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1972 Supreme(Online)(All) 10

ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
T. Ramabhadran, R. S. Pathak, *H. N. Seth , JJ.
Hindustan Sugar Mills Ltd (M/s.) v. State
M. C. No.528 of 1969



Important Points

The document executed by the appellant was classified as an indemnity bond liable to a minimal stamp duty, reinforcing the principle that obligations must originate from the instrument as defined under applicable laws.

Subject

Stamp Law - Indemnity Bond Classification

Act Referred

Stamp Act: S.15, S.34, S.57
Indian Contract Act: S.124

Headnote

(A) U.P. Stamp (Amendment) Act, 1958 - Articles 15, 34, and 57 - Assessment of stamp duty on bond - Document executed was deemed an indemnity bond under Art.34, validly chargeable with Rs.18/-; contrary claims to classify as a bond under Art.15 dismissed. - The obligation of the executor to indemnify the Government established the character of the document covered by the stated Articles. (Paras 26-27).

(B) The necessity for clear definitions of bonds under the Stamp Act emphasized; obligations stipulated must arise directly from the instrument itself, not from pre-existing liabilities (Paras 16-24).
Table of Content
1. initial reference and context of the case. (Para 1 , 2)
2. description of the executed document and obligation imposed. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
3. arguments regarding classification of the document as indemnity or security bond. (Para 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 16)
4. clarification of obligations defined under the stamp act. (Para 8 , 9 , 13 , 14)
5. final ruling on the classification of the bond. (Para 17 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 26)
6. conclusion and response to the referred questions. (Para 27 , 28)

1. Board of Revenue has made this reference under S.57(1) of the Stamp Act . Originally following two questions were referred by the Board for the opinion of this Court: -
(1) Whether the document as a whole is a security cum indemnity bond falling under Art.34 and Art.57 Schedule I - B of the U.P. Stamp Amendment Act. 1958 and is liable to duty of Rs.18 only as contended by the Mills, or
(2) Whether the document executed by Sri. Gangadhar Adukiya constituted a bond for Rs.10,80,260/- chargeable with duty of Rs.16,057.50 under Art.15 Schedule I - B of the U.P. Stamp (Amendment Act, 1958) and the document executed by Sarvasri Kunj and executed by Sarvasri Kunj Behari Lal and others amounts to security bond chargeable with a separate duty of Rs.18 under Art.57 of Schedule I - B.
Subsequently, by its order dated May 22, 1970 this Court required the Board of Revenue to make such additions or alterations in the statement of the case prepared by it as were necessary for the purpose of deciding the question whether the document executed by Gangadhar Adukiya was in the nature of indemnity bond falling under Art.34 Schedule I - B of the U.P. Stamp Amendment Act, 1958 chargeable with a duty of Rs.18/- only?



2. The Board has now re - submitted the statement of the case, dated 11th of September, 1970 and has referred two more questions in addition to those which had already been referred by it. The Additional questions are as follows: -
(3) Whether the document executed by Sri Gangadhar Adukiya is in the nature of an indemnity bond falling under Art.34 Schedule I - B ibid, chargeable with a duty of Rs.18/- and the document executed by Sarvasri Kuni Behari Lal and others is a security bond chargeable under Art.57., Sch.I - B ibid with a separate duty of Rs.18/-,
(4) If the documents under reference do not fall under any of the above alternatives, what should be deemed to be their nature for purposes of stamp duty under the Stamp Act and what stamp duty is payable in respect of them.

3. The circumstances in which this reference came to be made may now be stated in brief. Hindustan Sugar Mill Ltd. was assessed to Sales Tax for the assessment year 1957-58. It went up in appeal and applied to Judge (Revision) Sales Tax U.P. for staying the realisation of the sales tax assessed. On 23rd April 1962, the Judges (Revisions) made an order restraining the realisation of Sales tax due from Messrs. Hindustan Sugar Mills Ltd. on condition that Messrs. Hindustan Sugar Mills furnished security for a sum of Rupees 10,70,260 to the satisfaction of the Sales Tax Officer. In order to comply with the restraint order passed by the Judge (Revisions) Sales Tax, Sri Gangadhar Adukiya executed a document dated 20th of May, 1962. The document executed by Gangadhar Adukiya was followed by a joint declaration made by Kunj Behari Lal Rathi and Nanak Chand Agnihotri declaring themselves to be sureties for Sri Gangadhar Adukiya and guaranteeing that Adukiya would perform all that he had undertaken to do and perform and in case of default these two persons bound themselves jointly and severally to forfeit to the Governor of U.P. the sum of Rs.10,70,260/-. For facility of reference a copy of the document executed by Gangadhar Adukiya, Kunj Behari Lal and Nanak Chand is being made Annexure I to this judgment.

4. Gangadhar Adukiya executed this document per pro the Hindustan Sugar Mills Ltd. on a stamp paper of Rs.18/-. During routine inspection of the Sales Tax Office, the Inspe






































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