Fag
Precision Bearing Vs. Sales Tax Officer (I) & Anr [1996] INSC 1565 (9 December 1996)
S.P.
Bharucha, S.C. Sen Bharucha, J.
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
The
respondents have been served but have not .
The
Judgment and order under appeal was passed by a Division Bench of the high
Court of Gujarat. It dismissed a writ petition filed
by the appellant.
The
appellant carries on the business of manufacture and sale of ball and railer
bearing at Vadodara in Gujarat.
It is
registered as a dealer under the Central Sales Tex Act. 1956. and the Gujarat Sales Tex Act. 1969. the writ petition was filed to ouash the
order of the Deauty Commissioner of Sales Tax dates 31st August. 1987, passed
under Section 42(1) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act and Rule 37-A of the rules thereunder
staving until 31st August.
1988. the
appellant's assessments for the oeridd 1st September. 1976. to 31st August.
1984. and to restrain the Sales Tex officer from making any assessment and
penalty orders for the said period and for consequential relief.
The
order of the Deauty Commissioner date 31st August. 1987. so far as is relevant.
stated:
"since
same more time will be taken and the assessment oreceedings are not likely to
be committed within the orescribed time. and the assessment for the period 1.9.1976
to 31.3.19844 far the paid assessee cannot be completed within time limit ore
scribed under Section 42(1) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act. 1969. Hence it is
considered proper to stay the assessment in the case of the said assessee upto
31.8.1988. and in this respect show cause Notice was given vice letter No.
Jaorut/sk/Anve/Ch/5.42/87-88/JA Nil dated Nil as to the of assessment should
not be extended.
In
response to the said notice. the assessee has remained present her did be make
any reforestation either by post or in person. The assessee has made
representation vide letter dated Nil. Accenting the representations of the assessee.
I under the authority conferred on me under Section 9(2) of the Central Sales Tac
Act. 1956 read with Rule 37-A of the Gujarat Sales Tex Rules 1969 hereby order
that the assessment in respect of M/s. Precision Bearing India Limited. Baroda who is registered vide Registration
No. 40602801/Gui 9 B 81 under Local-Central sales Tax Acts and who is under the
jurisdiction of Sales Tax Officer (1) Div. (6) Enforcement. Baroda for the period 1.9.1976 to
31.8.1984 by stayed upto 31.8.1988." On behalf of the appellant it was
contended before the High Court that no order for stay of the assessment oreceedings
had in fact been passed on 31st August. 1987 and . thus. the assessment
proceedings had become time barred:
that
the order dated 31st August. 1987. ("the said order") was null and vic
inasmuch as no show cause notice in that penal had been given to the appellant
nor had it been near before the said order did not justify its passing.
The
High Court held against the appellant on the first contention and , that being
a ringing of fact, we do not concern ourselves therewith. insofar as the second
contention was concerned. the High Court considered whether the power of
staying assessment proceeding was quasi- judicial in nature. the High Court
noted that prior to 6th May. 1970. there was no provision in the State Act
prescribing a time limit within which assessment aroceedings were required to
be completed. A Sales Tax Enquiry committee had been appointed by the State
Government and it gave its report in 1967. This showed that the position of
cases of assessment lingering for vears was unsatisfactory as dealers had to
preserve account books for long periods of time and is became difficult for
them to produce evidence at late stages to support their claims to set off. exemptions
and the like: also. Because recoveries became difficult and Government revenues
were reobardised. It was then that the period of three vears for the completion
of assessment oroceedings had been orescribad in the State Act. In 1979 this
period was resect of stay of assessments was introduced into the State Act. The
High Court found no merit in the case of the appellant that. as the assessee
right. to be assessed within the period of limitation and not be subjected to
any liability thereafter. was adversely affected by an order of stay of
assessment. the function of granting the stay should be regrade as
quasi-judicial. It was of the opinion that. while passing the order of stay.
neither
the State Government nor the Commissioner of Sales Tax was under an obligation
to issue a prior notice to the assessee of to give him the opportunity of a
hearing. the State Government. or the Commissioner. had to record the reasons
for passing of such order and that order had to be served upon the assessee:
that was the only requirement of the principles of natural justice which could
be read into the provision. the third contention does not appear to have been
dealt with separately by the High Court but in the course of the discussion of
the second contention, it was observed assessment proceedings might be required
to be staved not only because of any difficulty in completing assessment
proceedings individually. a war or a strike by the offerers of the Sales Tex
Department. for example. might make it impossible or difficult to complete
assessment oroceedings within the period of limitation. In such cases.
in
order to see that the revenues did not suffer the Government or the
commissioner Might be required to stay all assessment proceedings. Again. if an
important point of law was pending consideration by a higher court. assessment
proceedings where such question was involved might have to be stayed.
While
the writ petition was pencing before the High Court. there was a stay of
assessments for the period covered by the said order. When leave was granted by
this Court. stay was refused. Consequently assessment orders are stated to have
been passed. Necessarily, their validity depends upon the validity of the said
order.
Section
42 of the State Act. as it then stood so far as it is relevant. reads:
"Section
42. Time limit for completion of assessments.- (1) (a) No order of assessment
for a year or part of a year shall be made under sub-section (3) or (4) of
section 41 at any time of the year in which the last monthly quarterly, or as
the case may be.
annual
return is filed.
Provided
that for the purpose of this section if it is considered necessary so to co.
the State Government as it may seem fit, and the Commissioner may subject to
such conditions as may be prescribed. dv a general or special order. stay. either
penerally or for a specified period. the assessment proceedings of a dealer of
class of dealers.
Rule
37-A sets out the conditions subject to which the Commissioner may grant stay.
It reads thus:
Rule
37-A. Conditions subject to which Commissioner may grant stay.
-
Conditions to which the Commissioner may. under the first proviso to
sub-section of a dealer or a class of dealers. shall be as follows namely.
1. no
assessment proceeding shall be stayed by the Commissioner for a period more
than five vears at any time.
2. the
Commissioner shall reduce in writing the reasons and circumstance necessitating
stay of any proceeding in respect of a dealer or a class of dealer."
Under
the terms of Rule 37-A, the Commissioner must out the reasons and circumstances
necessitating stay of assessment proceedings in writhing. In the instant case. the
reasons and circumstances necessitating stay are that the assessment was in
progress and "since some more time will be taken and the assessment
proceedings are not likely to be completed within the ore scribed
time..........it is considered proper to stay the assessment......".
To
accent the aforesaid as good reason to stay assessment proceedings is to hold
that the Commissioner. or the State Government, can give a go-by to the
statutory provision prescribing the period during which assessment proceeding
shall be completed only because the Sales tax authorities have not completed
the assessment proceedings within the stimulated time. we cannot accent this as
a good reason. The aftertaste power to stay assessment proceed ions can be
exercised only in stay assessment proceedings can be exercised only in
extraordinary circumstance and for supervising reasons which cannot be
attributed to the default or failure of the assessing authorities It would be a
valid exercise of the power to stay assessment proceedings of a class of asses
sees, for example. when a point of law inclosed such assessments in pending
decision is a higher court. It would availed exercise of such power in an
individual case where, for example, search and seizure of the assessee's premises
has unearthed material which requires to be sifted and analyses before a
satisfactory assessment order can be passed. It is not enough that the order
should state. as has been done in the present case. That the assessment
proceeding were pending and would take "some more time".
Under
the terms of Rule 37-A. the commissioner is required to put in writing the
"reasons and circumstances" that necessitate the stay of proceedings.
The stay of assessment proceedings has consequences of a civil nature upon as assessee.
which the High Court has as aforesaid.
noted.
The more the time that elapses the more difficult it sis for the assessee to
power his accounts and claim set off, exemptions and the like. We take the view
that. in the circumstances. the power under Rule 37-A may not be exercised by
the Commissioner without first giving to the assessee notice to show cause why
his assessment proceedings should not be saved for a stared period. The notice
should set out what the reasons and circumstances are which.
According
to the Commissioner necessitate such stay so that the assessee his opportunity
of meeting the same. This is a requirement of natural justice that having
regard to the scope of Rule 37-A requires to be read into it.
The
said order states that notice to show cause why the assessments should not be
stayed was given to the appellant.
The
number of the notice is mentioned and its date is stated to be "Nil".
the writ petition averred that no such notice had been served upon the
appellant. The affidavit in reply to the writ petition did not counter the
averment: it stated that no nearing was necessary. The High Court proceeded
upon the basis that the notice had not been serve. and it held that a notice
was not required. As set out above, we do not agree.
In the
oremisis. the impupned order must be set aside.
Consequently.
all proceedings taken and assessment orders passed on the strength thereof must
also be set aside. The Commissioner of Sales Tex shall be entitled. if so
advised. to issue to the appellant a notice to show cause why assessments for
the period its September. 1976. to 31st August, 1964. should not be stayed for a stated
period for the reasons and in the circumstances to be out therein. and he may
proceed thereafter in the manner laid down above.
This
notice be must, issue. if so minded within 16 weeks. If this is not done within
16 weeks. all amounts collected as and by way of sales tack for the period 1st
September. 1976. to 31st March. 1984. shall forthwith be refunded to the appellant.
The
appeal is allowed accordingly. There shall be no order as to costs.
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