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Allahabad High Court

M/S HAREY KRISHNA CABLES PRIVATE LIMITED AND ANOTHERversusUNION OF INDIA AND 3 OTHERS

Decided

Holding

The impugned order dated 22‑12‑2025 is set aside and the matter is remitted to the adjudicating authority with detailed procedural directions.

Summary

The petitioners, Harey Krishna Cables Pvt Ltd and another, challenged an order dated 22‑12‑2025 issued by the revenue authority, alleging denial of a hearing, lack of reasons for adverse material, and non‑availability of Relevant Unobligated Documents (RUDs) before the adjudicating proceedings concluded. The High Court noted that similar grounds had been raised in the earlier case of M/S Shankar Trading Company v. Union of India, for which it had already set aside the impugned order and remitted the matter to the adjudicating authority with specific procedural directions. Applying the same reasoning, the Court set aside the present impugned order and directed the adjudicating authority to issue a fresh show‑cause notice along with copies of RUDs and non‑RUDs, and to allow the petitioners opportunity to cross‑examine witnesses and obtain documents. The Court also mandated timelines for compliance, document provision, and the conclusion of proceedings within six months, ensuring the petitioners’ right to a personal hearing. Consequently, the petition was disposed of on the same terms as the earlier order.

Issues considered

  • Whether the petitioners were denied a fair hearing and reasons for reliance on adverse material.
  • Whether the revenue authority failed to provide Relevant Unobligated Documents (RUDs) before concluding adjudicating proceedings.
  • Whether the impugned order dated 22‑12‑2025 should be set aside and the matter remitted for fresh adjudication.

Subjects

  • right to be heard
  • procedural fairness
  • show-cause notice
  • RUDs
  • adjudicating authority
  • tax assessment
  • cross-examination
  • remand

Judgment

                                        .

          HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                        WRIT TAX No. - 1709 of 2026


M/S Harey Krishna Cables Private Limited And
Another                                                     .....Petitioner(s)
                                     Versus

Union Of India And 3 Others
                                                          .....Respondent(s)

Counsel for Petitioner(s)          : Ami Tandon
Counsel for Respondent(s)          : Sanjay    Kumar     Om,     A.S.G.I.,
                                     Dhananjay Awasthi, Saumitra Singh

Court No. - 3
                HON'BLE SAUMITRA DAYAL SINGH, J.
                HON'BLE SWARUPAMA CHATURVEDI, J.

1. Heard Sri Bharat Bhushan along with Sri Ami Tandon, learned counsel
for the petitioner and Sri Dhananjay Awasthi and Sri Sanjai Kumar Om,
learned counsel for the revenue.

2. By a separate order passed in M/S Shankar Trading Company
Vs. Union Of India And 3 Others, 2026:AHC:102564-DB, we have
disposed of the writ petition filed by the co-noticees on the following
terms:-

     "(i) The impugned order dated 22.12.2025 is set aside and the
     matter is remitted to the adjudicating authority to pass a fresh
     order.

     (ii) For that purpose, the Adjudicating Authority may issue to the
     petitioner, a fresh copy of the original Show-Cause notice
     together with copies of RUDs and a list of non-RUDs. That
     compliance may be made within a period of two weeks from
     today.

     (iii) Upon receipt of such communication, the petitioner may
     apply to the Adjudicating Authority to be supplied any other
     document including copies of non-RUDs, within a further period
                                                        WTAX No. 1709 of 2026
                                 2


     of one week therefrom.

     (iv) Subject to such compliance, the application moved by the
     petitioner may be considered by the Adjudicating Authority
     within a further period of one week. Copies of all other
     documents to be supplied to the petitioner may be made available
     within that time. If copy of any document or non-RUD, is to be
     declined, adequate reasons may be communicated to the
     petitioner, within that time.

     (v) Thereafter, the Adjudicating Authority may fix appropriate
     date in the proceeding with at least 15 days advance notice. The
     petitioner undertakes to cooperate in the proceedings and not
     seek any undue or long adjournment.

     (vi) At that stage, if the revenue seeks to rely on statement of
     any person, recorded during investigation etc., the same would
     necessarily be made available to the petitioner on the date
     fixed in the proceedings. On that date itself, the petitioner may
     apply for opportunity to cross-examine any witness being
     relied by the revenue.

     (vii) Wherever the revenue seeks to rely on adverse statement
     made against the petitioner, normally opportunity of cross-
     examination, if prayed for, may be allowed to the petitioner. If
     such opportunity is to be declined, adequate reasons for the
     same may be communicated to the petitioner within a week of
     its application.

     (viii) Accordingly, the proceedings may continue such that the
     same may be concluded within a period of six months from
     today, after affording due opportunity of personal hearing to
     the petitioner."

3. Though, ground of arrest is not being pressed in the present case, insofar
as denial of opportunity of hearing and recording of reasons are concerned,
similar grounds have been pressed in the present case. Further, it has been
stressed that the RUDs were not made available to the petitioner before the
                                                                                              WTAX No. 1709 of 2026
                                                                     3


                                    adjudicating proceedings were concluded. Also other grounds have been
                                    pressed to doubt the credibility of the material relied by the revenue.

                                    4. In view of the similar facts, present petition is also disposed of on the
                                    same terms.

                                    May 5, 2026
                                    #Vikram/-

                                                     (Swarupama Chaturvedi,J.) (Saumitra Dayal Singh,J.)




Digitally signed by :-
VIKRAM GUPTA
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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