- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO. 35204 OF 2025 (T-RES) BETWEEN: 1. M/S AGROMATICA ENGINEERING INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED NO.47/1, C BUILDING, NO.2 PATEL VENKATAPPA COMPLEX, 1ST FLOOR SUNKADAKATTE, MAGADI ROAD BENGALURU-560 091. (A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY REPRESENTED BY SRI KIRTI KUMAR KABRA S/O LATE SRI N.S. KABRA AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS MANAGING DIRECTOR AND AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE) &PETITIONER (BY SRI. Y.C. SHIVAKUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES (AUDIT) 6.1 DGSTO-6, 3RD FLOOR, KIADB BLDG 14TH CROSS, 2ND STAGE PEENYA INDUSTRIAL AREA BENGALURU-560 058. &RESPONDENT (BY SMT. JYOTI M. MARADI, HCGP) Digitally signed by AL BHAGYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING FOR ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI FOR QUASHING THE EX-PARTE ORDER UNDER SECTION 73(9) OF THE KGST AND CGST / IGST ACTS, 2017 READ WITH RULE 142(5) OF THE KGST AND CGST RULES, 2017 DATED 08-08- 2024 BEARING NO. CTO/AUDIT-6.1/DGSTO-6/24-25 - T.NO. L 289, PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT, AS AT ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, the petitioner seeks following reliefs: "(a) a writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate Writ, Order or direction in the nature of Writ of Certiorari for quashing the ex-parte "Order under Section 73(9) of the KGST and CGST/IGST Acts, 2017 read with Rule 142(5) of the KGST & CGST Rules, 2017" dated 08-08-2024, bearing No.CTO/Audit-6.1/DGSTO-6/24-25 - T.No.L 289, passed by the Respondent, as at Annexure-A; (b) To relegate the matter to the level of show cause notice so that the petitioner will be able to answer the discrepancies; and (c) Grant any other relief/s that this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case including costs, in the interest of justice and equity." - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondents and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of material on record will indicate that the respondent issued a show-cause notice dated 29.05.2024 under Section 73(1) of the CGST/KGST Act, 2017. Since the petitioner did not submit his reply to the said show-cause notice, the respondent proceeded to pass the impugned order dated 08.08.2024 under Section 73(9) of the GST Acts, 2017 read with Rule 142(5) of the KGST & CGST Rules, 2017 confirming the total demand of Rs.1,50,514/- including the tax, interest and penalty. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the said show-cause notice was not in the knowledge of the petitioner and hence could not submit replies/ documents to the show-cause notice dated 29.05.2024 and resultantly could not contest the proceedings. Aggrieved by the said order the petitioner having no option has approached this Court by way of the present petition interalia contending that the inability and omission on the part of the petitioner to submit a reply to the pre-intimation notice and show-cause notice and contest the proceedings was due to - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 bonafide reasons, unavoidable circumstances and sufficient cause and submits that if one more opportunity is provided, by setting aside the impugned order, the petitioner would submit a reply to the show-cause notice and contest the proceedings. 5. Per contra, learned HCGP for the respondents submits that there is no merit in the petition and the same is liable to be dismissed. 6. Though several contentions have been urged by both sides, having regard to the specific assertion on the part of the petitioner that his inability and omission to submit replies and contest the proceedings was due to bonafide reasons, unavoidable circumstances and sufficient cause, I deem it just and appropriate to adopt a justice oriented approach and provide one more opportunity to the petitioner by setting aside the impugned order dated 08.08.2024 and remitting the matter back to the respondent for reconsideration of the matter afresh in accordance with law from the stage of petitioner submitting reply to the impugned show- cause notice dated 29.05.2024. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 7. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed. (ii) The impugned order dated 08.08.2024 passed by the respondent under Section 73(9) of the KGST & CGST/IGST Acts, 2017 read with Rule 142(5) of the KGST & CGST Rules, 2017 at Annexure – A is hereby set aside. (iii) The matter is remitted back to the respondent for reconsideration afresh in accordance with law from the stage of petitioner submitting its reply to the Show Cause notice dated 29.05.2024 (iv) The petitioner is directed to appear before the respondent on 05.02.2026 without awaiting further notice from the respondent. (v) The liberty is reserved in favour of the petitioner to submit replies, documents etc., which shall be considered by the first respondent who shall provide sufficient and reasonable opportunity to the petitioner and hear them and proceed further in accordance with law. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:54613 WP No. 35204 of 2025 (vi) In the event, the petitioner does not appear before the respondent on 05.02.2026 as stated supra, present order shall stand automatically recalled without further orders. SD/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE NBM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1