Indian courts rule on GST notices and social media regulation

The Calcutta High Court has quashed a Goods and Services Tax (GST) show cause notice issued to Rathi Cement House. The court ruled that a single notice covering multiple financial years is invalid, as it could circumvent the separate limitation periods applicable to each individual year. This decision follows a previous precedent set by the court regarding similar jurisdictional errors.

In a separate legal development, the Supreme Court of India has quashed several First Information Reports (FIRs) related to a controversy involving comedian Samay Raina and others following an episode of ‘India’s Got Latent’. While the Court disposed of the petitions, it did not establish specific guidelines for online content regulation. The Bench noted that larger issues regarding the regulation of internet-based social media speech could be addressed in future cases, and that executive authorities may take necessary legal steps. The Attorney General previously stated that any guidelines proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would be released for public suggestion.