Rajasthan HC grants interim relief for GST taxpayers in the face of technical glitches in GSTN portal

The Jaipur Bench of the High Court of Rajasthan yesterday passed interim directions to address the concerns raised by GST taxpayers in the State owing to technical glitches in the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) website..The order was passed by a division bench comprising of Justices KS Jhaveri and Vijay Kumar Vyas..The order was passed in response to a petition preferred by the Rajasthan Tax Consultants Association drawing attention to the problems faced by taxpayers owing to technical glitches in the GSTN portal. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Sanjay Jhanwar of Chir Amrit Legal LLP. The respondents were represented by the Additional Solicitor General RD Rastogi..Noting that the system requires updation and correction before it can work properly, the court passed the following interim directions..Taxpayers encountering difficulty in availing the site’s services due to technical glitches may contact concerned authorities i.e. the District Information Officer, via emailThe contact address of such concerned District Heads, the state officer and the central officer should be providedProblems communicated by mail should be resolved expeditiouslyNo coercive action (penal interest, late fees, prosecution) should be taken against taxpayers in whose interest the present petition has been preferred, where they have duly informed the concerned authority regarding such difficultiesThe date for apply for the GST composition scheme has been extended to September 30, 2017Applications those registered persons who were not able to opt for the composition scheme up to August 16 on account of technical glitches, will be accepted with effect from July 1, 2017. In case they cannot do it through GSTN portal then they can send the application through email to the district information officer.These reliefs will be applicable only to tax payers in Rajasthan..The matter is listed for further hearing on October 5..Read order here..Read press release here.