The State Legislature does not have the power to levy property tax on plant and machinery under Item 49 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, which only empowers the State to levy tax on lands and buildings.

( 1 ) THE petitioner herein owns two sugar factories at Bodhan within the limits of the Bodhan Municipality. Nizamabad District. There was a quinquennial revision of taxes in the year 1960 by the Bodhan Municipality. After the said revision the petitioner was intimated under Section 120 of the Hyderabad District Municipalities Act, 1956 on 30-1-1964 by the Executive Officer that the petitioner was assessed to a sum of Rupees 1,87,726-12 ps. from 1-4-1960 to 31-3-1964 to the property tax on factory buildings including the value of plant and machinery. The petitioner was also assessed to tax on agricultural lands. Against the said order of intimation the petitioner preferred an appeal C. M. A. No. 8 of 1964 in the Court of the District Judge. Nizambad contending that the Municipality had no power or jurisdiction to levy property tax on plant and machinery and include the same in the value of the factory buildings. The said appeal was dismissed by the District Judge.

( 2 ) AGAINST the said judgment and decree C. R. P. No. 1322 of 1965 was preferred to this Court. This Court by its judgment and decree dated 5-8-1968 dismissed the said revision without going into the merits as it came to the conclusion that the appeals before the District Court were premature. Subsequently on 19-12-1968 the Bodhan Municipality issued a Bill demanding payment of Rs. 2,56,197-27 being the property tax due for the years 1962-63, 1963-64 , 1966-67,1967-68 and 1968-69 till the end of 31-3-1969 assessed not only on buildings and land but also on plant and machinery. As the bill did not contain the details of tax levied on various item like buildings. lands, plant and machinery the petitioner company wrote letters for details as to the quantum of tax on buildings, plant and machinery separately. Without furnishing any details as to the break up of tax on buildings, plant and machinery. the Bodhan Municipality issued a bill No. A-311054 dated 20-11-1969 for a sum of Rs. 3,06,176-30 ps. being the tax for the year 1969-70. The bill was accompanied by a letter bearing the same date, in which it was stated that the amount of Rs. 1,76,465-30 paid by the petitioner was deducted out of the grand total of Rupees 5,24,289-33 and that the balance to be paid was Rs. 3,47,824-03. The petitioner company by its letter dated 20-12-1969 informed the Secretary of the Bodhan Municipality the details for which the amount of Rs. 1,76,465-30 ps. was paid and also requested he Municipality to furnish full details as to the quantum of tax on buildings, plant and machinery. The Secretary of the Municipality by his letter dated 11-2-1970 furnished the necessary details. According to the details given in the aforesaid letter the property tax payable on plant and machinery for the years 1969-70 will come to Rs. 3,19,731-70. The total tax as demanded in their bill dated 21-11-1969 on factory buildings plant and machinery was Rs. 4,99,790-30. After deducting the sum of Rs. 3,19,731-70 payable on plant and machinery, the balance of tax namely Rs. 180058-60 towards the property tax on buildings alone was paid in two instalments.

( 3 ) IN this writ petition only the levy on plant and machinery is challenged on the ground that the provisions in the Hyderabad District Municipalities act which was succeeded by the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities act enabling the Municipalities to levy property tax on plant and machinery is outside the legislative power given in Item 49 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Under List II in Item 49 of Sch. 7 of the Constitution of India the State Legislature is empowered to levy tax on lands and buildings. There is no other item in 7th Schedule which empowers the State legislature to levy tax on plant and machinery. The State Legislature therefore has no authority to legislate in regard to the tax on plant and machinery. The question of this nature came up for consideration before the Supreme Court in New Manek Chowk Spinn