Southern Hardware Private Limited v. The Assistant Commissioner (St),
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 25.02.2026 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN and W.M.P.Nos.7138 and 7142 of 2026 M/s.Southern Hardware Private Limited, represented by its Director Mr.Mohamedbhai Sultanbhai, having its registered office at No.21/11, Errabalu Chetty Street, Broadway, Chennai-600 001.
... Petitioner Vs.
The Assistant Commissioner (ST), Loansquare Assessment Circle, Integrated Commercial Taxes Building, No.32, Elephant Gate Bridge Road, Chennai-600 003.
... Respondent Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the impugned proceedings of the Respondent in GSTIN:33AALCS1365A1ZQ/2022-23 dated 24.07.2025, the connected order under section 73 of the CGST/TNGST Act, 2017, also dated 24.07.2025, together with the summary of the order in form GST DRC-07 bearing Reference No.ZD3307252644086 dated 24.07.2025, and also the consequential rectification order bearing Reference No.ZD3308252415493 1/6
dated 21.08.2025 and to quash all the impugned proceedings as passed contrary to the provisions of the CGST/TNGST Act, 2017, and against the principles of natural justice.
For Petitioner : Mr.Samuel Rupesh Rajkumar For Respondent : Mr.C.Harsharaj, Special Government Pleader ***********
ORDER
Mr.C.Harsharaj, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the Respondent.
2. This Writ Petition is being disposed of at the stage of admission itself with the consent of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Government Advocate for the Respondent.
3. In this Writ Petition, the Petitioner has challenged the impugned Order dated 24.07.2025, which was preceded by a Show Cause Notice in GST DRC-01 dated 13.06.2023 wherein the Petitioner was called upon to appear for personal hearing. However, the Petitioner had not taken advantage of the same and thus, suffered the impugned Order dated 24.07.2025. 2/6
4. It is noticed that the limitation for filing an appeal under Section 107 of the respective GST enactments, 2017 against the impugned Order has already expired. The present Writ Petition has been filed only on 17.02.2026.
5. At this stage, the learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is willing to pre-deposit 25% of the disputed tax as a condition for denovo adjudication.
6. The learned counsel for the Petitioner has also made an endorsement to that effect in the Court bundle, which is extracted hereunder:- "I consent with payment of 25% disputed tax".
7. Under similar circumstances, Orders have been quashed and cases have been remitted back to the Respondent to pass a fresh order on terms subject to such Assessee depositing 25% to 100% of the disputed tax depending upon the length of delay in approaching the Court. I do not find any reason to take a different view in this case.
8. Therefore, to balance the interest of both parties viz., the Assessee and the Revenue, the case is remitted back to the Respondent to 3/6
pass a fresh order on merits subject to the Petitioner depositing 25% of the disputed tax in cash or from the Petitioner's Electronic Cash Register within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
9. Within such time, the Petitioner shall also file a reply to the Show Cause Notice in GST DRC-01 dated 13.06.2023 together with requisite documents to substantiate the case by treating the impugned Order dated 24.07.2025 as an addendum to the Show Cause Notice dated 13.06.2023.
10. In case the Petitioner complies with the above stipulations, the Respondent shall proceed to pass a final order on merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three (3) months of such reply/pre-deposit. Subject to the Petitioner complying with the above stipulations, the attachment of the bank account of the Petitioner if any, shall also stand automatically vacated.
11. It is made clear that bank attachment shall be lifted subject to the Petitioner depositing 25% of the disputed tax as ordered above and the Petitioner not being in arrears of any other amount for any other tax period barring the amount demanded under the impugned Order. 4/6
12. In case the Petitioner fails to comply with any of the stipulations, the Respondent is at liberty to proceed against the Petitioner to recover the tax in accordance with law as if this Writ Petition was dismissed in limine today.
13. Needless to state, before passing any such order, the Respondent shall give due notice to the Petitioner.
14. This Writ Petition stands disposed of with the above observations. No costs. Connected Writ Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 25.02.2026 kmm To:
The Assistant Commissioner (ST), Loansquare Assessment Circle, Integrated Commercial Taxes Building, No.32, Elephant Gate Bridge Road, Chennai-600 003.
5/6
C.SARAVANAN, J.
kmm W.P.No.6556 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.7138 and 7142 of 2026 25.02.2026 6/6