M/S.KALYX PLASTI-PACK vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX ,
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that Ext.P2 was merely a notice issued by the Assessing Officer, and the petitioner had the statutory right to respond to it and have the matter adjudicated by that authority. Therefore, interference by the High Court at this stage, under Article 226 of the Constitution, was not warranted. The court dismissed the writ petition without prejudice to the petitioner's right to approach the High Court again if the final order passed by the adjudicating authority suffered from any jurisdictional error. No finding was made on the merits of the contentions raised by the petitioner against Ext.P2.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, M/s. Kalyx Plasti-Pack, a registered dealer under the Kerala Value Added Tax (KVAT) Act, filed a writ petition before the High Court of Kerala. The petition challenged Ext.P2, a notice issued by the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax (1st respondent) invoking Section 66 of the KVAT Act, 2003. The petitioner raised various contentions against this notice. The respondents included the Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, the Commissioner of State Goods and Service Tax Department, and the State of Kerala.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the High Court should entertain a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution challenging a notice issued by an Assessing Officer, when the assessee has an opportunity to respond to the notice and seek adjudication before the said authority? The assessee contended that the notice (Ext.P2) was challengeable and raised various grounds against it. The revenue did not file a counter-affidavit or present arguments on the merits of the notice itself. The court's decision was based on the procedural stage of the matter.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR TUESDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2019 / 2ND ASWINA, 1941 WP(C).No.23619 OF 2019(B) PETITIONER/S: M/S.KALYX PLASTI-PACK,SWARAJ PLYWOOD ROAD, PAPPINISSERY P.O., KANNUR. REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER, LABEEB P. T. P. BY ADVS. SRI.K.P.ABDUL AZEES SMT.SHOBA ANNAMMA EAPEN SHRI.AKHIL SURESH SMT.T.ARCHANA RESPONDENT/S:
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX , KANNUR - 670 002.
THE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 002.
STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY (TAXES), SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001. BY DR.THUSHARA JAMES, GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.09.2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.23619 OF 2019 2 JUDGMENT Dated this the 24th day of September 2019 The petitioner, who is a registered dealer under the Kerala Value Added Tax Act (for short, KVAT Act) on the rolls of the 1st respondent, has approached this Court aggrieved by Ext.P2 notice issued to it invoking the provisions of Section 66 of the KVAT Act,2003. Although various contentions are raised in the writ petition in its challenge against Ext.P2 notice, I am of the view that Ext.P2 being only a notice issued by the Assessing Officer, and the petitioner has the opportunity of responding to the said notice and getting the matter adjudicated before the said authority, an interference by this Court at this stage, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is not warranted. Accordingly, without prejudice to the right of the petitioner to approach this Court at a later stage, if the order passed against him by the adjudicating authority suffers from any jurisdictional error, the writ petition is dismissed. Sd/- A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR
JUDGE sd
WP(C).No.23619 OF 2019 3 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS: EXHIBIT P1 THE TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER NO.32120209405/11-12 DATED 18/03/2019 PASSED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX STATE GOODS AND SERVICE TAX DEPARTMENT, KANNUR. EXHIBIT P2 THE TRUE COPY OF NOTICE NO. 32120209405/11- 12 DATED 19/07/2019 UNDER SECTION 66 OF THE KERALA VALUE ADDED TAX ACT 2003 ISSUED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF STATE TAX KANNUR. EXHIBIT P3 THE TRUE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF FINANCE ACT 2013 AND EXHIBIT P4 THE TRUE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF FINANCE ACT 2016. EXHIBIT P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE CLARIFICATION NO.C3/22114/16 DATED 08/05/2018 ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER, STATE GOODS AND SERVICE TAX DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. sd
More judgments on Section 66
- Rajiv Kumar, Fatehgarh Sahib vs Income Tax Officer, Ward Sirhind, SirhindITA 1235/CHANDI/2024[2017-18]Status: Disposed4 Nov 2025AY 2017-18
- Airports Authority of India vs Commissioner of Service TaxC.A. No.-017405 - 201723 Sept 2025
- Diwakar Road Lines, Anantapur vs Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-1…ITA 74/HYD/2024[2016-17]Status: Disposed26 Mar 2024AY 2016-17
- Diwakar Road Lines, Anantapur vs Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-1…ITA 73/HYD/2024[2014-15]Status: Disposed26 Mar 2024AY 2014-15
- Diwakar Road Lines, Anantahapur vs Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-1…ITA 72/HYD/2024[2011-12]Status: Disposed26 Mar 2024AY 2011-12
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- Prabhat Kumar vs. The State Of BiharPatna · 4 Nov 2026
- Siddharth Barai (Prop- Siddharth Design Studio) vs. The Superintendent CGST And Central Excise, Balangir RangeOrissa · 4 Nov 2026
- Shashibhusan Moharana vs. The Superintendent Of CGST And Central Excise, DhenkanalOrissa · 4 Nov 2026
- Paramount Tea Marketing PVT. LTD. vs. Union Of INDIA And 3 OrsGauhati · 4 Nov 2026
- Md. Junaid vs. The State Of BiharPatna · 4 Nov 2026