WP/42476/2026 of M/s SMART BIZ GROUP Vs The Deputy Commissioner on 15 October 2026

COMMON ORDER

The present Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the orders passed by the third respondent dated 23.08.2024 and 08.12.2025.

2. Ms. Amirta Poonkodi Dinakaran, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice on behalf of the respondent. By consent of the parties, the main Writ Petitions are taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that in this case, all notices/communications were uploaded by the respondent under the “View Additional Notices and Orders” column in the GST common portal. Since the petitioner was not aware of the said notices, they failed to file their reply within the time. Under these circumstances, the impugned order came to be passed by the first respondent without providing any opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner. Therefore, these Writ Petitions have been filed.

4. Further, he would submit that the petitioner is voluntarily willing to pay 25% of the disputed tax amount to the third respondent. To that effect, he has also made an endorsement in the Court bundles. Hence, he requests this Court to grant an opportunity to the petitioner to present their case before the respondent by setting aside the impugned order.

5. On the other hand, the learned Additional Government Pleader (T) appearing for the respondent would submit that the respondent had uploaded the notices in the GST Online Portal. But the petitioner failed to avail the said opportunity. Further, he has fairly admitted that no opportunity of personal hearing was provided to the petitioner prior to the passing of impugned order. Therefore, he requested this Court to remit the matter back to the respondent, subject to the payment of 25% of the disputed tax amount by the petitioner.

6. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader (T) for the respondent and also perused the materials available on record.

7. In the case on hand, it is evident that the show cause notice was uploaded on the GST Portal Tab. According to the petitioner, he was not aware of the issuance of the said show cause notice issued through the GST Portal and the original of the said show cause notice was not furnished to them. In such circumstances, this Court is of the view that the impugned assessment order came to be passed without affording any opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner, confirming the proposals contained in the show cause notice.

8. No doubt, sending notice by uploading in portal is a sufficient service, but, the Officer who is sending the repeated reminders, despite the fact that there is no response from the petitioner to the show cause notices etc., should have applied his/her mind and explored the possibility of sending notices by way of other modes prescribed in Section 169 of the GST Act, which are also the valid mode of service under the Act, otherwise it will not be an effective service, rather, it would only amount to fulfilling the empty formalities. Merely passing an ex parte order by fulfilling the empty formalities will not serve any useful purpose and the same will only pave way for multiplicity of litigations, not only wasting the time of the Officer concerned, but also the precious time of the Appellate Authority/Tribunal and this Court as well.

9. Thus, when there is no response from the tax payer to the notice sent through a particular mode, the Officer who is issuing notices should strictly explore the possibilities of sending notices through some other mode as prescribed in Section 169(1) of the Act, preferably by way of RPAD, which would ultimately achieve the object of the GST Act. Therefore, this Court finds that there has been a lack of effort in applying the available opportunities to serve the notices/orders etc., effectively to the petitioner.

10. Further, it was submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is willing to pay 25% of the disputed tax amount to the third respondent. In such view of the matter, this Court is inclined to set aside the impugned orders passed by the third respondent. Accordingly, this Court passes the following order:-

(i) The impugned orders dated dated 23.08.2024 and 08.12.2025 passed by the third respondent are set aside and the matter is remanded to the third respondent for fresh consideration on condition that the petitioner deposits 25% of disputed tax amount to the third respondent, in respect of each assessment order, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The setting aside of the impugned orders will take effect from the date of payment of the said amount.

(ii) The petitioner shall file their reply/objection along with the required documents, if any, within a period of three weeks from the date of payment of amount as stated above.

(iii) On filing of such reply/objection by the petitioner, the respondent shall consider the same and issue a 14 days clear notice, by fixing the date of personal hearing, to the petitioner and thereafter, pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible.

(iv) Considering the fact that the impugned orders itself have been set aside, this Court is of the opinion that the attachment made on the bank account of the petitioner, cannot survive any longer and hence, it is to be lifted. As a sequel, the respondent is directed to instruct the concerned Bank to de- freeze the bank account of the petitioner, immediately upon proof of payment of the said amount. In the event that the third respondent fails to communicate the lifting of the attachment within the stipulated time, liberty is granted to the petitioner to produce proof of the such deposit along with a copy of this order directly to the concerned Bank. Upon production of the same, the Bank is directed to de-freeze the bank account of the petitioner and permit them to operate the account normally. The Bank shall intimate the same to the respondent authority.

11. With the above directions, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. No costs. W.M.P.Nos.47743 and 47737 of 2026 filed to dispense with the production of the original impugned orders, are allowed. Consequently, the connected W.M.P.Nos.47745 and47738 of 2026 are also closed. 15-10-2026 Asi To

1. The Deputy Commissioner Poonamallee Zone, Integrated Commercial Taxes Building, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

2. The Assistant Commissioner ST, Poonamallee Assessment Circle, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

3. The Deputy State Tax Officer-Il, Poonamallee Assessment Circle, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

KRISHNAN RAMASAMY J. Asi WP Nos. 42476 and 42487 of 2026 and WMP Nos.47743, 47745, 47737 and 47738 of 2026 15-10-2026