1998 (9) TMI 649 - HC - VAT and Sales Tax

Summary

Issues Involved:

1. Legality of administrative circulars issued by the Commissioner of Sales Tax.
2. Requirement of specific documentary evidence for export sales to Nepal.
3. Authority of the Commissioner of Sales Tax to issue binding instructions to assessing authorities.
4. Validity of assessment orders based on the impugned circulars.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Legality of Administrative Circulars Issued by the Commissioner of Sales Tax:

The petitioners challenged the circulars issued by the Commissioner of Sales Tax, arguing that these circulars imposed specific documentary requirements for proving export sales to Nepal, which were not mandated by the Delhi Sales Tax Act, the Central Sales Tax Act, or the Constitution of India. The court examined the circulars and found that they prescribed certain certificates as the only acceptable proof of export, which was not supported by any statutory provision. The court held that any circular prescribing a particular certificate or issuing instructions to subordinates to insist on such a certificate would be violative of the provisions of the Constitution, the Delhi Sales Tax Act, and the Central Sales Tax Act.

2. Requirement of Specific Documentary Evidence for Export Sales to Nepal:

The court noted that the petitioners produced various documents to substantiate their export sales, such as books of accounts, bills/invoices, goods receipts from transporters, certificates from transporters/chartered accountants, and certificates from the Customs Authorities and the Government of Nepal. However, the assessing authorities insisted on the production of specific certificates from the Indian Customs Authorities as per the impugned circulars. The court held that the insistence on a particular certificate while ignoring other credible evidence was without legal sanction and liable to be struck down.

3. Authority of the Commissioner of Sales Tax to Issue Binding Instructions to Assessing Authorities:

The court emphasized that the assessing authorities, while being administrative officials, discharge quasi-judicial functions when making assessments. Such quasi-judicial functions must be performed independently and impartially, without being influenced by instructions from superior officers. The court referred to various judgments, including those from the Supreme Court, which held that quasi-judicial authorities are not bound by administrative instructions that interfere with their statutory discretion. The court concluded that the Commissioner of Sales Tax could issue instructions in administrative matters but could not interfere with the quasi-judicial functions of the assessing authorities.

4. Validity of Assessment Orders Based on the Impugned Circulars:

The court found that the assessment orders in question were based on the directions contained in the impugned circulars, which required the production of specific certificates from the Indian Customs Authorities. The court held that the assessments were vitiated as they were made mechanically following the circulars without considering the material placed on record by the petitioners. The court quashed the impugned circulars and the assessment orders based thereon, directing the assessing authorities to re-assess the petitioners' cases afresh, considering all the evidence presented.

Conclusion:

The court allowed the petitions, quashed the impugned circulars issued by the Commissioner of Sales Tax, and set aside the assessment orders based on those circulars. The court directed the assessing authorities to re-assess the petitioners' cases afresh, considering the evidence of export sales provided by the petitioners, without insisting on the specific certificates mandated by the impugned circulars. No order as to costs was made.