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1995 DIGILAW 10 (MAD)

State of Tamil Nadu v. Mahalakshmi Textile Mills Limited

1995-01-03

JAYARAMA CHOUTA, THANIKKACHALAM

body1995
Judgment :- THANIKKACHALAM, J. The department is the petitioner herein. The assessee reported a total and taxable turnover of Rs. 7, 56, 88, 286.36 and Rs. 5, 92, 48, 519.21 in the A2 returns filed by it for the assessment year 1979-80. The assessing officer determined the total and taxable turnover as Rs. 6, 94, 86, 679 and Rs. 5, 93, 72, 630 respectively after verifying the accounts. According to the assessing officer, the annual statement filed by the assessee cannot be treated as a return in the prescribed form provided under the law. The assessing officer also held that the returns filed by the assessee were not correct and complete. Hence, he levied a penalty of Rs. 4, 474 under section12(5) of the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959. On appeal, the Appellate Assistant Commissioner confirmed the penalty levied by the assessing officer. Aggrieved, the assessee preferred the second appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal considering the fact that a revised return was filed before completing the assessment and tax due thereon was paid, cancelled the penalty levied by the assessing officer. It is against that order the present revision has been preferred by the department. 2. According to the learned Additional Government Pleader (Taxes), the revised statement was filed only after it was found out by the assessing officer that the original returns filed were not in order. Therefore, according to the Additional Government pleader (Taxes), penalty is exigible under section12(5) of the Act. On the other hand, the contention of the assessee was that the assessee furnished the turnover in question when the accounts were taken up for scrutiny. There is no variation between the book turnover and the turnover in the return read with supplementary details furnished by the assessee. The assessee was also paying the tax due on the returns. Therefore, it was submitted that there is on ground to levy the penalty under section12(5) of the Act. 3. The fact remains that the defects in the original return was rectified by the assessee by filing a revised statement before completing the assessment. The tax due thereon was also paid in time. In a case where the assessment filed revised return before completing the assessment it cannot be said that the original return filed by the assessee is defective and hence penalty is exigible. The tax due thereon was also paid in time. In a case where the assessment filed revised return before completing the assessment it cannot be said that the original return filed by the assessee is defective and hence penalty is exigible. In T.C. No. 771 of 1983 (State of Tamil Nadu v. Lucky Rasi Radio House, Periyakulam) by an order dated January 2, 1995 (Reported in 1996 STC 210 (Mad.) supra) this Court held that when the assessee filed revised return before the completion of the assessment and the tax due thereon was paid, then no penalty is exigible under section12(5) of the Act. According to the facts arising in the present case, the revised return was filed before the completion of the assessment and the tax due on the revised return was also paid in time. Therefore, we are also of the opinion that no penalty is exigible in the present case. Accordingly, the order passed by the Tribunal in cancelling the penalty is in order. Hence, we are not inclined to interfere with the same. 4. In the result, the revision is dismissed. No costs.