The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to grant an urgent hearing to a plea challenging a Delhi High Court verdict that upheld a Goods and Services Tax search at an advocate’s premises and the seizure of his computer.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana took note of requests for an expedited listing made on behalf of the petitioner, advocate Puneet Batra.
Appearing for Batra, senior advocates Vikas Singh and N Hariharan urged the top court to intervene promptly following the high court’s dismissal of the lawyer’s petition.
Singh informed the bench that the confiscated computer holds privileged communications and sensitive data concerning several other clients. He expressed serious concern that tax officials could examine the seized files in the wake of the high court’s ruling, warning that unrestricted access to the device would result in a direct breach of advocate-client privilege.
Acknowledging the concerns raised regarding the risk of privileged material being accessed, Chief Justice Kant assured counsel that the court would list the matter for hearing.
