RAGHAVENDRA EXPORTS v. ASSISTANT COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER, HYDERABAD AND ANOTHER.
2006-12-11
D.APPA RAO, J.CHELAMESWAR
body2006
DigiLaw.ai
ORDER J. CHELAMESWAR, J. The petitioner, a proprietary concern carrying on business in manufacture and sale of granite, is a registered dealer on the rolls of the second respondent both under the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 and under the Andhra Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005. It appears from the affidavit that the petitioner sold polished granite slabs to M/s. Shiva Granites Marble, Surat. The invoice value of the goods is Rs. one lakh taxable at 12.5 per cent. The material was being transported by a vehicle bearing No. AP 27V 3229. The vehicle was intercepted by the first respondent at Hyderabad and a notice in form No. 610, dated December 7, 2006 was handed over to the driver. According to the notice, the abovementioned vehicle was carrying 2,639.54 sq. ft. of polished granite. The respondents also opined that the value of the material was not accurately stated in the invoice. According to the respondents, the said material is to be valued at Rs. 2,11,163 and consequently the petitioner is liable to pay a tax of Rs. 26,395. The first respondent therefore detained the goods and called upon the petitioner to pay tax and he also chose to levy penalty which is equal to twice the amount of the tax determined by the respondents. Hence the present writ petition with the prayer as follows : "For the reasons stated in the accompanying affidavit, it is prayed that the honourable court may be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction declaring the action of the first respondent in detaining the consignment of goods worth of Rs. 1,00,000 treating and estimating it as Rs. 2,11,163 along with the vehicle bearing No. AP 27V 3229 and proposing to levy tax at the rate of 12.5 per cent on 2,639.54 sq. ft. instead of 2000 sq. ft.
1,00,000 treating and estimating it as Rs. 2,11,163 along with the vehicle bearing No. AP 27V 3229 and proposing to levy tax at the rate of 12.5 per cent on 2,639.54 sq. ft. instead of 2000 sq. ft. vide detention notice, dated December 7, 2006 in form 610 and also directing to pay penalty at two times the alleged tax due, as arbitrary, contrary to the provisions of the APVAT Act and Rules, 2005 and consequently direct the first respondent to release the vehicle along with the consignment forthwith and pass such other order or orders as the honourable court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case." Learned counsel for the petitioner argued that assuming for the sake of argument that the allegations made in the notice are true, demand for penalty at the stage of the detention of the "goods" without there being any proceedings initiated for levy of penalty is illegal and the issue is covered by an earlier decision of this court reported in Sujana Enterprises v. Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (Int) (Fac) [2005] 142 STC 598. This court in the said judgment did hold as contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner. In the circumstances, we deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the respondents to release the vehicle bearing No. AP 27V 3229 along with the goods to the petitioner on condition the petitioner pays the tax as indicated in the demand notice mentioned above. It is open for the respondents to initiate appropriate further proceedings in accordance with law for the levy of penalty. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.