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1971 DIGILAW 179 (KAR)

N. ANNAIYAPPA v. ASSISTANT COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER, BANGALORE

1971-06-23

GOVINDA BHAT, JAGANNATHA SHETTY

body1971
JAGANNATHAV SHETTY, J. ( 1 ) THIS is a revision petition under S. 13 (4) of the Mysore Sales Tax Act, 1957, against the order dt. 21-11-1970 by which the learned Second Magistrate, bangalore, issued a warrant for the attachment of moveables belonging to the petitioner for recovery of arrears of sales tax for the year 1967-68 and 1968-69 amounting to Rs. 496-60p. The said sum represents the tax determined under final assessment for the year 1967-68 and the tax provisionally fixed for the year 1968-69, besides penalty. , ( 2 ) IT is stated frem the Bar that even for the year 1968-69, the petitioner was finally assessed as per the assessment order dt. 18-11-1970. Mr. Gandhi, learned Counsel for the petitioner, therefore, contended that when once a final assessment was made, the demand made under the ordar of provisional assessment could not be enforced. Mr. S. R. Rajasekhara murthy, learned Counsel for the State. does not dispute this proposition. He also brought to our notice a memo filed by the respondent be for the magistrate, which reads thus:"i submit before the Hon'ble Court that consequent to the finalisation of assessment for 1968-69 in the case of Sri N. Anniyappa. Gowrishankar Bakery, Koena Aggrahara, the provisional demand raised for the year and included in the recovery application filed before the Hon'ble Court in C. Mise. No. 55/70 is reduced comoletely"and hence, the said recovery application rentes only for rccovry of tax due towards final assessment made for 1967-68. The amount covered by this recovery application is specified hereinunder. 1967-68- Sales Tax rs. 120-00 penalty rs. 21-60 rs. 141-60 " in view of the memo filed, the contention of the learned Counsel for the petitioner does not survive. ( 3 ) THE nevt contention of Mr. Gandhi relates to the validity of the warrant issued by the Magistrate for the levy of the amount by attachment of moveables. The warrant was admittedly issued under clause (a) of sub-sec. (1) of S. 386 Crlpc. According to him clause (a) applies only to the offender against whom a sentence of fine is awarded by the Magistrate whereas the recovery of dues from a defaulting assessee could be made only by a warrant issued under clause (b) of the section. S. 386 so far as it is relevant provides;"386. (1) of S. 386 Crlpc. According to him clause (a) applies only to the offender against whom a sentence of fine is awarded by the Magistrate whereas the recovery of dues from a defaulting assessee could be made only by a warrant issued under clause (b) of the section. S. 386 so far as it is relevant provides;"386. Warrant for levy of fine.- (l) Whenever an offender has been sentenced to pay a fine, the Court passing the sentence may take action for the recovery of the fine in either or both of the following ways, that is to say, it may- (a) issue a warrant for the levy of the amount by attachment and sale of any movable property belonging to the offender; (b) issue a warrant to the Collector of the District authorising him to realise the amount by execution according to civil process against the moveable or immoveable property, or both of the defaulter. " ( 4 ) THE only basis for this distinction drawn by the learned Counsel is that clause (a) refers to an offender and clause (b) to a defaulter. Since the petitioner is only a defaulter and not an offender, the warrant has to be issued only to the Collector of the District, under Clause (b ). This distinction appears to us to be baseless and if accepted, it renders the main provisions of sub-sec. (1) of S. 386 nugatory. Sub-sec. (1) provides for the recovery of fine in either or both of the ways specified under Cls. (a) or (b ). When an application is, made to a Magistrate under S. 13 (3) (b) of the Mysore Sales Tax Act, the Magistrate can recover the dues under the said Act as if it were a fine imposed by him. By the fiction created under S. 13 (3) (b ). the petitioner is in the position of an offender or a defaulter for the purpose of recovery of fine. The contention of Mr. Gandhi therefore deserves to be rejected. The revision petition, therefore, fails and is dismissed. No costs. --- *** --- .