COMMISSIONER OF SALES TAX Vs. BISHRAM TIWARI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AT the instance of the Commissioner of Sales Tax, U.P., Lucknow, the Additional Revising Authority, Sales Tax, Varanasi, has submitted the statement of the case under section 11(3) of the U.P. Sales Tax Act for the opinion of this court on the following question of law :

(2.) THE assessee carries on business in brass syringes and agricultural sprayers. In respect of the assessment year 1963-64 the assessee claimed exemption from tax on his turnover of sprayers on the basis of Notification No. ST-911/X dated 31st March, 1956. The Sales Tax Officer did not accept the assessee's claim. On appeal the appellate authority held that sprayers were agricultural implements but since they were not included in the articles enumerated in the notification their turnover was not entitled to exemption. The Judge (Revisions) before whom the assessee went up in revision allowed the assessee's claim holding that the sprayers being agricultural implements were covered by the notification even though they were not included in the articles enumerated in the notification. In his opinion the notification was not exhaustive.

(3.) IT does not appear to have been disputed on behalf of the sales tax department that a sprayer is an agricultural implement. However, the case of the department appears to be that "sprayers" are not covered by the notification of 31st March, 1956, because they do not find a place in the list of the articles mentioned therein. According to the department, the turnover of sprayers would be taxable under Notification No. ST-1367/X-1045(19)-1960 dated 5th April, 1961, as falling in the category of "machinery and spare parts of machinery". Thus the real dispute appears to be as to whether the list of agricultural implements mentioned in the notification of 31st March, 1956, is exhaustive.