L. G. Electronics India Pvt. Ltd, Rep. by its Branch Accounts Manager Narendran Bavanandam v. Joint Commissioner (CT) (Appeals) FAC
2012-10-03
M.JAICHANDREN
body2012
DigiLaw.ai
Judgment :- W.P. No. 23211 of 2012 Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, as well as the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents. 2. At this stage of the hearing of the Writ Petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner had submitted that it would suffice if the impugned order of the first respondent, dated 31.07.2012, is set aside and the matter is remitted back to the first respondent for passing a fresh order, in the appeal filed by the petitioner, in AP.C.10/2011, on merits and in accordance with law, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. 3. It is noted that the first respondent had passed the impugned order,dated 31.07.2012, dismissing the appeal, as not maintainable, as the petitioner had not paid the admitted amount of tax liability, along with 25% of the disputed amount of tax, within the period specified. 4.Paragraph 8 of the order of the first respondent, date 31.7.2012, reads as follows: "8.As per Second proviso to Section 52 of TNVAT Act'06, the appeal papers shall be accompanied by the satisfactory proof of payment of the tax admitted by the appellants to be due or of such installments thereof as might have become payable, as the case may be and 25 % of the difference of tax assessed by the assessing authority and the tax admitted by the appellant. As per second proviso to Section 52 of TNVAT Act'06, the appellants in order to file an appeal before this forum and to escape from the recovery proceedings, they had to pay Rs.39,475.00 towards admitted tax (Rs.5,26,91,258.00-Rs.5,26,51,783.00) and Rs.1,31,62,946.00 towards 25% of the disputed tax (25% of Rs.5,26,51,783.00). On verification of the payment details, it was observed that the appellants had paid Rs.1,31,62,946.00 towards disputed tax and Rs.39,475.00 towards admitted tax vide cheque No.054694/08-09-2011 and Demand Draft No.058040 dated 23-09-2011 respectively. The payment of the admitted tax and the disputed tax has been confirmed by the Assessing authority vide final receipt No.0304346 dated 23/09/2011 and 0304348 dated 23/09/2011 respectively. The dealers had been served with the assessment order on 13/07/2011 and accordingly the last date for filing the appeal is 12/08/2011 and with a further period of 30 days the last date for filing the appeal is 11/09/2011. As the day (11/09/2011) falls on Sunday, the appellants filed appeal on 12/09/2011.
The dealers had been served with the assessment order on 13/07/2011 and accordingly the last date for filing the appeal is 12/08/2011 and with a further period of 30 days the last date for filing the appeal is 11/09/2011. As the day (11/09/2011) falls on Sunday, the appellants filed appeal on 12/09/2011. Verification of the payment details revealed that the appellants have paid Rs.39,475.00 towards admitted tax within the prescribed period of 30 days and further period of 30 days as per first proviso of TNVAT ACT'06, whereas, the payment of disputed tax has been made only on 23/09/2011 i.e. after a period of 11 days when calculated from the further period of 30 days. Thus it is crystal clear that the appellants have not fulfilled the conditions specified in the second proviso to Section 52 of TNVAT Act ' 06. Thus the eligibility of filing the appeal before this forum is not available for the appellants and hence in view of the above facts, I decline to hear this appeal on merits and dismiss this appeal Petition in Toto as non-maintainable." 5. From the records available before this Court, it is noted that this Court, by its order, dated 1.3.2012, made in W.P.No.1810 of 2012, had directed the first respondent herein to hear the appeal and to pass orders thereon, on merits and in accordance with law, on the petitioner paying a sum of Rs.50 lakhs, as part of the tax said to be payable by it, and to furnish a personal bond for the balance amount, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the said order. It is also noted that the petitioner had complied with the said conditions, on 28.3.2012. As such, the first respondent ought to have heard the appeal filed by the petitioner in appeal No.AP.C.10/2011, and should have passed appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, as directed by this Court, by its order, dated 1.3.2012, made in W.P.No.1810 of 2012. However, the first respondent had dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner, in appeal No.AP.C.10/2011, as not maintainable. 6. In such circumstances, the impugned order of the first respondent, dated 31.7.2012, is set aside.
However, the first respondent had dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner, in appeal No.AP.C.10/2011, as not maintainable. 6. In such circumstances, the impugned order of the first respondent, dated 31.7.2012, is set aside. Consequently, the first respondent is directed to hear the appeal filed by the petitioner, in appeal No.AP.C.10/2011, relating to the Central Sales Tax assessment year 2008-2009 and to pass appropriate orders thereon, on merits and in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, considering the grounds raised by the petitioner in the said appeal. 7. This Writ Petition is ordered accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. W.P.No.23212 of 2012 In view of the order passed by this Court in the Writ Petition, in W.P. No.23211 of 2012, since, no further orders are necessary, this Writ Petition stands closed. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.