Applicability of provisions of Sections 57(1) and 57(2).

This petition has been filed against the order of the Fifth Presidency Magistrate, Madras, directing the Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Intelligence), Chepauk, Madras, to produce certain documents. The respondent Mahadevan filed a private complaint against the revision petitioners VR. S. RM. Ramaswami Chettiar and others under section 420, Indian Penal Code. The respondent filed an application before the Fifth Presidency Magistrate to send for the following documents from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Intelligence), Chepauk, Madras.

1. Report of the investigation undertaken by the Department of Commercial Taxes on the background given by the complainant on 21st April, 1966.

2. A report of the investigation; and

3. The books of accounts seized by the Department of Commercial Taxes in 1954 from the office of M/s. Chettiar Films both at Madurai and Trichy and from the houses of the partners of M/s. Chettiar Films, or the copies of the above with reference to the picture "Aval Yar.”

The Deputy Commercial Tax Officer concerned raised the objection that the documents mentioned above could not be exhibited in Court as they are privileged documents in view of section 57 of Madras General Sales Tax Act and section 124 of the Indian Evidence Act.

The respondent did not press for the production of the first two documents. As regards the documents mentioned in item (3) of the application, the Fifth Presidency Magistrate overruled the objection raised by the Deputy Commercial Tax Officer and allowed the documents to be exhibited. Hence this petition.

The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners contended that the documents mentioned in item (3) of the application were concerned in proceedings relating to the recovery of demand of sales tax and as such they shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed and relies upon section 57 of the Madras General Sales Tax Act, 1959. Section 57 reads as follows: —

“(1) All particulars contained in any statement made, return furnished or accounts, registers, records or documents produced under the provisions of this Act or in any evidence given or affidavit or disposition made, in the course of any proceeding under this Act or in any record of any proceeding relating to the recovery of a demand, prepared for the purposes of this Act shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to the disclosure of any such particulars- — (i) for the purpose of prosecution under the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860 ) or under this Act in respect of any such statement, return, accounts, registers, records, documents, evidence, affidavit or deposition ;.........”

It is contended by the respondent that section 57 (1) will not apply to this case by virtue of clause (2) as the prosecution was under the Indian Penal Code. This contention is not correct. Clause (2) of section 57 applies to only prosecution either under the Indian Penal Code or under the General Sales Tax Act in respect of any statement, return, accounts, registers, records, documents, evidence, affidavit or deposition made or produced in the course of the proceedings. It does not apply to offences generally under the Indian Penal Code. The offence committed in respect of the documents concerned in the proceedings either under the Indian Penal Code or under the General Sales Tax (hereinafter called the Act) are alone exempted. As the present prosecution is under section 420, Indian Penal Code, the exemption provided under clause (2) of section 57 will not apply.

But it is clear from the provisions of section 57, clause (1) that only those documents which were produced under the provisions of the Act shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed. In my opinion, section 57 (1) of the Act will not apply to the documents seized. The protection given under section 57 (1) of the Act will apply to those documents produced v