(1.) -
(2.) THE instant writ petition has been filed for issuing direction to the respondents to modify the Scheme for Granting Exemption of Sales Tax with effect from the date of grant of Eligibility Certificate and not to give effect to it from the date of application.
(3.) PETITIONER had completed the application on 24.5.93 and there is ample evidence on record to show that immediately after the grant of benefit of the Scheme vide order dated 28.1.94, petitioner came to know about the said benefit. PETITIONER wrote a letter to the Commercial Taxes Officer on 17.2.94 and subsequently on 4.4.94 demanding the eligibility certificate. As petitioner had not been granted the eligibility certificate for two years and seven months, it ought to have approached the higher authorities or the writ court to issue direction to the Department to grant eligibility certificate. PETITIONER was fully aware of the fact that by the eligibility certificate dated 28.1.94 (Annex.1) granted exemption for a period of seven years from the date of application and if petitioner was aggrieved by the said order, it ought to have filed an appeal under Clause (6) of the Incentive Scheme, 1989 to the Tribunal. PETITIONER, for the reason best known to it, did not go in appeal against the order; accepted it, took benefit of the Scheme and challenged it when it was informed that it was no more entitled to take benefit of the scheme. PETITIONER's conduct is not approaching the higher authorities/the Court for issuing directions to the competent authority to issue the eligibility certificate and further not challenging the eligibility certificate in appeal, disentitles him for any relief at such a belated stage.