JUDGMENT :

(Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents and in particular the third respondent, their officers, subordinates etc., working under them to register the vehicle imported by the petitioner namely Mercedes Benz Model E220-CDI Sedan under EPCG Licence No.04.0001037, imported from Germany to India bearing Chassis No.WDB2110062A393257 and Engine No.646961-30-115731 and handover the Registration Certificate to the petitioner without insisting upon or seeking to collect Entry Tax under the provisions of the “Tamilnadu Tax on Entry of Motor Vehicles into Local Areas Act, 1990.”)

1. All these Writ Petitions are filed to forbear the respondents from demanding and collecting entry tax on the vehicles purchased by the petitioners. The respective vehicles purchased by the petitioners in all these Writ Petitions were imported from other countries. They have contended that import duty to the Customs Department had already been paid. While taking the vehicle for registration, the Regional Transport Officers concerned, demanded entry tax and thus, the petitioners are constrained to move the present Writ Petitions.

2. The validity of provisions of the Entry Tax Act was challenged under the Tamil Nadu Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2001 and the issue went up to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and the validity of the Act was upheld by the Courts.

3. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in clear terms held that the State is empowered to demand and collect Entry Tax in the case of State of Kerala and others vs. Fr.William Fernandez reported in [2018] 57 GSTR 6 (SC). Thus, the issue raised in these Writ Petitions are no more res-integra and the petitioners are liable to pay Entry tax as demanded by the respondents. In some cases, interim orders were granted on condition to pay part amount of entry tax and in some cases, interim orders are granted without any such conditions. Therefore, the respondent/Commercial Tax Department, is duty bound to calculate the arrears of Entry tax to be paid by the respective petitioners and calculation sheet / demand notice is to be issued enabling such petitioners to pay the Entry Tax.

4. It is brought to the notice of this Court that even in respect of the writ petitions already dismissed by this Court, based on the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Commercial Tax Department issued a circular No. 20/2021 dated 01.09.2021. As per the circular, all the Assessing Officers are instructed to collect the outstanding Entry Tax in respect of the dismissed cases, immediately. The Joint Commissioner concerned are directed to monitor the work of collection of Entry Tax and send the compliance report in respect of their Division by 10th of every month. In respect of cases, where the Entry tax is not realisable, the Joint Commissioner concerned should explore all possible legal ways to realise the Government dues and report compliance. The instructions issued are directed to be followed scrupulously.

5. Mr.V.S.Velavan, State Tax Officer/Investigation Wing, made a submission that pursuant to the consistent orders of this Court in the matter of recovery of Entry Tax, the department could able to collect more than a sum of Rs.5 Crores, as of now. However, in respect of the Writ Petitions already dismissed, the Entry tax dues are yet to be collected by the Department. Pursuant to the circular issued by the Commissioner, actions are taken to collect the arrears. This Court is of the considered opinion that a little effort in dealing with Entry tax issue, an amount more than Rs.5 Crores is collected in a short span of time. If the department is consistent in pursuing the collection of tax, then undoubtedly, the State will be in a position to collect substantial revenue dues in the interest of public at large. The efficiency level in the Department are to be improved only by consistent monitoring and functioning of the