GST INDIA Biz
GST India .biz — Case Law Details
Detailed GST Case Law Information

Instakart Services Private Limited v. Union of India & Ors.

Date of Order: February 9, 2026
Case Law No: GIB- KERHC-2026-28
Subject: Challenge to constitutional validity of denial of Input Tax Credit due to supplier default; liability of recipient under GST regime (Sections involved: Section 16(2)(c) of CGST Act, 2017 & KGST Act, 2017; Rule 36(4) of CGST/KGST Rules)
Description:

Facts 
The petitioner, a logistics service provider registered under GST, challenged Section 16(2)(c) and Rule 36(4), contending that they impose an impossible burden on recipients to ensure tax payment by suppliers. It was argued that denial of ITC due to supplier default is arbitrary and beyond the control of the recipient. The petitioner sought declaration of the provisions as unconstitutional or alternatively sought reading down to protect bona fide recipients who complied with statutory requirements. 


Court Decision:
The High Court declined to strike down Section 16(2)(c) and Rule 36(4). The Court held that the provisions cannot be declared unconstitutional. However, relying on precedents, the Court held that bona fide purchasers cannot be denied ITC merely due to default of the selling dealer, unless there is fraud, collusion, or lack of genuineness in the transaction. The matter was considered in light of judicial precedents emphasizing protection of genuine transactions and limiting denial of ITC only in appropriate cases. 


Cases Referred by Court:
•    Commissioner of Trade and Taxes v. Arise India Ltd. 
•    On Quest Merchandising India Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India 
•    Corporation Bank v. Saraswati Abharansala 
•    Gheru Lal Bal Chand v. State of Haryana 
•    State of Karnataka v. Rajesh Jain 
•    Onyx Designs v. Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes 
 

Other Case Law

Impressive Data Services Private Limited vs Commissioner (Appeals-I), Central Tax GST, Delhi

Appeal – Mandatory pre-deposit under Section 107(6) of the CGST Act, 2017 – whether High Court can waive statutory pre-deposit for filing appeal.

Facts:The petitioner challenged the requirement of pre-deposit under Section 107...

Read More
Om Enterprises vs. Union of India & Ors.

Cancellation of GST registration on vague show cause notice – Sections 29 and 30 of the CGST Act, 2017.

Facts:The petitioner’s GST registration was cancelled by an order dated 28.10....

Read More
BirlaNu Ltd. (ISD) vs. Union of India & Ors.

Validity of Rule 39(1)(a) of CGST Rules, 2017 – Distribution of Input Tax Credit by Input Service Distributor – Section 20 of the CGST Act, 2017 and Penalty under Section 122(1)(ix) of the CGST Act, 2017.

Facts:The petitioner, registered as an Input Service Distributor (ISD), accumula...

Read More