1952 (7) TMI 13 - HC - VAT and Sales Tax

Issues Involved:
1. Interpretation of Item No. 16 of Schedule III of the Assam Sales Tax Act, 1947.
2. Criteria for claiming exemption from sales tax under Item No. 16.
3. Ambiguity in the legislative language of Item No. 16.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Interpretation of Item No. 16 of Schedule III of the Assam Sales Tax Act, 1947:
The primary issue revolves around the interpretation of Item No. 16 of Schedule III, which pertains to the exemption of handwoven and handspun cotton cloth made from mill-made yarn from sales tax. The specific condition for exemption is that "the price per piece of six yards does not exceed Rs. 10." The taxing authorities interpreted this to mean that both the price and the length of the cloth sold at any one time are relevant factors. They argued that exemption could only be claimed if the pieces of cloth sold did not exceed six yards in length and the price of each piece did not exceed Rs. 10.

2. Criteria for Claiming Exemption from Sales Tax under Item No. 16:
The court examined whether the price per yard, calculated on the basis of Rs. 10 for six yards, is the sole criterion for exemption, regardless of the actual length sold at any one time. The court noted that the language of Item No. 16 does not explicitly impose a restriction on the length of cloth sold at any one time. The court emphasized that the primary aim of the Sales Tax Act was to increase revenue, and exemptions were limited to essential commodities. The court found that the price test was the only criterion for determining exemption, as seen in other items in Schedule III, such as agricultural implements and cheap cloth, where the quantity sold at any given time was immaterial.

3. Ambiguity in the Legislative Language of Item No. 16:
The court acknowledged that the language used in Item No. 16 was not free from ambiguity, leading to multiple interpretations. The court cited established principles of interpreting fiscal statutes, which favor the interpretation most beneficial to the subject in cases of ambiguity. The court concluded that the legislature intended to exempt a specific quality of handwoven and handspun cotton cloth based on its price, using a six-yard piece as a unit for calculating the price. The court rejected the interpretation that exemption could only be claimed if the cloth was sold in pieces of six yards, noting that such an interpretation would create practical difficulties and anomalies.

Separate Judgment by DEKA, J.:
DEKA, J. expressed partial disagreement with the majority view, arguing that the words "piece of six yards" were intended to indicate both the price level and a restriction on the length of cloth sold at one time. DEKA, J. believed that the legislature intended to limit the quantity of cloth sold free from sales tax to help the poorer class of consumers. However, DEKA, J. agreed with the conclusion to favor the assessee due to the ambiguity in the legislative language and the fact that the sales tax on the described variety of cloth had been abolished.

Conclusion:
The court held that where the price per piece of six yards does not exceed Rs. 10 and the cloth is of the variety covered by Item No. 16 of Schedule III, the transaction is exempt from taxation irrespective of the actual length sold at any one time. The criterion laid down is the price per yard calculated on the basis of Rs. 10 for six yards, with no reference to the actual lengths sold or the units in which they are sold. The question was answered in the affirmative, and no order as to costs was made.

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