuse to deny a taxpayer their fundamental right to a hearing. The Court quashed the adjudication order and remitted the matter back for a fresh hearing.

Practical Impact

Taxpayers can seek quashing of GST orders where the department cannot prove proper hearing notice service.