Page 75 - GSTL_18th June 2020_Vol 37_Part 3
P. 75

2020 ]      ULTRA TECH NATHDWARA CEMENT LTD. v. UNION OF INDIA       289
                       5.  However, in view of the fact that there is a recommendation of GST
               Council that  till 31st of March,  2018 the demand of an E-way Bill will not be
               made. The demand itself and the consequential demand of cash security is not
               justified.
                       6.  We therefore, direct the respondents to release the goods of the peti-
               tioner forthwith subject to deposit of security to the extent of 50% of the value of
               goods in the shape of other than cash or bank guarantee, which will abide by
               penalty proceedings.
                       7.  With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition stands disposed of.
               No costs.
                                               _________

                                  2020 (37) G.S.T.L. 289 (Raj.)

                IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
                                 Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi, JJ.
                          ULTRA TECH NATHDWARA CEMENT LTD.
                                                Versus
                                         UNION OF INDIA
                        D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 9480 of 2019, decided on 7-4-2020
                       Recovery  of  GST dues under Insolvency Bankruptcy  Code  vis-à-vis
               other creditors - Demand prior to taking over of company under liquidation
               not legal - Approval of Resolution plan for revival of dying industry - Demand
               - Financial creditors to be given a precedence in the ratio of payments when
               resolution plan  is being finalized  in view of  the stance of  Finance Minister
               before the upper house of the Parliament - No right of audience given in reso-
               lution proceedings to operational creditors viz. Central Government or State
               Government as the case may be - Evaluation of all dues and liabilities as they
               exist on the date of finalization of the resolution plan left in the exclusive do-
               main of  the resolution professional with the  approval  of the Committee of
               Creditors (COC) - Resolution plan approved by the COC binding on the De-
               partment  - Approved  resolution plan  affirmed by  NCLAT and thereafter by
               Supreme Court - As per the resolution plan, rights of the respondent GST De-
               partment secured to the extent of ` 72 crores odd and already deposited by pe-
               titioner - Demand raised by respondent for the period prior to the date  on
               which, petitioner-company took over the company under liquidation, i.e.,
               Binani Cement Ltd. after the resolution plan was finalized and approved, to-
               tally illegal - Section 31 of Insolvency Bankruptcy Code, 2016. [paras 18, 20, 21]
                       Strictures against GST officials - High Court expressed its serious res-
               ervation on the approach of the concerned Officers of GST in persisting with
               the demands raised from petitioner in gross ignorance of the pertinent state-
               ment made  by Finance  Minister   before Parliament   and  the  amendment
               brought  around in Insolvency Bankruptcy  Code, 2016 - Authorities should
               have adopted a pragmatic approach and immediately withdrawn the demands
               rather than indulging in  a  totally frivolous litigation,  thereby  unnecessarily
               adding to the overflowing dockets of cases in the Courts. [para 24]
                                                                        Petition allowed
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