Case ID: 6569

Judgment:
ivil Appeal No. 2494 of 1978. From the Judgment and Order dated 9.12. 1977 of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in Writ Appeal No. 465 of 1976. A. Subba Rao for the Appellant. A.S. Nambiar	 B. Parthasarthy	 G. Prabhakar and K. Ram Kumar for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by K.N. SAIKIA	 J. This appeal by special leave is from the common Judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh dismiss ing two writ appeals and a writ petition. The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) District Municipalities Act	 1920 (hereinafter referred to as the 'old Act ') was applicable to Vijayawada Municipality of Andhra Pradesh and property tax was levied under that Act. The Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act 1965 (hereinafter referred to as the new Act ') came into force on 2.4.1965. Section 2(11) of the new Act defined "council" to mean "a municipal council constituted under this Act. " Section 391(1) of the new Act repealed the old Act. Section 389 of the new Act provided: "389. Act to be read subject to Schedule IX in regard to first reconstitution of a council etc. : In regard to the first constitution of a council for any local area under Section 3. or to the first reconstitution in accordance with the provisions of this Act	 of a council in existence at the commencement thereof	 and otherwise in first giving effect to the provisions of this Act	 this Act shall be read subject to the rules in schedule IX. " 384 The Schedule IX to the new Act contained the transitional provisions in the rules therein. Rule 12 thereof dealt with levy of taxes etc. and said: "12. Levy of taxes etc. Any tax	 cess or fee which was being lawfully levied by or on behalf of any council at the com mencement of this Act and which may be lawfully levied under this Act	 shall notwithstanding any change in the method or manner of assessment or levy of such tax	 cess or fee be levied by or on behalf of the council at such rate as may be prevailing at such commencement or at such other rate as may be determined by the council from time to time	 by a resolu tion for the year in which this Act is brought into force	 and unless the Government by general or special order other wise direct	 for subsequent years also. " The result was that tax lawfully levied and continued to be levied under the old Act had to be continued unless the council by resolution determined such other rate from time to time	 and unless the Government by general or special order otherwise directed under the transitional provisions. On 18.9. 1969 the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O. Ms. No. 749 M.A. in exercise of its powers under the afore said Rule 12 of Schedule IX directing that all Municipal Councils	 shall with effect from 1.4.70 levy the Property tax as per the provisions of the new Act. But due to certain administrative difficulties the revision could not be com pleted before 1.4. 1970 and the Government	 therefore. issued G.O. Ms. No. 293 M.A. dated 18.4. 1970 directing the Municipal Council to levy the property tax as per the provi sions of the new Act from 1.10. 1970. By another G.O. Ms. No. 81 M.A. dated 30.1.1971 the Government directed the Municipal Council of vijayawada to continue to levy the property tax under the provisions of the old Act as certain rate payers had filed writ petition in the High Court and obtained stay. However	 by G.O. Ms. No. 675 M.A. the G.O. Ms. No. 81 was rescinded and the Vijayawada Municipal Coun cil was directed to collect revised taxes under the provi sions of the new Act with effect from 1.10. 1970. This latter G.O. Ms. No. 675 was in its turn rescinded by G.O. Ms. No. 255 M.A. dated 15.6.73 whereby the Government or dered that the Vijayawada Municipal Council shall continue to levy the property tax under the provisions of the old Act and that G.O. was to be deemed to have come into force from 1.10.1970. As a result the Vijayawada Municipality continued to levy and enhance the property tax under the provisions of the old Act. It 385 may be mentioned that under section 82 of the old Act property	 tax was levied on the basis of gross annual rental value	 whereas under section 87 of the new Act the basis of assessment in owner occupied building was the capital value thereof to be determined in the prescribed manner. The G.O. Ms. No. 255 dated 15.6.73 was challenged by house property owners in the High Court in two writ peti tions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking writ in the nature of mandamus or order or direction re straining the Vijayawada Municipal Council from enforcing it and declaring the same illegal and void. It was inter alia contended before the learned Single Judge that by earlier G.Os. the Government having directed that taxes should be levied under the new Act	 the transitional power under rule 12 had been already exercised and the power to levy any tax under the old Act therefore ceased and it was not open to the Government to rescind the previous orders and re direct taxes to be levied under the old Act. That contention was accepted observing: "The language of the Rule is clear that once the Government by a general or special order	 otherwise directs	 the power to levy tax under the old Act is exhausted. " Even so	 it was held that in view of the provisions in section 4(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities (Fourth Amendment) Act (23 of 1975) which validated the actions taken	 those could not be challenged as invalid. The submissions that the Amendment Act was not retrospective and that the enhancement of the tax was not made following the procedure prescribed by law	 were also negatived holding that the procedure prescribed under the old Act was followed inasmuch as under the old Act the property tax was levied on the basis of only rental value whereas under the new Act it was on the basis either of the rental value or of the capital value	 and that under the old Act when tax was being levied on the basis of rental value there was no need to ascertain the capital value of the land and for enhancing the assessment all that the authority had to know was whether there had been an increase in the rent and Rule 6 of Schedule II which dealt with the value of the building for the purposes of property tax was inapplicable as the levy under the old Act on the basis of rental value and enhancement could be done accord ing to the procedure contained in Schedule VII Rule 10 of the old Act. It was not denied that special notice as re quired under the old Act was given. The writ petitions were accordingly dismissed. 386 Two writ appeals were filed by the writ petitioners. Another writ petition having raised identical questions was heard with the two appeals by the Division Bench. The Divi sion Bench held that the finding of the Single Bench that having already given directions by the General Orders under the transitory provision of Schedule IX Rule 12 the Govern ment 's power under that provision ceased and it had no power to rescind that order and direct that the taxes which were under the old Act must be continued to be collected was not challenged before it. The Division Bench held that the Fourth Amendment Act had entrusted to the Municipal Councils the power to tax under the old Act	 though that Act had been repealed. It held that though the actions of the Vijayawada Municipal Council pursuant to the General Order might have been invalid those were validated by section 4(1) of the Fourth Amendment Act. It was also held that the appellant could pursue their remedies by way of revision under the new Act. Thus	 the Division Bench having dismissed the two writ appeals as well as the writ petition by the impugned judg ment and also having refused the certificate	 the appellant has obtained special leave. Mr. A. Subba Rao	 the learned counsel for the appellant	 submits that under the old Act the basis for assessment of property tax was the annual rental value while under the new Act it was capital value. By the G.O. No. 749 the Government having directed that property tax would be levied under the new Act	 the subsequent G.Os.passed after rescinding the said G.O. No. 749 and redirecting assessment to be made under the old Act were invalid as was held by the Single Bench and that finding was not challenged before the Divi sion Bench. Consequently	 it is submitted	 during the period from 1969 to 1973 there was no valid law to enable the Municipal Council to levy taxes under the old Act and the actions under the G.Os. are sought to be validated by the Fourth Amendment Act of 1975	 but unless the substantive law relating to the method of assessment was also amended retro spectively	 the invalid actions could not be validated	 as that law could not be deemed to have been in existence by a legal fiction. Council submits that section 87 of the new Act relating to levy of Property Tax was amended so as to bring it in conformity with the corresponding provision of section 20 of the old Act which prescribed rental value as the basis for assessment. It is pointed out that section 3 of the Fourth Amendment Act did not contain any indication that the said amendment was retrospective so as to bring it on the statute book by a fiction prior to 1973 when the invalid assessment was made. The Fourth Amendment Act came into force only from 10th June	 1975 which was the date of the Ordinance. The amendment of section 87 of the new Act 387 being not retrospective in its operation prior to 1973	 it is submitted that the invalid assessments could not have been validated. Mr. A.S. Nambiar	 the learned counsel for the respond ents	 submits that the old Act entitled the Municipality to collect the taxes which had been collected in accordance with law and after coming into force of the new Act accord ing to the intermediate G.Os.; and that the impugned G.O. Ms. No. 255 dated 15.6.73 having directed the taxes to be levied and collected in accordance with the old Act	 there was. no infirmity in the Judgments of the High Court. It appears that after the writ petitions were filed challenging G.O. Ms. No. 255 dated 15.6.73 the Government issued the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities (Amendment) Ordi nance 1975 (Ordinance 1 of 1975) which became the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities (Fourth Amendment) Act	 1975 which was deemed to have come into force on the 10th June	 1975. By the said Amendment act not only sections 85 and 87 of the new Act were amended but also certain intervening actions of the Municipal Council were sought to be validated. Section 85 dealt with levy of tax and sub section (1) thereof said: "Where the council by resolution determines that a property tax shall be levied	 such tax shall be levied on a11 build ings and lands within the municipal limits save those ex empted by or under this Act or any other law." Sub section (2) provided: "Save as otherwise provided in this Act and subject to the provisions of sections 81 & 87 and in accordance with the rules made by the Government in this behalf	 these taxes shall be levied . . Section 2 of the Fourth Amendment Act amended section 85 of the new Act by substituting clauses (a) and (b) of sub section (2) excluding the proviso thereto	 by the following words: "At such percentages of the annual rental value of lands or buildings or both as may be fixed by the council. " Section 86 of the new Act provided as follows: "86. Levy of property tax on a direction by Government: 388 (1) The Government may	 after consultation with the council by order published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette	 direct any council to levy the property tax referred to in sub section (1) of Section 81 or any class of such tax	 at such rate and with effect from such date	 not being earlier than the first day of the half year immediately following that in which the order is published	 as may be specified in the order. (2) When an order under sub section (1) has been published	 the provisions of this Act relating to property tax shall apply as if the council had. on the date of publication of such order	 by resolution	 determined to levy the tax at the rate and with effect from the date specified in the order and as if no other resolution of the council under Section 81 determining the rate at which and the date from which property tax shall be levied	 had taken effect. (3) A council shall not alter the rate at which the property tax of any class or such tax is levied in pursuance of an order under sub section (1) or abolish such tax except with the previous sanction of the Government. " Section 87(1) of the new Act provided: "87(1) Every building shall be assessed together with its site and other adjacent premises occupied as an appurtenance thereto unless the owner of the building is a different person from the owner of such site or premises. 	 ' By section 3 of the Fourth Amendment Act in sub section (2) of section 87 of the new Act the following words were substituted	 namely: "(2) The annual rental value of lands and buildings Shall be deemed to be the gross annual rent at which they may reason ably be expected to let from month to month or from year to year less a deduction	 in the case of buildings	 of ten per cent of that portion of such annual rent which is attributa ble to the buildings alone	 apart from their sites and the adjacent lands occupied as an appurtenance thereto; and the said deduction shall be in lieu of all allowance for repairs or on any other account whatever. 389 Provided that in respect of any building and the land appur tenant thereto	 the fair rent of which has been fixed under section 4 of the Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease	 Rent and Eviction) Control Act	 1960	 the gross annual rent shall be the annual amount of the fair rent so fixed. " Section 4 of the Fourth Amendment Act sought to validate the actions taken earlier by providing as under: "4(1) Notwithstanding anything in the provisions of the principal Act or any order of the Government made under the rule 12 in Schedule IX to the Principal Act	 any	action taken till the commencement of this Act by any municipal council to continue to levy and collect the property tax in accordance with the method or manner or assessment or levy as provided in the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) District Municipalities Act	 1920 or the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) District Municipalities Act	 1956	 as the case may be	 shall not be deemed to be invalid or ever to have been invalid by reason only of the fact that such action was taken by the said municipal council during the period when the power in this behalf had not been validly entrusted to it in accordance with the provisions of the principal Act or the rules made thereunder and accordingly: (a) The levy and collection of property tax made in pursu ance of such action shall for all purposes be deemed to be	 and to have always been	 made in accordance with law; and (b) no suit or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court against the municipal council con cerned or any person or authority whatsoever on its behalf on the ground only that any such action or levy and collec tion was not taken or made in accordance with law. (2) Notwithstanding anything in sections 85 and 87 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act	 the property tax levied in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Act as it stood before the commencement of this Act by such of the municipalities as have come into existence after the commencement of the principal Act shall continue to. be levied and collected by or on behalf of the Municipal 390 Council of any such municipality for the year commencing on the 1st April	 1975 . " Admittedly the validity of the Fourth Amendment Act had not been challenged in the High Court. In fact it was passed during the pendency of the writ petitions in the High Court. Mr Suba Rao 's submission is that section 3 of the Fourth Amend ment Act having not been made retrospective	 section 4 of the Act could not have said that the levy and collection of property tax made in pursuance of such action for all purposes be deemed to be and to have always been made in accordance with law. It is true that only sub section (2) of Section 87 of the new Act was substituted as stated above by the Fourth Amendment Act. However. once the amendment substituted sub section (2) of section 87 it formed a part of that section. This amendment only provided the basis of assessment and it itself did not provide for the commencement of such calcula tion which however might be taken from the other provisions of the new Act or from the General Orders issued by the Government. Section 4(1) of the Fourth Amendment Act ex pressly validated any action taken till the commencement of that Act notwithstanding anything in the provisions of the new Act or in any Government Order made under rule 12 of Schedule IX of the new Act and the Municipal Council should continue to levy and collect the property tax in accordance with the method or manner of assessment or levy as provided in the old Act and those acts shall not be deemed to be invalid or ever to have been invalid by reason only of the fact that such action was taken by the said municipal coun cil during the period when the power in this behalf had not been validly entrusted to it in accordance with the provi sions of the new Act or the rules made thereunder and that the levy and collection of property tax may in pursuance of such action shall for all purposes be deemed to be	 and to have always been	 made in accordance with law. From the above provisions of section 4( 1 ) of the Fourth Amendment Act there is no doubt that the legislature intended to validate the actions taken under the general orders and under the old as well as the new Act. It may be interpreted that the impugned G.O. having been validated	 the tenure covered by it must also be held to have been covered by it	 so that there was really no interregnum in the process or procedure of assessment of property tax. Mr. Subba Rao relies on Janapada Sabha	 Chhindwara vs The Central Provinces Syndicate Ltd. and Anr.	 ; In that case in 1935	 the Independent Mining Local Board	 Chhindwara con 391 stituted under C.P. Local Self Government Act	 1920 resolved to levy a cess on coal extracted within the area at 3 pies per ton. The sanction of the Local Government	 as required by section 51(2) of the Act	 was obtained for the levy. In 1943	 the levy was enhanced to 4 pies	 in 1946 to 7 pies and in 1947 to 9 pies. The validity of the enhanced levy was chal lenged and this Court	 in appeal	 held that the increased levy would also require the previous sanction of the Local Government and such sanction not having been obtained	 the levy at a rate higher than 3 pies was illegal. The State legislature thereafter enacted the Madhya Pradesh Koyala Upkar (Manyatakaran) Adhiniyam	 1964. Section 2(a) of that act defined "Board" to mean the independent Mining Local Board	 Chhindwara and its successor body the Janapada Sabha Chhindwara	 the appellant	 constituted under the C.P. and Berar Local Government Act	 1948. Section 2(b) defined "cess" to mean "a cess imposed by the independent Mining Local Board Chhindwara or its successor" Section 3(1) of that Act provided that 'notwithstanding a judgment of any court	 cesses imposed	 assessed or collected by the Board in pursuance of the notifications specified in the Schedule shall. for all purposes	 be deemed to be	 and to have been validly imposed. assessed or collected as if the enactment under which they were issued stood amended at material times so as to empower the Board to issue the said notifications. In the Schedule were specified three notifications enhancing the rate of cess. On the question whether the enhanced levy was validated by the 1964 Act	 this Court held that the Act did not give legal effect to the imposition of cess at the enhanced rates. It was pointed out that the text or even the nature of the amendments was not disclosed though Section 51(2) of the 1920 Act could not be deemed to have been repealed by the 1964 Act	 because the latter Act	 in terms was limited in its application to the Independent Mining Local Board	 Chhindwara	 and its successor body and only in respect of the three notifications specified in the Sched ule. An Act so limited in its application to one Local Board and to specified notification could not repeal the sub section which applied to all Boards. Nor was there anything to indicate that notifications issued by the appellant Board without the sanction of the State Government must be deemed to have been issued validly. It was held that such an in tendment could not be implied without express language	 in a taxing statute. It was further observed that it was open to the legislature within certain limits to amend the provi sions of an Act retrospectively and to declare what the law shall be deemed to have been. But the Legislature	 in that case attempted to overrule or set aside a decision of the Court. It was not open to the Legislature to say that a judgment of a Court properly constituted and rendered in exercise of its powers in a matter brought 392 before it shall be deemed to be ineffective either as a precedent or between the parties. That case is	 therefore	 clearly distinguishable from the instant case on facts. Firstly	 in the instant case there is no question of any judgment of any Court having been overruled or set aside. The Single Bench Judgment was passed on 23.3.76	 that is	 after the Amendment Act which came into force on 10.6.75. Secondly the language of Section 4(1) is very clear as to the intention of the legislature as to the contents of the amendment. What the amendment in the instant case did was to amend the new Act and also validate actions taken under the G.O. impugned in the case. What was prescribed by the im pugned G.O. was the same as was prescribed by the old Act which itself stood repealed by the new Act. The procedure thus prescribed was one under the G.O. and not under the old Act	 and Section 4(1) validated those actions without reviv ing the repealed old Act itself but by amending the new Act and validating the transitory measure taken by virtue of the Government 's orders issued under the transitional provision Schedule IX	 of the new Act particularly Rule 12 thereunder. The validity of Section 4(1) itself having not been chal lenged	 it was not open for the Courts to give. an interpre tation contrary to the clear and unequivocal language of the Section. The rule is that an amendment Act must be read as if the words of amendment had been written into the Act except where that would lead to an inconsistency. (Shamarao V. Parulekar vs The District Magistrate	 Thana Bombay	 at 689) Power of the legislature to pass a law includes the power to validate actions retrospectively	 of course	 within Constitutional limitations. It is apt to remember that the State 's power to tax is derived from the Constitution and the municipality 's power to tax is derived from the State Legislature which could delegate that power in the manner the Constitution permits to the municipal council	 an agent of the State Government	 and the munici pality cannot refuse to raise taxes as directed. The proper authority to determine what should and what should not constitute a public burden is the Legislature of the State. This is not only true for the State itself but it is also true in respect of each municipality of the State; these inferior corporate bodies having only such authority in this regard as the legislature shall confer upon them. A statute will not be declared unconstitutional unless it is specifi cally challenged and the principle is equally applicable to an enactment authorising levy of a tax for a public purpose. The power to tax is a sovereign power and is legislative in character and it has to be exercised within the Constitu tional limitations. The statutes relating to municipal taxes may be changed according to the existing legislative rules of State policy unless forbidden by the Constitution from doing so. Irregular assessment may 393 also be regularised with retrospective effect within. the same Constitutional limitations. Where the Court has not already declared invalid a taxing measure which was of doubtful validity	 it is permissible for appropriate legis lature to validate it by retrospective legislation. No legal fiction is involved in such a case. Mr. Subba Rao 's submis sion has	 therefore	 to be rejected. We find force in the submission of Mr. Nambiar in this regard. The G.O. impugned before the High Court has been covered and validated by the above provisions	 the G.O. itself covered the period after the repeal of the old Act and till the date of commencement of the Fourth Amendment so that no interregnum was really there. The assessment made according to the provisions of the old Act were validated as actions taken by the council pursuant to the impugned G.O. and not under the provisions of the old Act which was al ready repealed. While referring to the old Act	 the G.O. did not revive the Act but only prescribed the same procedure as was found in the repealed Act as a transitory measure. The validity of section 4(1) of the Fourth Amendment Act having not been challenged before the High Court	 we do not find any infirmity in the impugned judgments of the High Court. In the result	 this appeal fails and is dismissed but under the facts and circumstances of the case without any order as to costs. Y. Lal Appeal dismissed.

Summary:
Vijayawada Municipality of Andhra Pradesh earlier levied property tax under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Areas) Dis trict Municipalities Act	 1920. That Act 'was repealed and the new Act known as the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act	 1965 came into force on 2.4.1965. Under the old act property tax was levied on the basis of gross annual rental value	 whereas under section 87 of the new Act the basis of assess ment in owner occupied building was the capital value there of to be determined in the prescribed manner. Section 389 of the new Act provided that that Act was to be read subject to Schedule IX which contained transitional provisions in the rules. Rule 12 thereof dealt with levy of taxes etc. The Government under Rule 12 issued a G.O. Ms. No. 749 M.A. directing that all Municipal Councils shall with effect from 1.4.70 levy the property tax as per the provisions of the new Act	 which date by a subsequent G.O. was changed to 1.10.1970. By another G.O.Ms. No. 81 M.A. dated 30.1.71	 the Government directed the Vijayawada Municipal Council to continue to levy the property tax under the provisions of the old Act as rate payers had filed writ petitions in the High Court and obtained stay. However	 by G.O.Ms. 675 M.A.	 the G.O.No. 81 was rescinded and the Vijayawada Municipal Council was directed to collect revised taxes under the provisions of the new Act with effect from 1.10.70. This G.O. was rescinded and by G.O. Ms. No. 255 M.A. dated 15.6.73 the Government directed the Vijayawada Council to levy the property tax under the old Act. As a consequence	 the Vijayawada Municipal continued to levy and enhance the property tax under the old Act. The validity of G.O.Ms. No. 255 dated 15.6.73 was chal lenged by house property owners in the High Court in two writ petitions seeking an order restraining the Vijayawada Municipal Council from enforcing it. and declaring the same illegal and void. The petitioners ' contention 382 amongst others was that the Government having directed that the taxes be levied under the new Act	 the transitional power under rule 12 stood exercised	 and the power to levy tax under the old Act had ceased and it was no longer open to the government to rescind the previous orders. The High Court accepted the said contention	 but held that in view of the provisions of section 4(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Munici palities (Fourth Amendment) Act (23 of 1975)	 which validat ed the actions taken	 those could not be challenged as invalid. The writ petitions were therefore dismissed. Ap peals to 'the Division Bench	 having failed	 this appeal has been filed after obtaining special leave. Dismissing the appeal	 this Court	 HELD: The State 's power to tax is derived from the Constitution	 and the municipality 's power to tax is derived from the State Legislature	 which could delegate that power in the manner the Constitution permits to the municipal council	 an agent of the State Government and the municipal ity cannot refuse to raise taxes as directed. The proper authority to determine what should and what should not constitute a public burden is the Legislature of the State. This is not only true for the State itself	 but it is also true in respect of each municipality of the State; these inferior corporate bodies having only such authority in this regard as the legislature shall confer upon them. [202E F] A statute will not be declared unconstitutional unless it is specifically challenged and the principle is equally applicable to an enactment authorising levy of a tax for a public purpose. The power to tax is a sovereign power and is legislative in character and it has to be exercised within the constitutional limitations. The statutes relating to municipal taxes may be changed according to the existing legislative rules of State policy unless forbidden by the Constitution from doing so. [202G H] Irregular assessment may also be regularised with retro spective effect within the Constitutional limitations. Where the Court has not already declared invalid a taxing measure which was of doubtful validity	 it is permissible for appro priate legislature to validate it by retrospective legisla tion. No legal fiction is involved in such a case. [203A C] The G.O. itself covered the period after the repeal of the old Act and till the date of commencement of the fourth amendment so that no interregnum was really there. The assessment made according to the provisions of the old Act were validated as actions taken by the Council 383 pursuant to the impugned G.O. and not under the provisions of the old Act which was already repealed. While referring to the old Act	 the G.O. did not revive the Act but only prescribed the same procedure as was found in the repealed Act as a transitory measure. [203B C] Janapada Sabha Chhindwara vs The Central Provim 'es Syndicate Ltd. and Anr.	 ; 	 referred to.