📢 Big News on the Indian GST front! 🏛️Supreme Court asks Centre to not use threat and coercion in GST recovery operations. 🕊️🇮🇳

The Supreme Court has made a significant move, directing the Centre to persuade traders to clear GST dues voluntarily, without using force during search and seizure operations. 🏛️👏

The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi, emphasized that the law does not grant authorities the power to use force to collect outstanding dues. ⚖️

They stressed that payment should be voluntary and without coercion, allowing individuals time to seek advice and settle liabilities. 🕊️

The court’s stance is clear: “There is no power under the Act to compel any person to pay the tax liability during the search and seizures.” This is a significant step towards ensuring fairness and justice in the system. 🙌

The court also acknowledged the reality of the situation, stating, “We know what is on paper and what happens in reality when a person is subjected to search and seizure.” They emphasized the need for a period of consultation, consideration, and resolution of the obligation. 🤔💡

This is a reminder that while tax evasion is a serious issue, the approach to addressing it must be fair and just. The court’s decision is a step in the right direction, ensuring that the rights of individuals are upheld while maintaining the integrity of the tax system. 🎯👍

Let’s hope this leads to a more balanced and fair approach to GST recovery in the future. 🌈🕊️