LAWS(ORI)-1961-3-10

COMMISSIONER OF SALES TAX Vs. S C ROY

Decided On March 23, 1961
COMMISSIONER OF SALES TAX Appellant
V/S
S.C.ROY Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE following question of law was referred to this Court by the Member, Sales Tax Tribunal, Orissa, under sub-section (1) of section 24 of the Orissa Sales Tax Act (Orissa Act XIV of 1947) :

(2.) SECTION 4 of the Act is the charging section. Sub-section (1) makes every dealer whose gross turnover on sales which have taken place in Orissa during the year immediately preceding the commencement of the Act exceeds Rs. 10,000, liable to pay tax under the Act. Sub-section (2) lays down that every dealer to whom sub-section (1) does not apply shall be liable to pay tax under the Act on sales which have taken place in Orissa with effect from the quarter immediately following the period not exceeding twelve months during which his gross turnover on sales which have taken place in Orissa first exceeded Rs. 10,000. Sub-section (3) says that once the liability to pay tax is there, it shall continue until the expiry of three consecutive years, during each of which his gross turnover on sales which have taken place in Orissa has failed to exceed Rs. 10,000. The liability may also continue for such further period after the date of the said expiry as may be prescribed and his liability to pay tax under this Act shall cease on the expiry of the prescribed period. It appears from the appellate order of the Tribunal that the Tribunal has overlooked the provisions as contained in sub-section (3) of section 4. He appears to have confused it with sub-section (5) since it deals with new business. Apart from sub-section (5) of section 4, under sub-section (3) once the liability to pay sales tax arises, it continues for three years, until it is cancelled or has ceased by operation of the first proviso to sub-section (3) of section 4. Admittedly in this case the assessee is a registered dealer since the commencement of the Orissa Sales Tax Act, 1947. Since his liability to pay sales tax in Orissa was continuing when he opened a new place of business at Chandbali, he was liable to pay tax on his gross turnover at Chandbali from the Start of his business even if it failed to exceed Rs. 10,000. Thus, the liability of the assessee having arisen under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Act, it was continuing until after the new business was started at Chandbali. Thus, by operation either of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act, the liability to pay sales tax arises if the gross turnover on all sales held in Orissa exceeded the prescribed limit under sub-section (3) and that liability continues whether the gross turnover does or does not exceed the prescribed limit. The opening of an additional or a new business inside the State of Orissa makes no difference in liability that arises either under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act. In this connection, reference may be made to the Orissa Sales Tax Rules, 1947. The relevant rules are rules 6, 7 and 10. These rules enjoin on a dealer liable to pay tax either under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act to take out separate registration certificate for each additional place of business. But that does not mean that for each additional place of business a different and separate liability to pay sales tax should arise. In other words, it is not necessary that for each additional place of business the gross turnover should exceed the prescribed limit either under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act. Sub-section (5) was introduced by the Amending Act of 1951 and came into force on 26th November, 1951. This sub-section was introduced for more than one purpose, including the liability to pay tax for any additional place of business. But even in the absence of sub-section (5) a dealer who has become liable to pay tax by virtue of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 4, continues to be so under sub-section (3). This, it appears, has been overlooked by the Tribunal, and accordingly the order of the Tribunal under sub-section (3) of section 23 has proceeded on a wrong basis. In the result, we accept the reference and answer the question in the negative. Since there is no appearance on behalf of the assessee, there would be no order for costs in this Court. Reference answered in the negative.