Judgment :- 1. The judgment of the learned judge has to be affirmed. The learned judge allowed the writ petition and quashed Ext. P7 order imposing penalty on the writ petitioner on the ground that the penalty had been imposed beyond the time indicated by the provisions of S.19 of the Act. We think this conclusion of the learned judge is correct. In view of this, we think it unnecessary to consider the other point debated before us, namely, whether the time limit indicated by S.19 of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act for taking action is a period of limitation or a jurisdictional condition. 2. The original assessment to Sales Tax for the assessment year 1967-68 was on 27-7-1968. The assessment was reopened under S.19 (1) of the Act and a fresh order of assessment has been passed on 4-3-1972 under S.19(1) of the Act. On the same day, an order imposing penalty was passed under S.19(2) of the Act. The order imposing the penalty was challenged in O. P. No. 2021 of 1972 of this Court which was allowed on the ground of violation of the principles of natural justice as there was no notice to the assessee. That was by judgment dated 8-11-1973. The order reopening the assessment was also carried up in appeal. The appeal was partly allowed by deleting a part of the turnover added. The appellate order was dated 26-4-1974. In pursuance of this order on appeal, a revised order of assessment was passed by the Sales Tax Officer on 19-9-1974. Thereafter a notice or a fresh "notice of imposition of penalty was issued on 14-11-1974 followed by a further clarificatory notice (Ext. P6) dated 25-11-1975. This resulted in the impugned order of imposition of penalty (Ext. P7). 3. S.19 of the Act reads as follows: "19. Assessment of escaped turnover. Thereafter a notice or a fresh "notice of imposition of penalty was issued on 14-11-1974 followed by a further clarificatory notice (Ext. P6) dated 25-11-1975. This resulted in the impugned order of imposition of penalty (Ext. P7). 3. S.19 of the Act reads as follows: "19. Assessment of escaped turnover. (1) Where for any reason the whole or any part of the turnover of business of a dealer has escaped assessment to tax in any year or has been under-assessed or has been assessed at a rate lower than the rate at which it is assessable, or any deduction has been wrongly made therefrom, the assessing authority may, at any time within four years from the expiry of the year to which the tax relates, proceed to determine to the best of its judgment the turnover which has escaped assessment to tax or has been under-assessed or has been assessed at a rate lower than the rate at which it is assessable or the deduction that has been wrongly made and assess the tax payable on such turnover after issuing a notice on the dealer and after making such enquiry as it may consider necessary: Provided that before making an assessment under this sub-section the dealer shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (2) In making an assessment under sub-section (1), the assessing authority may, if it is satisfied that the escape from assessment is due to wilful non-disclosure of assessable turnover by the dealer, direct the dealer to pay, in addition to the tax assessed under sub-section (1) a penalty as provided in S.45A: Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed unless the dealer affected has had a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such imposition. Explanation. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the burden of proving that the escape from assessment was not due to wilful nondisclosure of assessable turnover by the dealer shall be on the dealer. (3) The powers under sub-section (1) may be exercised by the assessing authority even though the original order of assessment, if any, passed in the matter, has been the subject matter of an appeal or revision. (3) The powers under sub-section (1) may be exercised by the assessing authority even though the original order of assessment, if any, passed in the matter, has been the subject matter of an appeal or revision. (4) In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section, the time during which the proceedings for assessment remained stayed under the orders of a civil court or other competent authority shall be excluded." From S.19 (1) it is clear that the time limit indicated therein, of four years from the expiry of the year to which the tax relates is for proceeding to determine the turnover which has escaped. Once the initiation of the proceedings has thus been made within the time limit indicated, there is no bar to fetter the further action or to allow it to run to its conclusion. Sub-section (2) requires that the imposition of the penalty must be "in making the assessment under sub-section (1)". From the point of view of this requirement, if we examine the facts disclosed, we find that the assessment had been completed by the appellate order dated 26-4-1974, and, certainly, by the revised order of the Sales Tax Officer in pursuance of the said order, on 19-9-1974. The notice for imposition of the penalty was issued only on 14-11-1974 after the termination of the assessment proceedings. It cannot be said, in the circumstances, that proceedings for imposition of the penalty were "in making an assessment as required by sub-section (2) of S.19 of the Act." In this view, the judgment of the learned judge is right. We affirm the same and dismiss this writ appeal with no order as to costs. Dismissed.