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2005 Supreme(All) 2010

ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Prakash Krishna, J.
Amrit Banaspati Company Limited through its Senior Manager (Accounts)/General
Versus
Commissioner of Trade Tax
Sales Tax Revision 74 of 2005
Decided On : 21 October 2005
Sales Tax Revision 74 Of 2005

Advocates:
BHARAT JI AGRAWAL,

The burden of proof lies with the department to comply with orders and prove entries in account books of third parties. Finality of remand orders and the admissibility of evidence are crucial legal principles.

Headnote:

Sales Tax - Assessment Dispute - U. P. Sales Tax Act - Section 11 - 1971-72 - Summary of Acts and Sections: U. P. Sales Tax Act, Section 11 - The court discussed the compliance of the earlier order passed by the Tribunal, the burden on the department to produce relevant account books, and the drawing of adverse inference against the applicant based on entries in the account books of a third party. The court also considered the legal principles related to the admissibility of evidence and the finality of remand orders.

Fact of the Case:

The applicant, a public limited company, challenged the order passed by the Trade Tax tribunal regarding the rejection of taxable turnover for the assessment year 1971-72 under the U. P. Sales Tax Act. The dispute centered around the compliance of earlier orders, adverse inferences drawn based on entries in account books, and the justification of upholding the assessment order despite limitations.

Finding of the Court:

The court analyzed the compliance of the department with the Tribunal's order, the burden of proof on the department, and the admissibility of evidence. It found that the department failed to comply with the Tribunal's order and did not discharge the burden to prove the entries in the account books of a third party. The court concluded that no useful purpose would be served by passing a fresh remand order, and the interest of justice would be served by holding that the account books of the applicant are not liable to be rejected based on the entries.

Issues: Compliance with Tribunal's order, burden of proof on the department, admissibility of evidence, and finality of remand orders.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the department failed to comply with the Tribunal's order and did not discharge the burden to prove the entries in the account books of a third party. It also determined that no useful purpose would be served by passing a fresh remand order, and the interest of justice would be served by holding that the account books of the applicant are not liable to be rejected based on the entries.

Final Decision: The revision was allowed, and the order of the Tribunal was set aside.

PRAKASH KRISHNA, J.

( 1 ) THE applicant, a public limited company, incorporated under the Companies Act, is carrying on the business of manufacture and sale of Vanaspati, refined oil and soap etc. By means of the present revision filed under Section 11 of U. P. Sales Tax Act, (hereinafter referred to as the Act), the applicant has challenged the order dated 7thof October, 1994 passed by the Trade Tax tribunal, Ghaziabad.

( 2 ) THE case has a checkered history and the dispute relates to the assessment year 1971-72 (U. P.)The Sales Tax officer, Ghaziabad rejected the taxable turnover and estimated it at Rs. 12,37,00299/ -. The assessment order was partly modified in appeal by the Assistant commissioner (Judicial) by reducing the turnover and fixing it at Rs. 12,36,37,357/ -. In further appeal, the Tribunal by its order dated 30. 1. 1985 allowed the appeal filed by the dealer applicant and remanded the matter back to the Assessing Authority with certain directions. The directions were to the effect that the dealer applicant be permitted to cross-examine the Lucknow dealer namely M/s. Ram Rikh Das Roop Chandra, The Assessing Authority was directed to produce the said dealer with record. The relevant portion of the operative order which has some relevancy, in as much as there is a dispute between the parties about its compliance of the directions, to the , ultimate decision of the present revision, is being reproduced below: "atah yah vad kar nirdharan adhikari ko uprokta nirdeshon ke anusar punah kar nirdharan karane ke liye vapas kiya jata hai. Vyapari dwara dilai gayi freight ki dhanrashi uprokta vivechana ke anusar kar yogya dhanrashi mein sharnil nahin ki jaye gi. Kar nirdharan adhikari Lucknow ke vyapari ko appealkarta ke samaksha sambandhit ambhilekhon sahit cross examination karane ke liye prastut karein ge. Natha unake sambandh mein vyapari se spastikaran lete hue apana nirnay dein ge. Agar kar nirdharan adhikari Lucknow ke ukta vyapari ko appealkarta ke samaksha cross examination karane ke liye prastut karane mein asmarth rahate hain toa is samandha mein vyapari ke viruddha jo tathya vipareet mane gaye hain unase koi pratikool nishkarsh nikalana uchit nahin hoga".

( 3 ) THE Assessing Authority in compliance of the aforesaid direction summoned M/s. Ram Rikh das Roop Chandra, Lucknow, along with account books. Shri Naresh Kumar one of the partners of the firm appeared before the Assessing Authority on 16. 1. 1986. He was cross- examined by the dealer applicant. Thereafter the assessment order was refrained by the Assessing Authority and the taxable turnover was fixed at Rs. 12,28,44,553-60 by the order dated 29thof March, 1986. This order was confirmed in appeal by the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) by the order dated 22nd of January, 1989. The dealer opp. party filed a second appeal before the Tribunal which came up for consideration before two Members Bench of the Tribunal. Since there was difference of opinion in between the two members of the Tribunal, the matter was referred to a third member, who agreed with one member and consequently appeal was dismissed on 7th of october, 1994, by following majority view. Aggrieved against the aforesaid order the present revision has been filed on behalf of the applicant. In the memo of revision the following questions of law have been raised:

1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal and the authorities below were justified in law in drawing adverse inference against the applicant on the basis of entry made in Exht-15 seized from the premises of M/s. Ram Rikhdas Roop Chandra of Lucknow even though the said Exht-15 was not confronted to the applicant for cross examination inspite of the direction given by the Tribunal earlier in its order dated 30thjanuary, 1985?

2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and even though nothing adverse was stated against the applicant" by Ram Naresh, partner of Lucknow party, still the Tribunal was j



















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