KEWAL KISHAN OM PARKASH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS reference made to this Court by the Chief Commissioner of Delhi under Section 21 of the Bengal Finance (Sales Tax) Act, 1941, arises in the following circumstances. The firm Kewal Kishan Om Parkash (hereafter referred to as the assessee) is a dealer in cloth. During the assessment year 1954-55 its total turnover was Rs. 15,836-4-0. In this year the assessee paid Rs. 10-4-0 as stitching charges to a tailor for stitching some quilts, mattresses and petticoats. From this it was deduced that the assessee sold stitched garments and quilts as well of a very nominal value. It was contended on behalf of the assessee before the authorities that since its turnover with respect to goods manufactured or produced for sale was less than Rs. 10,000, Clause (a) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4 was not applicable to the assessee and it could be taxed only under Clause (c) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4, as it then stood, if its turnover was Rs. 30,000 or more. The Chief Commissioner took the view that since the assessee's turnover included the sale proceeds, though of a very small amount, of manufactured goods also the assessee was liable to tax under Clause (a) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4. In other words, he held that where the turnover of an assessee is comprised partly of manufactured goods, he would be liable to tax if his total turnover is more than Rs. 10,000 even if the turnover with respect to the manufactured goods is very much lesser. The Chief Commissioner, however, referred to this Court the question of law as to whether in the present case the dealer's turnover should be determined under Clause (a) or (c) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4 of the Bengal Finance (Sales Tax) Act, 1941, as extended to Delhi.

(2.) MR. Yogeshwar Dayal, the learned counsel for the assessee, contends that Clause (a) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4 is applicable only if the turnover with respect to the goods imported for sale into the State of Delhi or manufactured or produced for sale is Rs. 10,000 or more. According to the learned counsel since in this case the turnover of manufactured goods was less than Rs. 10,000, Clause (a) of Sub-section (5) of Section 4 was not applicable and the assessee could be taxed under Clause (c) only if the turnover was more than Rs. 30,000. Section 4 (1) and (5), as it stood at the relevant time, was as under:4. (1) With effect from such date as the Chief Commissioner may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, being not earlier than thirty days after the date of the said notification, every dealer whose gross turnover during the year immediately preceding the commencement of this Act exceeded the taxable quantum shall be liable to pay tax under this Act on all sales effected after the date so notified. (5) In this Act the expression 'taxable quantum' means (a) in relation to any dealer who imports for sale any goods into the State of Delhi, or manufactures or produces any goods for sale, 10,000 rupees ; or (b) in relation to particular classes of dealers not falling within Clause (a), such sum as may be prescribed ; or (c) in relation to any other dealer, 30,000 rupees.

(3.) MR. S. N. Shankar, the learned counsel for the State, on the other hand, contends that even where a small part of sale proceeds is represented by manufactured goods then Clause (a) of Sub-section (5) is applicable and if the total sale proceeds are more than Rs. 10,000 comprising both of manufactured goods or other goods the turnover becomes taxable.