DELHI HIGH COURT [3 Shades Events Through Its Proprietor Vs Principal Commissioner of Department of Trade and Taxes, Government of NCT of Delhi ]
Petitioner impugns order whereby the GST registration of the petitioner has been cancelled retrospectively with effect from 11.05.2022. Registration cannot be cancelled with retrospective effect mechanically. It can be cancelled only if the proper officer deems it fit to do so. Such satisfaction cannot be subjective but must be based on some objective criteria. Merely, because a taxpayer has not filed the returns for some period does not mean that the taxpayer’s registration is required to be cancelled with retrospective date also covering the period when the returns were filed, and the taxpayer was compliant. In view of the fact that Petitioner does not seek to carry on business or continue the registration, the impugned order dated 03.07.2023 is modified to the limited extent that registration shall now be treated as cancelled with effect from 16.05.2023 i.e., the date when the Petitioner closed down his business activities.