CHENAB TEXTILE MILLS Vs. STATE OF J&K

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is an industrial unit registered with the Department of Industries and Commerce. In the year 2005, the Director, Industries and Commerce, J&K, Jammu vide order No.85-Acctts of 2005 dtd. 16/5/2005 declared the petitioner-Unit as "prestigious unit" for availing all the benefits envisaged in the Industrial Policy issued by the Government in the year 2004. The petitioner-Unit was established and permanently registered in the year 1966. Ever since its establishment, the petitioner-Unit has gone for substantial expansion from time to time. The petitioner obtained the requisite permission and approval of the competent authority for expansion of its existing spinning mill from 102992 spindles to 128336 spindles by making an investment of Rs.108.00 Crores in the year 2006.

(2.) As is claimed, the petitioner undertook substantial expansion of the existing spinning mill and, therefore, became eligible for exemption from payment of additional toll under the New Industrial Policy, 2004 and package of incentives for development of industries in Jammu and Kashmir issued by respondent No.1 vide Government Order No.21-Ind of 2004 dtd. 27/1/2004 read with SRO 22 of 2004 dtd. 31/1/2004 issued by the Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Sec. 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Levy of Tolls Act, Samvat 1995 ["the Act"]. When the claim of the petitioner for exemption from payment of additional toll on the plant and machinery imported by it for undertaking substantial expansion of the mill was not accepted, the petitioner filed OWP No.161/2007 in this Court claiming, inter alia, a direction to the respondents to allow the toll tax exemption to the petitioner-Mill for its 9th expansion programme in terms of SRO 22 of 2004 read with Government Order No.432-I&D of 1998 dtd. 2/12/1998. The writ petition was disposed of by this Court vide order and judgment dtd. 12/2/2013 and a direction was issued to the respondents to examine the case of the petitioner in light of the request already made by the petitioner and make a decision while keeping in view order dtd. 5/3/2007. On review petition moved by the petitioner, the order aforesaid was reviewed to the extent of substituting order dtd. 5/3/2007 by order dtd. 15/5/2010, which was passed at the motion hearing stage by the Court in OWP No.161/2007.

(3.) In compliance to the judgment passed by this Court in OWP No.161/2007 (supra), Deputy Excise Commissioner, Toll Post Lakhanpur considered the entire matter and vide order No.1719/A/LKP dtd. 3/4/2013 rejected the claim of the petitioner for exemption of toll tax payable on the components, plant and machinery, building material and other equipments procured from outside the State in connection with substantial expansion programme undertaken by the petitioner. The Deputy Excise Commissioner Toll Post Lakhanpur did not find the petitioner entitled to the tax exemption in view of the provisions of SRO 22 of 2004 dtd. 31/1/2004. It is this consideration order, which is primarily in question in this petition.