Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : MOTILAL B.NAIK, S.S.M.QUADRI
State Of A.P. - Appellant
Versus
Loharu Steel Industries Limited - Respondent
Decided On : 11-01-94
G. O. Ms. No. 88 - Assessment of Steel Re-rollers - The court held that the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977, is applicable to the assessee who is not a dealer of Andhra Pradesh and that the revisional authority could only revise an order on the grounds mentioned in the show cause notice.
Fact of the Case:
The court considered the applicability of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977, to the assessee who was not a dealer of Andhra Pradesh and the authority's power to revise an order based on the grounds mentioned in the show cause notice.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88 was applicable to the petitioner-company dealing in steel re-rollers situated in Karnataka and that the revisional authority could only revise an order on the grounds mentioned in the show cause notice.
Issues: The issues raised were the applicability of G. O. Ms. No. 88 to the assessee not being a dealer of Andhra Pradesh and the authority's power to revise an order based on grounds not specifically mentioned in the show cause notice.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88 was not limited to the products of steel re-rollers in the State of Andhra Pradesh and that the revisional authority could only act on the grounds mentioned in the show cause notice.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petitions, holding that the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88 was applicable to the petitioner-company and that the revisional authority could not revise an order on grounds not specifically mentioned in the show cause notice.
( 1 ) THESE three revision petitions relate to the same assessee are for different assessment years. They arise out of a common order of the Tribunal dated 15/01/1986.
( 2 ) THE question raised in these revisions are : (1) Whether the Tribunal is correct in holding that the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88, Revenue, dated 28/01/1977, is applicable to the assessee who is not a dealer of Andhra Pradesh; and (2) Whether the revisional authority could revise an order on the ground not specifically mentioned in the show cause notice ?
( 3 ) THE learned Government Pleader contends that though G. O. Ms. No. 1373, dated 28/08/1981, which confines the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977 to the finished products of the units situated within the State of Andhra Pradesh, came into force on 28/08/1981, it is merely declaratory of the position in G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977; therefore, the benefit was not available to the unit in question. We are afraid we cannot accept the contention of the learned Government Pleader. The relevant portion of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977, reads as under : "the Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby makes an exemption with effect from 1/04/1976, the re-rolled finished products of the steel re-rollers from the tax payable under the said Act, subject to the condition that the tax has been levied under the said Act on the sale or purchase of the raw material from which such finished products were obtained. "
( 4 ) A perusal of the above except of the G. O. makes it abundantly clear that there is no condition requiring that the products of steel re-rollers should be of assessee in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, the petitioner-company which was dealing in steel re-rollers could not be denied the benefit of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977, on the ground that it is situated in Karnataka. In this view of the matter, we do not find any illegality in the order of the Tribunal on this aspect.
( 5 ) SO far as the second contention is concerned, the disputed turnover was sought to be taxed by the Deputy Commissioner on the ground that the raw material from which steel re-rollers were manufactured, had not suffered tax. Though this is a condition precedent for application of G. O. Ms. No. 88, dated 28/01/1977, yet that is not the ground mentioned in the show cause notice for purposes of revising the assessment. It needs to emphasis to observe that the exercise of power under section 20 of the said Act by the revisional authority could only be on the grounds mentioned in the show cause notice, otherwise, the very purpose of affording the reasonable opportunity by giving a show cause notice would become a farce formality.
( 6 ) THE Tribunal has rightly rejected the contentions of the Government on this aspect. We, therefore, find no merit in these revisions. They are accordingly dismissed, but no costs.
( 7 ) PETITIONS dismissed.
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