IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 18.8.2007 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.JAICHANDREN Writ Petition No.26942 of 2003 A.G.Granites represented by its Managing Director, Mr.M.Ramasamy, M.G.Colony, Harur, Dharmapuri District. .. Petitioner vs. 1. The State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Secretary to Government Commercial Taxes and Religious Endowments Department, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009 2. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005 3. The Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Harur, Dharmapuri District .. Respondents This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of declaration declaring that Section 2(c), Section 2(g) and Section 3 of The Tamil Nadu Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2001, along with Serial No.16(ii), namely, granite blocks and slabs as per G.O.Ms.No.28, Commercial Taxes, (C2) Department, dated 27.3.2002, as ultra vires in respect of goods brought inside the State for the purpose of exports and as well as for the purpose of processing for exports insofar as the petitioner is concerned. For petitioner : Mr.V.Sanjeevi For respondents : Mr.Shanmugasundaram Government Advocate https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ O R D E R Mr.Shanmugasundaram, the learned Government Advocate, takes notice for the respondents. 2. With the consent of the learned counsels appearing on either side, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal. 3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner has submitted that the issue involved in the present writ petition is covered by an order of a Division Bench of this Court, dated 22.3.2007, made in ITC LIMITED Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ANOTHER ((2007)7 VST 367 (Mad)) wherein the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2001, and the various notifications issued by the State Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Act was questioned. 4. The Division Bench, by its order, dated 22.3.2007, had held, in paragraph 48 of the said order, that "the levy of entry tax on goods imported from other states to the State of Tamil Nadu and from abroad is not compensatory in nature, since the State Government could not discharge its burden by placing materials before the Court that payment of levy of entry tax is reimbursement/recompense for the quantifiable/measurable benefit provided or to be provided to the tax payers. The impugned levy imposing entry tax being discriminatory is also violative of article 304 (a) of the Constitution. We, therefore, hold that the demand and collection of entry tax under the Tamil Nadu Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2001, is illegal, unauthorised and violative of article 301 of the Constitution. The writ petitions are allowed as above and the levy and demand notices issued would stand quashed." 5. Mr.Shanmugasundaram, the learned Government Advocate, appearing on behalf of the respondents had submitted that the issue that has arisen for consideration in the present writ petition is covered by the order passed by the Division Bench. 6. On such submissions being made by the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the petitioner as well as the respondents, the writ petition is allowed, in view of the said order of the Division Bench of this Court, dated 22.3.2007.No costs. Consequently, connected W.P.M.P.No.32909 of 2003 is closed. Sd/ Asst.Registrar /true copy/ Sub Asst.Registrar https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ To 1. The Secretary to Government The State of Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes and Religious Endowments Department, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009 2. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005 3. The Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Harur, Dharmapuri District 1 CC to the Spl. Government Pleader(Taxes), SR NO.52059. 1 CC To Mr.V.Sanjeevi, Advocate, SR NO.51680. W.P.No.No.26942 of 2003 SKV(CO) RVL 03.09.2007 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/