Ruled in favour of VKL Seasoning Pvt. Ltd. (Petitioner)
In Short
A private company went to court because a tax order was passed against them without giving them a proper hearing or reviewing their documents. To make matters worse, the authorities hid the order under an obscure portal tab instead of the usual place, so the company missed it completely. The High Court stepped in, gave the government time to reply, and ordered that no harsh recovery action can be taken against the company in the meantime.
The Parties
Party A: VKL Seasoning Pvt. Ltd.
Party B: State of Maharashtra and others
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. Prasad Paranjape, Learned Advocate Mr. Kshitij Kasi, and Learned Advocate Ms. Sonakshi Singh
For Party B: Learned Advocate Mrs. Shruti D. Vyas and Learned Advocate Mrs. R.M. Shinde
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice M. S. Karnik and Hon'ble Justice Sandesh D. Patil
What the Case Was About
The petitioner company faced a tax demand order that was finalized without giving them a chance to explain their side or look at their matching tax documents. The company only found out about this penalty months later because the order was quietly uploaded under a hidden tab on the online GST portal instead of the main notices section. Frustrated by this unfair process, the company approached the High Court to get the flawed order cancelled and to demand a fair hearing.
Judgment Date
5th October 2026
The Outcome
The court granted time for the state government to file a reply and directed that no coercive or harsh actions be taken against the petitioner company based on the disputed tax order until the next hearing date.
What the Court Looked At
- The petitioner claimed the tax order was passed without giving them a proper personal hearing or checking their detailed replies.
- The petitioner pointed out that the tax authority uploaded the order under the hidden "View Additional Notices/Orders" tab instead of the normal "View Notices/Orders" tab.
- The petitioner stated they only discovered the hidden order on January 11, 2026, without receiving any separate alert or intimation.
- The petitioner noted they had already deposited ten percent of the demanded tax amount with the proper authority.
- The court granted the state government two weeks to file their reply and another week for a rejoinder.
"Till the next date, no coercive action be taken against the Petitioner based on the Order in Original."
What This Means For You
This case shows how dangerous it can be when government portals hide important tax orders in unexpected places, leaving businesses in the dark until it is almost too late. The company in this dispute got into trouble not just because of a tax disagreement, but because an official order was tucked away in a secondary portal tab without any direct alert sent to them. If you run a business, you cannot just check your main inbox; you must regularly scan every single hidden tab and sub-folder on your GST portal to ensure no secret notices slip past you. When administrative oversights threaten your business, Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate next steps with clear, non-legal guidance.
You Still Have Options
Finding yourself facing a sudden tax penalty or a hidden notice when you thought everything was compliant can feel terrifying and deeply frustrating. Whether you are dealing with a missed deadline, an unfair order, or a confusing portal notification, it is definitely not the end of the road. You can still explore alternative paths, seek a second opinion, or get non-judicial guidance to figure out your next move. Reach out to Setback Solutions for help understanding your options and coordinating the next step. Please remember that Setback Solutions is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and never guarantees specific results, but we are here to offer plain-language help when you need it most.