9911796707
TMI Blog1998 (7) TMI 713X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ted under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The said Act shall be hereinafter referred to as the impugned Taxation Act. The petitioners have also challenged the demands made under Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act. The petitioner in CWJC No. 3788 of 1995 (R) is M/s. Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company, Ltd. a Company registered under the Indian Companies Act. The aforesaid Company claims to carry on business of manufacturing chassis at its manufacturing Unit situated at Jamshedpur in the State of Bihar. CWJC No. 2708 of 1995(R) has been filed by M/s. Chotanagpur Chamber and Commerce and Industry espousing the cause of its members who have been called upon to pay the tax levied under Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act. The petitioner in the remaining three writ petitions are dealers who deal in Scooters, Motorcycles and Autorickshaws etc. i.e. in two or three wheeler vehicles. Apart from the challenge to the constitutional validity of the impugned Taxation Act. some of the petitioners have also challenged the action of the taxing authority on other grounds, which shall be dealt with separately, since the facts in each case have to be considered having regard ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... red to as the Central Rules) which have been framed under the Central Act. Such trade certificates have been granted to it by the competent authority under Rule 35 of the Central Rules. All manufactured chassis are not taken to public road or place on the basis of trade certificates but only such chassis are covered by the trade certificates which are taken out for testing in public place and for the other purposes enumerated in Rule 41 of the Central Rules. The manufactured chassis are sent to different regional sales offices after obtaining temporary registration. The chassis after manufacture are kept inside the manufacturing unit and are not used on the public road except for the purposes enumerated in Rule 41 of the Central Rules. 3. Mr. M.L. Varma, appearing on behalf of the petitioner-Company, has challenged the constitutional validity of the impugned Taxation Act on the ground of legislative competence, but left that point to be developed and argued by Sri Ram Balak Mahto, Senior advocate, appearing on behalf of petitioners in CWJC No. 10453 of 1995 and 2708 of 1995(R). Sri Verma has urged before us the following main contentions. (i) The imposition of tax on manufa ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... being compensatory in nature must, in Order to be valid, have nexus with the vehicle using the public road, which is absent in the instant case. (ii) The State Legislature was not competent to enact a law for levy of tax on a manufacturer or dealer of motor vehicles which are in their possession for the purpose of trading, and are not kept by them for use on the road. (iii) Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act which levies such tax on manufacturer or dealer, is ultra vires Articles 246, 254, 302 and 304 of the Constitution of India. The said provision is also in conflict and repugnant to Section 39 of the Central Act and Rules 39, 40 to 43 and 81 of the Central Rules. 5. Before dealing with the submissions urged at the bar, it would be necessary to refer to the relevant provisions of the Central Act of 1988 and the rules framed thereunder, as also the provisions of the impugned Taxation Act and the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation Rules, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the State Taxation Rules ) framed thereunder. The Central Act of 1988 has been enacted by the Parliament in exercise of concurrent legislative jurisdiction under entry 35 of List III of the 7th Schedule ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n shall apply to a motor vehicle in possession of a dealer subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government. 6. The Central Rules framed under the Central Act contain Chapter III which relates to registration of motor vehicles. Section 33 provides that for the purpose of proviso to Section 39, a motor vehicle in possession of a dealer shall be exempted from the necessity of registration subject to the condition that he obtains a trade certificate from the registering authority having jurisdiction in the area in which the dealer has his place of business in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. Under Rule 34, an application for the grant of renewal of the trade certificate has to be made in form 16 and shall be accompanied with appropriate fee as prescribed in Rule 81. Under Rule 35, if the registering Authority is satisfied on application being made for grant or renewal of a trade certificate, that the applicant is a bona fide dealer and requires the certificates specified in the application, issue to the applicant one or more certificates as the case may be in form 17 and shall assign in respect of each certificate a trade registration mar ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... suitable for use on roads, including tramcars subject to the provisions of entry 35 of List III. It may be noticed that the impugned Taxation Act was preceded by two Ordinances promulgated on 24-11-1993 and 2-2-1994. Under the impugned Taxation Act. motor vehicle or dealer ' or manufacturer has not been defined. but in view of Section 2(c) of the impugned Taxation Act any expression not specifically defined in the impugned Taxation Act shall have the same meaning assigned to them respectively in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act No. 59 of 1988). Therefore, one has to look to the definition of these expressions in the Central Act as it stood on the date on which the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation Act. 1994 (Bihar Act 8 of 1994) came into force. The Act came into force with immediate effect, and it is not in dispute that it was assented to by the Governor of Biharon 25-4-1994. Under Section 3, the State Government has been authorised to appoint Taxing Officers by issuance of notification. Section 3 is as follows ; 3. Appointment of taxing Officers.-- The State Government may by notification appoint any person as Taxing Officer to exercise and perform within such ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the commencement of this Act. (3) If an owner of a vehicle other than a personalised vehicle changes his place of business or residence and his new place of residence or business falls within the jurisdiction of another taxing officer, he can (a) either continue to pay the tax at the place where he previously paid lax or (b) start the payment of the tax to the other taxing officer in whose jurisdiction his new residence or place of business falls; Provided that the new taxing officer shall not accept the payment of tax till the owner presents before him a No Objection Certificate from the previous taxing Officer in the manner and the form prescribed. Section 21 which provides for recovery of lax, penalty or fine as arrears of land revenue read as follows : Any tax, penalty or fine may be recovered in the same manner as arrears of land revenue. The motor vehicle in respect of which the tax, penalty or fine is due, the motor vehicle or its accessories may be attached or sold whether or not such motor vehicle or accessories are in possession or control of the person liable to pay the tax, penalty or fine. Section 23 provides as follows : Liability to pay penal ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... also made their submissions by reference to the aforesaid Rules of 1994 published on 17-1 -1994. Rule 4 and 5 of the State Rules provide as follows : 4. Due date of payment and penalty for nonpayment of taxes in time.-- (1) For vehicles other than personalised vehicles the due date of payment of tax shall be the date of expiry of the period for which the tax has been last paid. In cases where no such lax had previously been paid, the date of acquisition of the vehicle or the date when such tax is imposed by law shall be due date for tax payment. For payment of differential taxes under the provision of Section 8, the due date shall be within seven days from the date of alteration in the vehicle or the change in its use. (2) Where the tax for any period in respect of a vehicle has not been paid as required under the provisions of Sub-Rule (1) and continues to remain unpaid thereafter, the taxing officer may impose penalty in respect of such vehicles at the rate specified in the table below :-- TABLE Period Amount of penalty (i) If paid within fifteen days from the due date of payme ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... required for each vehicle. (4) The declaration to be submitted by the dealer or the manufacturer of the vehicle under the Authorisation granted under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 shall be in Form B2. (5) The declaration to be filed when a Motor Vehicle is altered or is proposed to be used in a manner referred to in Section 8 so as to become a vehicle in respect of which differential tax is to be paid shall be in Form B 3. Form B-2 has been prescribed for the manufacturer or dealer and the form shows that it has to be filed before the Taxing Officer and relates to vehicles under the authorisation granted under the Central Rules. Rule 21 provides that all applications made in connection with the purposes of the Ordinance and rules shall be made at the office of the Taxing Officer on any working day during office hours, unless a special place or time has been specified for this purpose. 9. It will thus appear that the Central Act provides for compulsory registration of all motor vehicles which are driven in any public place or any other place. It however, does not cast such an obligation on a dealer who is in possession of a motor vehicle, but such a dealer ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ssession. Rule 41 permits a limited user of a vehicle covered by a trade certificate only for the purposes enumerated in Section 41. This only means that if a vehicle is covered by a trade certificate granted under Rule 35 it may be used for any of the purposes enumerated in Rule 41, and this may even permit the vehicle to be driven on a public road, if it is driven for any of the purposes mentioned in Rule 41. It would, therefore, not be correct to suggest that only if a vehicle is to be used for any of the purposes under Rule 41 is the dealer obliged to obtain a trade certificate in respect of that vehicle. In my view. Rule 33 obligesa dealer to obtain a trade certificate in respect of all motor vehicles in his possession which do not require registration. It is wholly irrelevant as to whether such vehicles will or will not be used for any of the purposes enumerated in Rule 41 of the Rules. Rule 41 only enables a dealer to use any vehicle in a public place for the purposes enumerated therein if the vehicle is covered by a trade certificate. The obligation to obtain a trade certificate in respect of a vehicle, arises the moment a dealer comes in possession of a motor vehicle in th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... cise of its legislative power under entry 57 of List II of the 7th Schedule. It was submitted that a tax under the aforesaid entry must be compensatory in nature, and further the tax must have nexus with the vehicle using the public road. 12. Entry 57 of List II confers upon the State Legislature authority to impose taxes on vehicles suitable for use on roads . On a plain reading of the entry, if it is found that the law levies the tax on vehicle, and such vehicle is suitable for use on roads, the power of the State Legislature to impose such a levy cannot be challenged. It is not in dispute in the instant cases that the chassis manufactured by the petitioner in CWJC No. 3788 of 1995(R), and the motor vehicles of which the other petitioners are in possession as dealers are suitable foruse on roads. They have, in fact, been manufactured for use on roads and any purchaser who purchases such vehicle does so far its use on roads. By their very nature, the vehicles in question are vehicles not only suitable for use on roads, but actually meant for use on roads. The tax is, therefore, imposed on vehicles which are suitable for use on roads including public roads and, therefore, the r ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... was not possible to use such a vehicle at any other place. The vehicles in question did not answer the definition of a motor vehicle under the un-amended definition, but came within the definition of motor vehicle as amended by Act 100 of 1956. It was, therefore, urged on behalf of the State that for the purpose of taxation Act, the definition of motor vehicle as amended was applicable. The submission was negatived by the Court and it was held that the intention of the legislature could not have been anything but to incorporate only the definition in the motor vehicles Act as then existing, namely 1943, as if that definition was bodily written into Section 2(c) of the Taxation Act. Any subsequently amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act, or a total repeal of the Act under a fresh legislation on that topic, would not affect the definition of motor vehicle in Section 2(c) of the Taxation Act. The legislature intended to incorporate the definition under the Act as it then existed and not as it may exist from lime to time. In the facts of that case, it was held that Dumpers and Rockers though registrable under the Act were not taxable under the Taxation Act as long as they were working ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... that fell for consideration was whether on the assumption that the motor vehicles are used or kept for use within the State and not intended to be used on public roads of the State, the tax was leviable. Referring to Entry 57 of List II, the Court observed that the aforesaid entry related to taxes on vehicles whether mechanically propelled or not suitable for use on roads. This entry enabled the State Government to levy a tax on all vehicles whether mechanically propelled or not suitable for use on roads Referring to Section 3 of the impugned Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, the Court found that it provided that the taxes shall be levied on all motor vehicles used or kept for use in [he State. The levy was, therefore, within the competence of the State legislature as Entry 57 in List II authorises levy on vehicles suitable for use on roads. The Court observed (at pp. 1549-50 of AIR): If the words 'used or kept for use in the State' are construed as used or kept for use on the public roads of the State, the Act would be in conformity with the powers conferred on the State legislature under Entry 57 of List II. If the vehicles are suitable for use on public roads they ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ) of the Act, motor vehicle was defined which is identical with the post-amendment definition of 'motor vehicle' in Section 2(18) of the Central Act. The High Court dismissed the writ petition as it was of the view that Dumpers and Rockers as long as they were working solely within the premises of the respective owner did not come within the grip of the Taxation Act. But if arid when they would get to public roads, they would be taxable under the Taxation Act. The High Court took the view that the onus lay on the appellants to establish that Dumpers and Rockers in question were not suitable for use on the public roads. The High Court held that since no material had been placed before it to establish this and no claim had even been laid that these vehicles could not operate on public roads, the contention of the appellants, that the vehicles were not liable for taxation being not adapted or fit or suitable for use on the roads, was devoid of merit. The High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Amending Taxation Act and held that it was within the legislative competence of the State Legislature which was empowered to impose taxes, regulatory and compensatory ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s such manufacturer or dealer under the authorisation of trade certificate granted under me Central Rules is liable to pay tax. The definition of 'motor vehicle' as it existed on the date of coming into force of the impugned Taxation Act is relevant, which means any mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use upon roads, including a chassis to which a body has not been attached. Having regard to definition of motor vehicle in Section 2(18) of the Central Act as amended by Act 100 of 1956, it cannot be said that a chassis is not a motor vehicle which is adapted for use upon roads. Similarly a two wheeler scooter or motorcycle or a three wheeler autorickshaw will also come within the definition of 'motor vehicle' as they are adapted for use upon roads. In fact the vehicles with which we are concerned in the instant petitions are not only adapted for use upon roads, but are really meant for use upon roads. Having regard to the law as declared by the Supreme Court in M/s. Central Coal Fields Ltd. MANU/SC/0252/1992MANU/SC/0252/1992 : [1992]2SCR982 . It must be held that the very nature of these vehicles make it clear that they are not manufactured or adapted for use ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... AIR 1962 SCC 1406, regulatory measures or measures imposing compensatory taxes for the use of trading facilities do not come within the purview of the restrictions contemplated by Article 301 of the Constitution of India and such measures need not comply with the requirements of the proviso to Article 304(b) of the Constitution. In the instant case, no one has challenged the levy of tax under Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act on the ground that it impedes free flow of trade, commerce and intercourse throughout the territory of India. In the absence of a challenge to the exercise of legislative power on the ground that it infringes Article 301 of the Constitution of India, it is not obligatory for the State to establish that the tax is of compensatory nature. If the legislative competence of the State legislature is established, the law cannot be struck down on the ground that it is not shown to be compensatory in nature. In the instant case, I have held that the State legislature has the necessary legislative competence, since it has imposed a tax on motor vehicles which are suitable for use on roads. The levy is, therefore, within the competence of the State Legislature sinc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... on , but only deal with a subject matter which is exclusively within the legislative competence of the State Legislature. 21. Sri Mahto faintly submitted that Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act is ultra vires Articles 246 and 254 of the Constitution of India. He did not develop the argument in the course of his submission. It appears to me that so far as Article 246 is concerned, there is nothing in that article which can lead this Court to hold that the impugned Taxation Act is in breach of Article 246 of the Constitution of India. The power to levy tax on motor vehicles under Entry 57 of List II of the Seventh Schedule is exclusively within the legislative competence of the State Legislature. Nothing has been pointed out to us to support the argument that there is any inconsistency between the Taxation Act enacted by the State Legislature and any law made by the Parliament. I have already held that the Central Act has been enacted by the Parliament in exercise of its legislative power under Entry 57 of List III of the 7th Schedule which does not include the power to levy a tax on vehicles. The Central Act and the impugned Taxation Act operate in two different fields, and ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... under Section 6 must mean the registered owner of the vehicle under the Central Act. The submission completely overlooks the scheme of the impugned Taxation Act as also the Central Act. Under the main part of Section 39 of the Central Act, there is a prohibition against any person driving any motor vehicle and any owner of a motor vehicle causing or permitting the vehicle to be driven in any public place or in any other place without the vehicle being registered. The main part of Section 39 therefore is not limited in its application to vehicles being used in a public place only, since it also prohibits unregistered vehicles being driven in any other place . Thus under the main part of Section 39, every owner of a vehicle whether a registered owner, or the owner otherwise, is required to get the vehicle registered before permitting the vehicle to be driven in any public place or in any other place. This would also include a manufacturer or a dealer who is in possession of a motor vehicle. The proviso carves out an exception, and it is on account of the proviso that a dealer of a motor vehicle is not required to get the vehicle in his possession registered, but that is subject to ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 6 which refers to possession of motor vehicles in the course of business by such manufacturer or dealer under the authorisation of trade certificate granted under the Central Rules. There is, therefore, no justification for reading Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act to mean that the tax payable thereunder is payable only by a registered owner of the vehicle. In fact, it applies only to a manufacturer or a dealer who claims exemption from the necessity of registration under proviso to Section 39 of the Central Act. 24. I shall now consider the submissions urged by Sri M.L. Verma, Senior advocate. It was submitted by him that the impugned Taxation Act is wholly arbitrary. There is no procedure prescribed for the assessment of tax. There is nothing in the Act to provide for issuance of notices etc. nor is there any procedure prescribed for the recovery of taxes. There is in fact no charging Section imposing the levy on a manufacturer or a dealer. He, therefore, submitted that the impugned Taxation Act was wholly arbitrary and hit by Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Learned Counsel cited several authorities in support of the submissions that a taxing statute is not immu ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... spect of the motor vehicles in his possession in the course of his business etc, Clear words have been used to give effect to the legislative intendment, and there is no need of reading into Section 6, words which are not used by the legislature, to make it a charging section. There is also no need to infer a legislative intendment because the language employed by the legislature is clear and categoric. Section 6 says that a tax at the annual rate specified in Schedule III shall be paid by a manufacturer or a dealer. Perhaps the Section could be drafted more artistically, but that is not to say that words employed in Section 6 are ambiguous, or that the legislative intent to levy a charge is not clearly brought out by the words employed in the section. Reading the section, as it is, without reading into it anything more, and without speculating about the intention of the legislature, one must hold that Section 6 levies a tax on manufacturers and dealers in respect of motor vehicles in their possession in the course of their business, and therefore, the Section must be held to be a charging section. It does not merely fix the rate, but also oblige the manufacturer or a dealer to pay ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ich ought to be covered by trade certificates, because neither the Central Act nor the impugned Taxation Act conceives of a motor vehicle which is neither required to be registered nor required to be covered by a trade certificate. 27. Rule 4 of the Taxation Rules in clear terms provides that the due date of payment of tax shall be the date of expiry of the period for which the tax had been last paid. In cases where no such tax had previously been paid, the date of acquisition of the vehicle, or the date when such tax is imposed by law, shall be due date for payment of tax. The date of acquisition of the vehicle must mean the date on which the manufacturer or the dealer comes in possession of a vehicle which answers the description of a motor vehicle as defined under the Central Act. It is, therefore, clear that as soon as a completed chassis suitable for use on roads comes into existence, the liability of the manufacturer arises. Similarly as soon as such a motor vehicle is received by the dealer for the purpose of his business, his liability under Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act arises. There is no uncertainty about the due date of payment of the lax. Under the said R ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tor vehicles i n possession of a manufacturer or a dealer in the course of a financial year. There is no warrant in law for the proposition that the assessment procedure under a taxation statute must necessarily be a cumbersome one. The rules clearly provide for filing of declaration before the Taxing Officer and the manner in which the tax is required to be paid. The date on which a manufacturer or a dealer incurs the liability to pay the tax is also clear from Rule 4 read with Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act, and the period within which the lax may be paid without penalty is also specified. The rate at which the penalty is to be charged for delayed payment is also clearly laid down. The question as to whether in the instant cases penalty was levied in accordance with law is a separate question, which I shall deal later. 30. It was then submitted that under Section 6 of the impugned Taxation Act a tax at the annual rate specified in Schedule III has been levied on a manufacturer or a dealer. Counsel sought to draw a distinction between levy of a tax at the annual rate and annual tax al rates specified. I shall deal with this submission later, but for the present the sche ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the tax arises in a particular financial year even if the liability is incurred only a few days before the expiry of the said financial year. There is nothing arbitrary in this, and a taxing statute cannot be struck down on such consideration, even if some such hardship results. 33. I shall now consider the submission that Section 6 levies a tax at the annual rate specified in Schedule III, but so far as the levy of tax under Section 5 is concerned, as would be apparent from Schedules I and II an annual rate of tax on motor vehicles has been prescribed. He submitted that there is distinction between an annual tax and a tax calculated at the annual rate . Having regard to the scheme of the Act. there is no apparent contradiction as submitted by counsel. Under Section 5 tax is levied on every owner of a registered motor vehicle which is payable at the annual rate of the tax prescribed under the relevant schedule. The owner of a registered motor vehicle, other than personalised vehicle. may pay lax for one or more quarterly periods at the annual rate of tax payable for the quarter. He may also pay tax for any period less than a quarterly period, but in that event tax paid by hi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... or the entire financial year. As I have held earlier. Rule 4 of the taxation Rules prescribes that the due date of payment of tax shall be the date of acquisition of the vehicle, or the date where such tax is imposed by law. In the case of a vehicle manufactured by a manufacturer which answers the description of a motor vehicle suitable for use on roads, and in the case of a dealer the date on which he receives a motor vehicle for purpose of his business as such dealer, is the date on which the liability accrues and must be paid within 15 days from the due date without payment of penalty. Once the liability arises for payment of tax, the manner in which it has to be paid is prescribed under Rule 5 of the Taxation Rules. The tax is calculated in the manner prescribed under Schedule III. In the case of chassis of heavy motor vehicles a tax of ₹ 600/-is pay able as annual tax for first seven or less vehicles of a manufacturer or a dealer. For every additional seven vehicles, he is required to pay annual tax of ₹ 600/-. This means that as soon as a manufacturer or a dealer acquires a vehicle, or comes in possession of a vehicle he must pay the tax within the grace period ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ncurring liability for penalty is the period of 15 days from the due date of payment. If the tax is paid beyond the grace period of 15 days, the manufacturer or the dealer incurs the liability to pay penalty. 36. It was submitted that Section 23 imposes a liability to pay penalty for non-payment of tax in time at the rates prescribed by the State Government. The rates have been prescribed under Rule 4. However Rule 4(2) provides that in case of delayed payment. the Taxing Officer may impose penalty in respect of such vehicles at the rate specified. This means the imposition of penalty is not mandatory. The Taxing Officer has a discretion to impose or not to impose a penalty having regard to the facts of the case. For this purpose, he must afford to the person concerned an opportunity of being heard in the matter. I have no difficulty in accepting this submission having regard to the language of Rule 4(2) of the Taxation Rules. The Taxing Officer may or may not impose a penalty having regard to the facts of the case, but in case he chooses to impose a penalty, the same shall be imposed at the rate specified in the table which is part of Rule 4. The other due date for lax pay ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n CWJC No. 3788 of 1995 (R) that the manner in which lax and penalty has been levied is illegal. Referring to Annexure-l the notice of demand dated 25-11 -1995, it was submitted that though the petitioner had been informed by letter dated 6-11-1995 that it had to pay the tax under Section 6 at the rate prescribed under Schedule III with effect from the date the Act came into effect, the petitioner had failed to file its declaration under Form B-2. Under these circumstances, the lax was being levied on the basis of manufacture of 100 chassis every day from 26-11 -1993 to 31 -3-1995. So calculated, the tax was assessed at ₹ 42.09.000/- and penalty ₹ 84,18.000/- total Rs. l,26,27,000/- (Rupees one crore, twenty six lacs and twenty seven thousand). Counsel submitted that the lax has been assessed in an arbitrary manner. The tax could be levied and assessed only on the basis of the trade certificates issued, and not on the basis of the number of vehicles manufactured. The assessment made on the basis of average daily production is bad because there is no basis for the assumption that 100 chassis are produced by the petitioner every day. A notice had been issued to the petiti ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... levy a penalty, it will not be proper for this Court to express any opinion on the question as to whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, a penalty ought to be levied. Needless to say that the Taxing Officer will keep in mind the law enunciated on the subject in binding precedents, and pass an appropriate Order having regard to the submissions urged before him by the petitioner. It will be open to the petitioner to urge all contentions before him in relation to the assessment of lax and imposition of penalty. The Taxing Officer will proceed to pass an Order having regard to the principles laid down in this judgment. 41. CWJC No. 3788 of 1995(R) is, therefore. partly allowed only to the extent that the petitioner may file a comprehensive petition before the Taxing Officer within six weeks from today annexing all necessary documents which may facilitate the Taxing Officer to pass an Order assessing the tax payable by the petitioner and the penalty, if any. It will be open to the Taxing Officer to ask for such other material as may be considered necessary by him for completing the assessment. Annexure-1. the impugned notice of demand dated 25-11 -1995 is quashed only fo ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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