Court upholds validity of search authorization and consolidated demand SCN under Sections 74 and 74A.

By | September 25, 2026
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Court upholds validity of search authorization and consolidated demand SCN under Sections 74 and 74A.

Issue

  1. Whether search proceedings under Section 67 are vitiated due to non-prior disclosure of “reasons to believe” when valid search authorization in FORM GST INS-01 exists.
  2. Whether a consolidated demand-cum-Show Cause Notice (SCN) issued for multiple financial years (FYs 2021-22 to 2024-25) following a search and investigation is legally sustainable without preliminary scrutiny proceedings under Section 61.
  3. Whether mentioning penalty proposals under both Section 74/74A and Section 122 in the same SCN violates Section 75(13) prohibiting double jeopardy/double penalty.
  4. Whether the High Court should interfere with a demand-cum-SCN under writ jurisdiction when factual disputes regarding suppression and tax quantification exist.

Facts

  • Search Operations: The petitioner partnership firm underwent search proceedings at its business premises on 01.02.2024 under Section 67, backed by a valid search authorization in FORM GST INS-01 dated 01.02.2024.
  • Seizure & Statements: The search was followed by FORM GST INS-02 and panchnama. Statements were recorded, and digital/physical business records (including Garage Plug software and slip pads) were seized and examined.
  • Consolidated SCN: Based on the search findings, the department issued a consolidated demand-cum-SCN proposing additional taxable value of approximately ₹3.43 crores and GST demand of ₹61.67 lakhs.
  • Provisions Invoked: The SCN invoked Section 74(1) for FYs 2021-22 to 2023-24 and Section 74A(1) for FY 2024-25, alongside penalty proposals under Section 122. A voluntary deposit of ₹3 lakhs via DRC-03 was acknowledged.
  • Writ Challenge: The petitioner challenged the search, search authorization, and the consolidated SCN via a writ petition before the High Court.

Decision

  • Validity of Search Authorization: The plea that the search was vitiated for lack of authorization failed since the petitioner acknowledged the existence of FORM GST INS-01. The statute does not mandate prior disclosure of “reasons to believe” to the taxable person before a search, as disclosure could defeat the search’s purpose. What matters is the contemporaneous existence of reasons to believe when INS-01 is issued. [Paras 7, 9 to 11] [In favour of revenue]
  • Non-requirement of Section 61 Scrutiny: Section 61 governs return scrutiny discrepancies and is not a mandatory prerequisite for search-based investigations under Section 67. The investigation was rooted in seized records, making the absence of Section 61 proceedings irrelevant to the SCN’s validity. [Paras 16 to 19] [In favour of revenue]
  • Legality of Consolidated SCN: No statutory bar prohibits issuing a single consolidated SCN for multiple financial years. However, the adjudicating authority must determine tax liabilities and apply the relevant legal provisions independently for each FY with due regard to limitation. [Paras 20 to 22] [In favour of revenue]
  • No Double Penalty Violation at SCN Stage: Merely referencing penalty provisions under Section 74/74A and Section 122 in the SCN does not breach Section 75(13). Section 75(13) prohibits the actual imposition of double penalties for the same act, which must be strictly ensured by the adjudicating authority during final adjudication. [Paras 23 to 25] [In favour of revenue]
  • Dismissal of Writ Petition: Writ courts will not entertain factual determinations regarding suppression, willful misstatement, or quantification accuracy at the SCN stage. Since the notice showed no patent jurisdictional defect, the writ petition was dismissed, leaving the petitioner to pursue adjudication. [Paras 26 to 30] [In favour of revenue]

Key Takeaways

  1. Prior Disclosure of Search Reasons Not Mandatory: Tax authorities are not legally bound to disclose “reasons to believe” to a taxpayer prior to initiating a search under Section 67, provided contemporaneous records justify issuing FORM GST INS-01.
  2. Search Proceedings Independent of Scrutiny (Section 61): An investigation and demand arising out of a search under Section 67 do not require prior scrutiny of returns under Section 61 or FORM GST ASMT-10.
  3. Consolidated SCN Permissible with Year-Wise Assessment: While a single notice can cover multiple financial years, the final adjudication order must assess liabilities, limitations, and penalties separately for each respective year.
  4. Scope of Penalty Proposals vs. Final Imposition: Proposing penalties under multiple sections (e.g., Section 74/74A and Section 122) in an SCN is valid; Section 75(13) only bars the final order from imposing dual penalties for the exact same offense.
HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
HD Associates
v.
Union of India
Arun Dev Choudhury, J.
WP(C) No. 3066 OF 2026
SEPTEMBER  3, 2026
S.K. Saha for the Petitioner. V.K. Chopra for the Respondent.
JUDGMENT
1. Heard Mr. S.K. Saha, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. V.K. Chopra, learned counsel for respondent No.1 and Mr. M Kumar, learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 & 3.
2. The petitioner has approached this court, challenging the Demand notice-cum-show cause notice dated 14.08.2025, issued by the Assistant Director, DGGI, Guwahati Zonal Unit, whereby proceedings have been initiated against the petitioner for the financial years 2021-2022 to 2024-2025. The further challenge concerns the search and seizure order dated 01.02.2024, INS-02, and all actions taken in consequence thereof.
3. The principal grounds of challenge are that the search conducted on 01.02.2024 under section 67 of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, (for short the CGST Act), was without valid authorization and without the requisite reasons to believe; the search proceedings were not compliant with the requirement of DIN; the proceedings should not have been initiated without recourse to section 61; and the consolidated notice invoking section 74 and 74A along with section 122 of the CGST Act, 2017 is contrary to the scheme of the Act, particularly section 75(13).
4. The facts are on a narrow campus.
The petitioner is a partnership firm carrying on business under the name and style of “Detailing Bull”.
On 01.02.2024, a search was conducted at its premises. A FORM GST INS-01 dated 01.02.2024 was issued authorizing the search. The search was followed by the issuance of FORM GST INS-02 and the preparation of the panchnama.
5. During the course of the investigation, statements from persons connected with the business were recorded, and the departmental officers examined, among other things, the records maintained in the “Garage Plug” software, slip pads, sales records, and other documents. Further statements were recorded during the subsequent investigation, and information was obtained from persons connected with the business.
On the basis of the materials so collected, the impugned show-cause notice was issued alleging suppression of taxable supplies.
6. The notice alleges misdeclaration/suppression of taxable value of Rs. 3,42,61,665.00, involving GST of Rs. 61,67,100.00, for the financial years 2021-2022 to 2023-2024.
The demand has been proposed under section 74(1), whereas for financial year 2024-25, section 74(A)(1) has been invoked. Interest and penalties have also been proposed, including penalties under section 122 of the Act, 2017.
The notice takes into account the payment of Rs. 300,000 made by the petitioner through DRC-03 on 22-02-2024.
7. The first argument that the charge stands vitiated for want of authorization, and therefore is void ab initio, can not be accepted in view of the pleading in the writ petition regarding the existence of FORM GST-INS-01 dated 01.02.2024.
8. The petitioner, however, submits that the reasons to believe on the basis of which the authorization was issued were never furnished to it.
9. Section 67(2) empowers the proper officer, where reasons to believe that the circumstances specified therein exist, to authorize an officer in writing to conduct the search.
Rule 139(1) of the GST rules prescribes FORM GST-INS-01 for such authorization. The requirement of reason to believe and the requirement of a written authorization are distinct.
It is true that the mere existence of INS-01 does not by itself establish that the statutory pre-condition for the exercise of power was satisfied. At the same time, the non-furnishing of the reasons to taxable persons cannot by itself be equated with the absence of reasons.
The statute does not contemplate prior disclosure of the reason to the person whose premises are to be searched, as such disclosure may defeat the very purpose of the search.
Therefore, what is required is that the competent officer has actually formed the requisite belief on the basis of materials available before the issuance of INS-01.
10. If such reasons existed contemporaneously, mere non-supply thereof to the petitioner would not necessarily invalidate the authorization. If, on the other hand, no such contemporaneous reason existed and a justification is sought to be supplied subsequently, the validity of the search would stand on a different footing.
11. This Court, at this stage of challenge to the show-cause notice, need not examine the sufficiency of the reason like an appellate authority.
The adjudicating authority, however, is required to examine the original INS-01 and the contemporaneous departmental record and thereafter record a finding as to whether the competent Officer had formed the requisite reasons to believe prior to issuance of the authorization. Thus, the validity of the subsequent proceeding shall necessarily abide by the findings on that aspect.
12. Now, coming to the challenge based on the absence of DIN, it is recorded herein that the CBIC Circular No. 122/41/2019-GST dated 05.11.2019 prescribed a mandatory DIN for specified communications, including search authorization. Subsequent Circular No. 128-47-2009-GST dated 23-12-2019 prescribed the consequences thereof, subject to the exception and regularization contemplated by the circulars.
13. The fact that the impugned show-cause notice bears a DIN does not answer the objection relating to the absence of a DIN in the search authorization. However, the issue is that those communications requiring DIN bore such a number or fell within any of the permissible exceptions, and whether they were subsequently regularized in accordance with the prescribed procedure, which are factual issues required to be determined by the adjudicating authority.
14. However, at this stage, the alleged defect in DIN without examination of relevant records and applicability of exceptions, which are otherwise factual determinations, need not be examined in the exercise of this court’s power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, inasmuch as the same cannot, by itself, furnish a ground for quashing the entire show-cause notice.
15. The further objection of the petitioner is that the Department could not have proceeded to determine liability under section 74/74A without first undertaking scrutiny under section 61 and issuing FORM GST ASMT-10.
16. Section 61 and Rule 99 prescribe a procedure for addressing discrepancies noticed during the scrutiny of returns. If a demand proceeding is founded upon a discrepancy detected in such scrutiny, the statutory procedure under section 61 cannot be bypassed, but section 61 cannot be treated as a mandatory preliminary stage in every investigation merely because during an investigation the department ultimately compares the material discovered with the returns filed by the taxpayers.
17. In the present case, the foundation disclosed in the notice is the search under Section 67 and the investigation that followed, including the material allegedly found in the course of the search, statements recorded during the investigation, the entries in the Garage Plug software, Slip Pads, and other records and information obtained from third parties.
18. In the facts of the present case, in the opinion of this court, the demand is founded on Section 67, and therefore, the absence of proceedings under Section 61 does not invalidate the notice.
19. As a caution, this court records here that, in the event that any particular component of the proposed demand is founded solely upon a discrepancy detected in scrutiny proceedings under Section 61, the statutory requirements applicable thereto shall have to be complied with. This aspect can appropriately be examined in the adjudication itself.
20. A challenge to a show-cause notice covering financial years 2021-2022 to 2024-2025 merely on the ground of consolidation also cannot be accepted.
21. There is no statutory prohibition against the issuance of a consolidated notice covering more than one financial year. A Co-ordinate Bench in Tata Projects Ltd. v. Union of India  (Gauhati)/2026 SCC Online GAU 3798, has already considered the issue and held that a consolidated show cause notice covering different financial years cannot be termed as without jurisdiction.
22. However, it is made clear that for the financial years 2021-22 to 2023-24, the authority has invoked Section 74, whereas for the year 2024-2025, it has invoked Section 74A. The authorities are therefore required to determine the liability separately for each financial year, apply the provision applicable to that year, and examine the question of limitation and the ingredients necessary for invoking the respective provisions.
23. The contention based on Section 75(13) also does not render the notice invalid.
24. Section 75(13) does not prohibit the department from referring to Section 74/74(A) and Section 122 in the same show-cause notice. The said provision operates to prevent the imposition of more than one penalty on the same person for the same act or omission. Thus, mere proposal of penalties under both sets of provisions, at this stage of the notice, is not sufficient to invalidate the proceeding.
25. The authorities are under a statutory obligation to ensure that Section 75(13) is given full effect and that the same act or omission is not subjected to a double penalty, contrary to the statutory prohibition.
26. Coming to the allegation of non-disclosure of any suppression, fraud, and willful misstatement in the Notice, it is clear that the notice proceeds on the basis that certain taxable supplies were not disclosed in returns and such non-disclosure was deliberate. The materials relied upon include business records, the garage plug software, slip pads, statements recorded during the investigation, and information obtained from other persons. Whether these materials establish suppression-fraud or willful misstatement and whether the quantification of alleged suppressed turnover is correct are essentially matters of adjudication. The petitioner would be entitled to explain the entries relied upon by the department, contest the statements and other materials, reconcile the figures and demonstrate the correctness of its returns and tax liability.
27. This court, in the exercise of writ jurisdiction against a show-cause notice, should not undertake that factual exercise. It is significant to note that the notice contains a quantified allegation of additional taxable value and consequential tax liability.
28. The correctness of such quantification, including the amount already paid through DRC-03, can effectively be adjudicated by the adjudicating authority on the basis of materials relied upon and explanation furnished by the petitioner.
29. In this context, the decision in Tata Projects Ltd. (supra) also reinforces the principle that where the dispute involves factual determination as to suppression, fraud or willful misstatement, the statutory adjudication should ordinarily be allowed to take place unless the notice is shown to be wholly without jurisdiction or suffers from a patent legal infirmity, which is not the case, in the present litigation, as discussed hereinabove.
30. On the overall consideration of the matter, this court is not persuaded to interfere with the impugned show-cause notice and the action of search and seizure. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed.
31. However, this court is of the opinion that for the ends of justice, the petitioner ought to be granted an opportunity to submit its reply to the impugned demand-cum-show-cause notice, thereby putting the clock back to the date on which the demand-cum-show-cause notice was issued.
32. The petitioner shall be at liberty to raise all its factual and legal objections before the adjudicating authority within a period of 45 days from today, which shall be decided by the authority in accordance with the law.
33. The observations made herein are confined to the question of interference with the show-cause notice and shall not be treated as a finding on the merits of the allegations contained therein.