Judgement

HEGDE, J. : These appeals by special leave arise from the common order made by the Madras High Court in T. C. Nos. 117 to 119 (revisions Nos. 71 to 73) on its file. The Indian Steel and Wire Products Ltd., a joint stock public limited company is the appellant in all these appeals.

2. At the instance of the steel controller, the appellant supplied certain steel products to various persons in the Madras State during the financial years 1953-54, 1954-55 and part of 1955-56 (from April 1, 1955 to September 6, 1955). The State of Madras assessed the turnovers of the appellant relating to those transactions to sales tax under th Madras General Sales tax Act, 1939 (Madras Act 9 of 1939) (to be hereinafter referred to as the Act), the law in force at that time. The appellant has been assessed to tax on the basis of best judgment. The authorities under the Act have determined the appellant s turnover during the year 1953-54 at Rs. 31,29,520 and levied a tax of Rs. 16,298/4 annas. During the financial year 1954-55, its turnover was determined at Rs. 37,59,216 and the assessment levied is Rs. 58,737-12-0. For the broken period in the financial year 1955-56, the appellant s turnover wa