(Sections 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83 shall be applicable for appeals under SGST Law. Sections 84 to 93 are common for CGST and SGST law)
79. Appeals to First Appellate Authority
(1) Any person aggrieved by any decision or order passed against him under this Act by an adjudicating authority, may appeal to the prescribed First Appellate Authority.
(2) Every appeal under this section shall be filed within three months from the date on which the decision or order sought to be appealed against is communicated to the person preferring the appeal:
Provided that the First Appellate Authority may, if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the aforesaid period of three months, allow it to be presented within a further period of one month.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner.
(4) No appeal shall be filed under sub-section (1) unless the appellant has deposited –
(a) in full, such part of the amount of tax, interest, fine, fee and penalty arising from the impugned order, as is admitted by him, and
(b) a sum equal to ten percent of the remaining amount in dispute arising from the said order, in relation to which the appeal has been filed.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “amount in dispute” shall include –
i. amount determined under section 46 or 47 or 48 or 51;
ii. amount payable under rule———- of the GST Credit Rules 201.; and
iii. amount of fee levied or penalty imposed:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall affect the right of the departmental authorities to apply to the First Appellate Authority for ordering a higher amount of pre-deposit, not exceeding fifty percent of the amount in the dispute, in a case which is considered by the Commissioner of GST to be a “serious case”.
Explanation .- For the purpose of this proviso, the expression “serious case” shall mean a case involving a disputed tax liability of not less than Rupees Twenty Five Crores and where the Commissioner of GST is of the opinion (for reasons to be recorded in writing) that the department has a very good case against the taxpayer.
(5) The First Appellate Authority shall give an opportunity to the appellant of being heard, if he so desires.
(6) The First Appellate Authority may, if sufficient cause is shown at any stage of hearing of an appeal, grant time, from time to time, to the parties or any of them and adjourn the hearing of the appeal for reasons to be recorded in writing:
Provided that no such adjournment shall be granted more than three times to a party during hearing of the appeal.
(7) The First Appellate Authority may, at the hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to go into any ground of appeal not specified in the grounds of appeal, if he is satisfied that the omission of that ground from the grounds of appeal was not wilful or unreasonable.
(8) The First Appellate Authority shall, after making such further inquiry as may be necessary, pass such order, as he thinks just and proper, confirming, modifying or annulling the decision or order appealed against:
Provided that an order enhancing any fee or penalty or fine in lieu of confiscation or confiscating goods of greater value or reducing the amount of refund or input tax credit shall not be passed unless the appellant has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed order:
Provided further that where the First Appellate Authority is of the opinion that any tax has not been paid or short-paid or erroneously refunded, or where input tax credit has been wrongly availed or utilized, no order requiring the appellant to pay such tax or input tax credit shall be passed unless the appellant is given notice to show cause against the proposed order and the order is passed within the time limit specified under section 51.
(9) The order of the First Appellate Authority disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.
(10) The First Appellate Authority shall, where it is possible to do so, hear and decide every appeal within a period of one year from the date on which it is filed:
Provided that where the issuance of order is stayed by an order of a Court or Tribunal, the period of such stay shall be excluded in computing the period of one year.
(11) On disposal of the appeal, the First Appellate Authority shall communicate the order passed by him to the appellant and to the adjudicating authority.
(12) A copy of the order passed by the First Appellate Authority shall also be sent to the jurisdictional Commissioner of CGST or the authority designated by him in this behalf and the jurisdictional Commissioner of SGST or the authority designated by him in this
behalf.
(13) Every order passed under this section shall, subject to the provisions of sections 80, 83, 87 or 88, be final.
80. Revisional powers of Commissioner
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 93 and any rules made thereunder, the Commissioner may on his own motion or upon information received by him, call for and examine the record of any proceeding under this Act, and if he considers that any decision or order passed under this Act by any officer subordinate to him is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interest of the revenue, he may, if necessary, stay the operation of such decision or order for such period as he deems fit and after giving the person concerned an opportunity of being heard and after making such further inquiry as may be necessary, pass such order, as he thinks just and proper, including enhancing or modifying or annulling the said decision or order.
(2) The Commissioner shall not exercise any power under sub-section (1), if.-
(a) the order has been subject to an appeal under section 79 or under section 82 or under section 87 or under section 88; or
(b) more than three years have expired after the passing of the decision or order sought to be revised.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Commissioner may pass an order under sub-section (1) on any point which has not been raised and decided in an appeal referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (2), before the expiry of a period of one year from the date of the order in such appeal or before the expiry of a period of three years referred to in clause (b) of that sub-section, whichever is later.
(4) Every order passed in revision under sub-section (1) shall, subject to the provisions of sections 83, 87 or 88, be final.
(5) If the decision or order passed under this Act by an officer subordinate to the Commissioner involves an issue on which the Appellate Tribunal or the High Court has given its decision which is prejudicial to the interest of revenue in some other proceedings and an appeal to the High Court or the Supreme Court against such decision of the Appellate Tribunal or as the case may be, the High Court is pending, the period spent between the date of the decision of the Appellate Tribunal and the date of the decision of the High Court or as the case may be, the date of the decision of the High Court and the date of the decision of the Supreme Court shall be excluded in computing the period referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2).
(6) Where the issuance of an order under sub-section (1) is stayed by the order of a Court or Tribunal, the period of such stay shall be excluded in computing the period of three years under sub-section (2).
(7) For the purposes of this section, ‘record’ shall include all records relating to any proceedings under this Act available at the time of examination by the Commissioner.
(8) For the purposes of this section, ‘decision’ shall include intimation given by any officer subordinate to the Commissioner.
81. Constitution of the National Appellate Tribunal
(1) The Central Government shall on the recommendation of the GST Council constitute a National Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as the Appellate Tribunal).
(2) The Appellate Tribunal shall be headed by a National President.
(3) The Appellate Tribunal shall have one branch for each state, which shall be called as the State GST Tribunal.
(4) Every State GST Tribunal will be headed by a State President.
(5) Every State GST Tribunal shall consist of as many Members (Judicial), Members (Technical – CGST) and Members (Technical – SGST) as may be prescribed, to exercise the powers and discharge the functions conferred on the Appellate Tribunal by this Act.
(6) The qualifications, eligibility conditions and the manner of selection and appointment of the National President, the State Presidents, and the Members shall be such as may be prescribed on the recommendations of the Council.
(7) The National President and the State Presidents shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions as may be prescribed on the recommendations of the Council.
(8) On ceasing to hold office, the National President, the State Presidents or other Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall not be entitled to appear, act or plead before the Appellate Tribunal.
82. Appeals to the Appellate Tribunal
(1) Any person aggrieved by an order passed against him under section 79 or under section 80 may appeal to the Appellate Tribunal against such order.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal may, in its discretion, refuse to admit any such appeal where the tax or input tax credit involved or the difference in tax or input tax credit involved or the amount of fine, fee or penalty determined by such order, does not exceed one lakh rupees.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be filed within three months from the date on which the order sought to be appealed against is communicated to the person preferring the appeal.
(4) On receipt of notice that an appeal has been preferred under this section, the party against whom the appeal has been preferred may, notwithstanding that he may not have appealed against such order or any part thereof, file, within forty-five days of the receipt of the notice, a memorandum of cross-objections, verified in the prescribed manner, against any part of the order appealed against and such memorandum shall be disposed of by the Appellate Tribunal as if it were an appeal presented within the time specified in sub-section (3).
(5) The Appellate Tribunal may admit an appeal or permit the filing of a memorandum of cross-objections after the expiry of the period referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) respectively, if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not presenting it within that period.
(6) An appeal to the Appellate Tribunal shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by a prescribed fee:
Provided that no such fee shall be payable in the case of an appeal filed by the Commissioner or a memorandum of cross-objections referred to in sub-section (4).
(7) (a) No appeal shall be filed under sub-section (1) unless the appellant has deposited
(i) in full, such part of the amount of tax, interest, fine, fee and penalty arising from the impugned order, as is admitted by him, and
(ii) a sum equal to ten percent of the remaining amount in dispute arising from the said order, in relation to which the appeal has been filed.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “amount in dispute” shall include –
i. amount determined under section 46 or 47 or 48 or 51;
iii. amount payable under rule———— of the GST Credit Rules 201…; and
iii. amount of fee levied or penalty imposed:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall affect the right of the departmental authorities to apply to the Appellate Tribunal for ordering a higher amount of pre-deposit, not exceeding fifty percent of the amount in the dispute after taking into account the amount deposited in the first appeal, in a case which is considered by the Commissioner of GST to be a “serious case”.
Explanation. – For the purpose of this proviso, the expression “serious case” shall mean a case involving a disputed tax liability of not less than Rupees Twenty Five Crores and where the Commissioner of GST is of the opinion (for reasons to be recorded in writing) that the department has a very good case against the taxpayer.
(b) The provisions of clause (a) shall also apply mutatis mutandis to cross objections filed under sub-section (4).
(8) Every application made before the Appellate Tribunal, —
(a) in an appeal for rectification of mistake or for any other purpose; or
(b) for restoration of an appeal or an application, shall be accompanied by a prescribed fee :
Provided that no such fee shall be payable in the case of an application filed by or on behalf of the Commissioner of GST.
83. Orders of Appellate Tribunal
(1) The Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or annulling the decision or order appealed against or may refer the case back to the First Appellate Authority, or the revisional authority, as the case may be, or to the original adjudicating authority, with such directions as it may think fit, for a fresh adjudication or decision, as the case may be, after taking additional evidence, if necessary.
(2) The Appellate Tribunal may, if sufficient cause is shown, at any stage of hearing of an appeal, grant time, from time to time, to the parties or any of them and adjourn the hearing of the appeal for reasons to be recorded in writing:
Provided that no such adjournment shall be granted more than three times to a party during hearing of the appeal.
(3) The Appellate Tribunal may amend any order passed by it under sub-section (1) so as to rectify any mistake apparent from the record, if such mistake is noticed by it on its own accord, or is brought to its notice by the Commissioner of GST or the other party to the appeal within a period of three months from the date of the order:
Provided that no amendment which has the effect of enhancing an assessment or reducing a refund or input tax credit or otherwise increasing the liability of the other party, shall be made under this sub-section, unless the Appellate Tribunal has given notice to him of its intention to do so and has allowed him a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(4) The Appellate Tribunal shall, where it is possible to do so, hear and decide every appeal within a period of one year from the date on which it is filed.
(5) The Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order passed under this section to the First Appellate Authority or the revisional authority, or the original adjudicating authority, as the case may be, the appellant, the jurisdictional Commissioner of CGST and the jurisdictional Commissioner of SGST.
(6) Save as provided in section 87 or section 88, orders passed by the Appellate Tribunal on an appeal shall be final.
84. Procedure of Appellate Tribunal
(1) The powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal may be exercised and discharged by Benches constituted by the National President or the State Presidents from amongst the members thereof.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (3), a Bench shall consist of one Member (Judicial), one Member (Technical – CGST) and one Member (Technical –
SGST).
(3) The National President or a State President, or any other member of the Appellate Tribunal authorized in this behalf by the National President or a State President, may, sitting singly, dispose of any case which has been allotted to the Bench of which he is a member, where in any disputed case, the tax or input tax credit involved or the difference in tax or input tax credit involved or the amount of fine, fee or penalty involved, does not exceed ten lakh rupees.
(4) If the members of a Bench differ in opinion on any point, the point shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority, if there is a majority; but if the members are equally divided, they shall state the point or points on which they differ and make a reference to the National President or the State President who shall either hear the point or points himself or refer the case for hearing on such point or points by one or more of the other members of the Appellate Tribunal and such point or points shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of these members of the Appellate Tribunal who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.
(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Appellate Tribunal shall have power to regulate its own procedure and the procedure of the Benches thereof in all matters arising out of the exercise of its powers or of the discharge of its functions, including the places at which the Benches shall hold their sittings.
(6) The Appellate Tribunal shall, for the purposes of discharging its functions, have the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely :-
a) discovery and inspection;
b) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
c) compelling the production of books of account and other documents; and
d) issuing commissions.
(7) Any proceeding before the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 and for the purpose of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), and the Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for all the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
85. Interest on delayed refund of pre-deposit
Where an amount deposited by the appellant under sub-section (6)/(4) of section 79 or under sub-section (10)/(7) of section 82 is required to be refunded consequent to any order of the First Appellate Authority or of the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, interest at the rate specified under section 39 shall be payable in respect of such refund from the date of payment of the amount till the date of refund of such amount.
86. Appearance by authorised representative
(1) Any person who is entitled or required to appear before a GST Officer appointed under this Act, or the First Appellate Authority or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceedings under the Act, may, otherwise than when required under this Act to appear personally for examination on oath or affirmation, subject to the other provisions of this section, appear by an authorized representative.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “authorised representative” means a person authorised by the person referred to in sub-section (1) to appear on his behalf, being —
(a) his relative or regular employee; or
(b) an advocate who is entitled to practice in any court in India, and who has not been debarred from practicing before any court in India; or
(c) any chartered accountant, a cost accountant or a company secretary, who holds a valid certificate of practice and who has not been debarred from practice; or
(d) any person who has acquired such qualifications as the Central Government (or the State Government) may, on the recommendation of the Council, prescribe for this purpose.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no person who was serving in the indirect tax departments of the Government of India or of any State Government, and has retired or resigned from such service after having served for not less than two years as a Gazetted officer in that department shall be entitled to appear as an authorised representative in any proceedings before a GST Officer for a period of one year from the date of his retirement or resignation, as the case may be.
(4) No person, —
a) who has been dismissed or removed from government service; or
b) who is convicted of an offence connected with any proceeding under this Act, the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) or Chapter V of the Finance Act 1994 (25 of 2014) or under any of the Acts passed by a state legislature dealing with the imposition of taxes on sale of goods or supply of goods and/or services, or
c) who has become an insolvent,
shall be qualified to represent any person under sub-section (1) —
(i) for all times in the case of a person referred to in clause (a),
(ii) for such time as the Commissioner of GST or the competent authority under the Acts referred to in clause (b) may, by order, determine in the case of a person referred to in clause (b), and
(iii) for the period during which the insolvency continues in the case of a person referred to in clause (c).
(5) If any person is found guilty of misconduct by the prescribed authority in connection with any proceedings under this Act or under any of the Acts referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (4), the prescribed authority may direct that he shall thenceforth be disqualified to represent any person under sub-section (1).
(6) Any order or direction under clause (b) of sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) shall be subject to the following conditions, namely: —
a) no such order or direction shall be made in respect of any person unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard;
b) any person against whom any such order or direction is made may, within one month of the making of the order or direction, appeal to the competent authority [Central/State Government] to have the order or direction cancelled; and
c) no such order or direction shall take effect until the expiration of one month from the making thereof, or, where an appeal has been preferred, until the disposal of the appeal.
87. Appeal to the High Court
(1) The Commissioner of GST or the other party aggrieved by any order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under section 83 may file an appeal to the High Court and the High Court may admit such appeal if it is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub section (1), no appeal shall lie to High Court against an order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under section 83 if such order relates, among other things, to:-
i) a matter where two or more States, or a State and Center, have a difference of views regarding the treatment of a transaction(s) being intra-State or inter-State; or
ii) a matter where two or more States, or a State and Center, have a difference of views regarding place of supply.
(3) An appeal under sub-section (1) shall be –
a) filed within one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the order appealed against is received by the Commissioner of GST or the other party;
b) accompanied by a prescribed fee ;
c) in the form of a memorandum of appeal precisely stating therein the substantial question of law involved.
(4) The High Court may admit an appeal after the expiry of the period of one hundred and eighty days referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (3), if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing the same within that period.
(5) Where the High Court is satisfied that a substantial question of law is involved in any case, it shall formulate that question.
(6) The appeal shall be heard only on the question so formulated, and the respondents shall, at the hearing of the appeal, be allowed to argue that the case does not involve such question:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to take away or abridge the power of the Court to hear, for reasons to be recorded, the appeal on any other substantial question of law not formulated by it, if it is satisfied that the case involves such question.
(7) The High Court shall decide the question of law so formulated and deliver such judgment thereon containing the grounds on which such decision is founded and may award such cost as it deems fit.
(8) The High Court may determine any issue which –
a) has not been determined by the Appellate Tribunal; or
b) has been wrongly determined by the Appellate Tribunal, by reason of a decision on such question of law as herein referred to above.
(9) When an appeal has been filed before the High Court, it shall be heard by a bench of not less than two Judges of the High Court, and shall be decided in accordance with the opinion of such Judges or of the majority, if any, of such Judges.
(10) Where there is no such majority, the Judges shall state the point of law upon which they differ and the case shall, then, be heard upon that point only, by one or more of the other Judges of the High Court and such point shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the Judges who have heard the case including those who first heard it.
(11) Where the High Court delivers a judgment in an appeal filed before it under this section, effect shall be given to such judgment by either side on the basis of a certified copy of the judgment.
(12) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to appeals to the High Court shall, as far as may be, apply in the case of appeals under this section.
88. Appeal to the Supreme Court
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment or order passed by the High Court in an appeal made under section 87, in any case which, on its own motion or on an oral application made by or on behalf of the party aggrieved, immediately after passing of the judgment or order, the High Court certifies to be a fit one for appeal to the Supreme Court.
(2) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under section 83 where such order is of the nature referred to in sub section (2) of section 87.
89. Hearing before Supreme Court
(1) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to appeals to the Supreme Court shall, so far as may be, apply in the case of appeals under section 88 as they apply in the case of appeals from decrees of a High Court :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to affect the provisions of section 90.
(2) The costs of the appeal shall be at the discretion of the Supreme Court.
(3) Where the judgment of the High Court is varied or reversed in the appeal, effect shall be given to the order of the Supreme Court in the manner provided in section 87 in the case of a judgment of the High Court.
90. Sums due to be paid notwithstanding appeal etc.
Notwithstanding that an appeal has been preferred to the High Court or the Supreme Court, sums due to the Government as a result of an order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) of section 83 or an order passed by the High Court under section 87, as the case may be, shall be payable in accordance with the order so passed.
91. Exclusion of time taken for copy
In computing the period of limitation prescribed for an appeal or application under this Chapter, the day on which the order complained of was served, and if the party preferring the appeal or making the application was not furnished with a copy of the order when the notice of the order was served upon him, the time required for obtaining a copy of such order, shall be excluded.
92. Appeal not to be filed in certain cases
(1) The Board or the State Government may, on the recommendation of the Council, from time to time, issue orders or instructions or directions fixing such monetary limits, as it may deem fit, for the purposes of regulating the filing of appeal or application by the GST officer under the provisions of this Chapter.
(2) Where, in pursuance of the orders or instructions or directions, issued under subsection (1), the GST officer has not filed an appeal or application against any decision or order passed under the provisions of this Act, it shall not preclude such GST officer from filing appeal or application in any other case involving the same or similar issues or questions of law.
(3) Notwithstanding the fact that no appeal or application has been filed by the GST Officer pursuant to the orders or instructions or directions issued under sub-section (1), no person, being a party in appeal or application shall contend that the GST officer has acquiesced in the decision on the disputed issue by not filing an appeal or application.
(4) The Appellate Tribunal or court hearing such appeal or application shall have regard to the circumstances under which appeal or application was not filed by the GST Officer in pursuance of the orders or instructions or directions issued under sub-section (1).
93. Non Appealable decisions and orders
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any provisions of this Act, no appeal shall lie against any decision taken or order passed by a GST officer if such decision taken or order passed relates to any one or more of the following matters:-
(a) An order of the Commissioner or other competent authority for transfer of proceeding from one officer to another officer;
(b) An order pertaining to the seizure or retention of books of account, register and other documents; or
(c) An order sanctioning prosecution under the Act; or
(d) An order passed under section 55.
