THE ASSISTANT COMMERCIAL TAX

OFFICER-CUM-ENTERTAINMENT TAX OFFICEP v.

SHRI NARASIMHAIAH AND ORS.

APRIL 2, 1997

[K. RAMASWAMY AND D.P. WADHWA, JJ.]

Kamataka Entertainments Tax Act, 1958: Section 6-B (As inse1ted by Kamataka Act 14 of 1996).

Kamataka Entertainment Tax Rules, 1959: Rule 29-F.

Ente1tainment Ta:t~Escaped tumover---Power to reopen assessment and reassess the escaped tum over-Limitation pe1iod f 01~Notification No.

FD, 194 CEX-76 dated 30th November, 1976-PrcsClibing period of five years from the close of the period to which the assessment in question D relates-He'd power relates backward to five years from the date the Rule came into 1orce from November 30, 1976-171e authorities are empowered to reassess the escaped twnover for the pe1iod, five years preceding November 30, 1976 as relating to the assessment in question.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 1780-86 E of 1986

From the Judgment and Order dated 13.9.85 of the Karnataka High Court in W.A. Nos. 1640-1646 of 1985.

M. Veerappa for the Appellant.

The following Order of the Court was delivered :

These appeals by special leave arise from the common judgment of

the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court, made on September 13, G 1985 in Writ Appeal Nos. 1640-46/85.

The admitted position is that the Legislature of Karnataka introduced Section 6-B in the Karnataka Entertainment TaX Act, 1958 by Amendment Act, 1966 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1966) with effect from May 16, 1966 which reads as under : H 513

SUPREME COURT REPORTS

[1997] 3 S.C.R.

"6-B Payment for admission, etc., escaping assessment - (1) where, for any reasons, (1) any complimentary ticket or any payment for admission to any entertainment has escaped assessment to tax under Section 3 or Section 3-A or

(ii) any cinematograph show has escaped assessment to tax under Section 4 or 4-A or

(iii) such ticket, payment or show has been assessed at a rate lower than the rate al which it is assessable under Section 3 or Section 3-A or Section 4 or Section 4-A.

The authority prescribed under sub-section (1) or Sec:tion 6-A may, subject tn the provisions of sub-section (2) and at any time within such period as may be prescribed, assess or re-assess, to the best of its judgment, the rate due on such ticket, payment or show under Section 3 or Section 3-A or Section 4 or Section 4-A as the case may be, after service of notice on the proprietor and after making such enquiry, as it may consider necessary."

Reassessment of escaped turn-over Wi!S sought to be made by operation of Notification No. FD. 194 CEX-76 dated 30.11.1976 amending and framing Rule 29-F of the Rules made under the Act prescribing the period of limitation of five years. It reads as under:

"29-F. The time within which the power under Section 6B is exercisable shall be five years from the close of the period to which the assessment in question relates.''

f The respondents contend that the appdlants have no power to reopen the assessment and reassess the escaped turnover beyond November 30, 1976. The said contention found favour with the karned single Judge,' which was aflirme;; d by the Division Bench dismissing the appeal summarily.

Thus, these appeals hy special leave.

A reading of Section ti-ti of the Act clearly indicates that where for any reasons, any complimentary ticket or any payment for admission to any entertainment has escaped assessment to tax under Section 3 or Section 3-A, or any cinematography show has escaped assessment to tax under Section 4 or 4-A, or such ticket, payment or show has been assessed at a H rate lower than the rate at which it is assessable under Section 3 or 3-A or

ASSIT. COMMERCIAL TAXOFFICER-CUM-ENTERTAINMENTTAX OFFICER,. NARASJMHAIAH 515

Section 4 or 4-A, as the case may be, the authority has been given power A under sub-section (1) of Section 6A, subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of Section 6-A, to reassess to the best of its judgment, the rate due on such ticket, payment or show under Section 3 or 3-A or Section 4 or 4-A, as the case may be. But it should be done only after service of notice on the proprietor and after making such enquiry as it may consider B necessary. Since limitation for the period during which the escaped turnover can be reassessed, had not been earlier prescribed, Ruic 29-F was made and had come into effect from November 30, 1976. As seen under Rule 29-F, the time within which the power under Section 6B is exercisable has been prescribed, "shall be five years from the close of the period to which the assessment in questicn relates." In other words, it relates back- C ward to five years from the date the Rule came into force from November 30, 1976. If the interpretation given by the High Court is given effect to, the amended Rule 29-F would come into effect five years after the date the Amendment came into force, namely, November 30, 1976, five years forward. That would not be the intendment of the Rule. As a consequence, D the High Court is clearly in error in holding that reassessment of the escaped turnover preceding five years from November 30, 1976 is not correct.

The appeals are, therefore, allowed. The authorities are empowered to reassess the escaped turnover for the period, five years preceding E November 30, 1976 as relating to the assessment in question. No costs.

T.N.A Appeals allowed.