Kerala High Court: The Bench of Dama Seshadri Naidu, J. granted a stay on encashment of bank guarantee by tax authorities until the statutory appeal preferred in that regard was considered by the competent court.
Petitioner herein was transporting certain goods from Tamil Nadu to Perinthalmanna. When the authorities checked the documents carried along with the goods, they found the same to be defective. Suspecting tax evasion, authorities detained the goods and demanded a penalty, as well as tax. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed a petition for the release of goods and for the expeditious completion of adjudication. In terms of the judgment delivered in the said petition, the petitioner furnished a bank guarantee for the entire amount demanded and had the goods released.
Later, the primary authority completed the adjudication and issued an order under imposing a penalty under Section 129(3) of the State Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017 and also appropriating the bank guarantee. The petitioner filed an appeal under Section 107 of the Act against the said order. However, by way of caution, he preferred the instant appeal as he apprehends that the authorities, in the meanwhile, may encash the bank guarantee.
In view of the fact that a statutory appeal had already been filed, the Court directed the respondent authority to keep the bank guarantee untouched till the appeal is considered. [Vinod P.A. v. Assistant State Tax Officer, 2019 SCC OnLine Ker 39, dated 03-01-2019]
