H. R. Khanna, C. J. (Oral)

( 1 ) THE following question has been referred to this Court under section 21 (3) of the Bengal Finance (Sales Tax) Act, 1941 as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") at the instance of Chhabra Electric Stores (hereinafter referred to as "the dealers"):

"whether on the facts and in the circumstances of this case the order cancelling the registration of M/s. Jai Hind Stores in November, 1956 could be enforced with retrospective effect against the present assessee so as to deprive it of its right to claim exemption of the sales amounting to Rs. 62. 859-11-3 made during the period from 1st April. 1956 to 30th June. 1956 from being included in its taxable turnover for the year 1956-57. "

( 2 ) THE dealer dealt in the re-sale of all kinds of electric goods during the period 1956-57. The dealer sold goods worth Rs. 62,859-11-3 to M/s Jai Hind Stores, a registered dealer. The registration certificate of Jai Hind Stores was cancelled under sub-section (7) of section 7 of the Act as per order made towards the end of November. 1956. The order was made effective from April 1, 1956. The cancellation of the registration certificate was notified in the official gazette under Section 9 of the Act in March, 1957. The dealer claimed exemption in respect of the goods sold to Jai Hind Stores till November. 1956. The Sales-tax Officer declined to grant the exemption on the ground that the certificate of registration of the purchasing dealer, Jai Hind Stores, had been cancelled with effect from April 1, 1956. The order of the Sales-Tax Officer was affirmed in appeal by the Assistant Commissioner as well as in the first and second revisions. The contention of the dealer that the cancellation of the registration certificate of Jai Hind Stores could not have retrospective effect was repelled. At the instance of the dealer, the question reproduced above was thereafter referred to this Court.

( 3 ) WE have heard Mr. Brij Bans Kishore on behalf of the department. No one has appeared on behalf of the dealer. After giving the matter our consideration, we are of the opinion that the question referred to this Court should be answered in the negative and against the department. According to Section 5 (2) of the Act. in arriving at the figure of taxable turnover the sale made by a dealer to a registered dealer in respect of the goods of the class or classes specified in the certificate of registration of such registered dealer, as being intended for re-sale by him, or for use by him as raw material in the manufacture of goods for sale, shall be deducted. It appears to have been assumed, and was not disputed, that the goods sold to Jai Hind Stores were of the category specified in the certificate of registration of that concern. The dealer was not allowed deduction because the sales-tax authority took the view that the cancellation of the registration certificate of Jai Hind Stores had a retrospective effect. In this respect we find that the cancellation of the registration certificate of Jai Hind Stores was under sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act. According to that sub-section, the Commissioner may at any time for reasons to be recorded in writing and after giving the dealer an opportunity of being heard, cancel any certificate of registration. Such cancellation has to be notified under section 9 of the Act in the official gazette. According to clause (d) of rule 12 (1) of the Rules framed under the Act, when the appropriate authority is satisfied for any reason other than that referred to in clause (c), with which we are not concerned in the present case, the certificate of registration of any dealer requires cancellation, he shall forward to the Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner Sales Tax so authorised by him, the registration certificate of the dealer and the cancellation shall come into effect from such date as may be specified in the order and the liability of the dealer

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