LAWS(SC)-1979-12-14

STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH Vs. SYNTHETICS AND CHEMICALS LTD:STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH:STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH:STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH:STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH:STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

Decided On December 19, 1979
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH Appellant
V/S
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE batches of Civil Appeals, writ petitions and Special Leave Petitions raise the same question and can be disposed of by a common judgment.

(2.) C.A. No. 1130/76 is by the State. The other Appeals, Writ Petitions and Special Leave Petitions are by the aggrieved parties.

(3.) THE appellants have licenses for the wholesale vend of denatured spirit. It was contended that the State was providing no service to the trade of the denatured spirit and, therefore, the levy of fee is not justified. THE State, it was submitted, was not competent to authorise a levy of excise duty or tax so it was within the jurisdiction of the Parliament. On behalf of the State it was contended that in law the State had exclusive privilege to deal with intoxicating liquor which included denatured spirit and the levy of a licence fee and vend fee constituted consideration for permitting the appellants to carry on wholesale trade of the denatured spirit.