Source: https://www.legalindia.com/judgments/tata-chemicals-limited-vs-adityana-nagar-panchayat-on-30-august-2000
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 06:55:44+00:00

Document:
Posted On August 30, 2000 by &filed under Gujarat High Court, High Court.
1. The petitioner-Company, situated within the local limits of the opponent impugns the validity and legality of the claim, demand and notice dated 26th October, 1991 regarding levy of octroi duty of the bygone period on the ground that the same are violative of Arts. 14, 19(1)(g) and other provisions of the Constitution of India, etc.
regularly paying octroi duty as and when the goods are brought within the octroi limits. The petitioner is having several Air-Compressors, Drills and other Machineries which are used in different lime stone mines in the areas surrounding Adityana, but at no point of time, the respondent preferred to levy octroi duty. The petitioner-Company also purchased one Air-Compressor on 7th December, 1990 and took it to both the mines. When the same was being brought to the Company’s quarry workshop at Adityana on 5th September, 1991, it was stopped and octroi was demanded from the operator. The petitioner found that the demand made by the opponent for the duty right from 1961-62 was not consistent with law, because upto 1984 never the octroi duty was demanded. In view of Section 178(ii) of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1961 it was beyond the power of the Panchayat to levy octroi duty. The opponent-Panchayat informed the petitioner to produce relevant records with regard to the octroiable goods brought within the octroi limits right from 1961-62, failing which it was made clear that the opponent will decide and determine what amounts should be recovered from the petitioner. The petitioner was of the belief that the opponent had no power to levy the octroi duty from 1960 and also to demand the same in 1991 relating to the period from April 1961 to March 1984. If at all, the opponent was having that power, it was arbitrary and unjust. The notice dated 26-10-1991 given demanding the octroi duty is illegal. An opportunity of being heard was not given to the petitioner. Upto September, 1991, the petitioner was never called upon to pay the octroi duty relating to the period prior to 1994. For the first time, the resolution was passed on 6-2-1961. On the amount of octroi duty 100% penalty was also sought to be levied. The notice and claim put forth are, therefore, bad in law. This petition is, therefore, filed for issuance a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ quashing and setting aside the impugned notice dated 26-10-1991 and quashing the demand made and threats given vide letter dated 5-10-1991 whereby the demand for the first time was made after 1961-62, the year from which the octroi duty came to be imposed.
3. On several grounds, the learned Advocate for the parties have submitted refuting the case of the other side. Firstly, it is the contentions of the learned Advocate representing the opponent that this Court may abstain from exercising the writ jurisdiction under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India especially when other efficacious remedy is available and yet not resorted to by the petitioner. According to the learned Advocate for the opponent, when the demand was made, old Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1961 was in force and as per Section 186(6) of that old Act, the appeal was required to be preferred to the District Panchayat against the claim advanced by the opponent-Panchayat. Subsequently, the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993 came into force and the said Section finds place in the new Act as Section 200(6). As per that Section also which is couched in the same words, the persons aggrieved by the assessment, levy or imposition of the tax or fee has to file the appeal to the District Panchayat within the prescribed period. When there is such provision about the appeal, and the appeal is not preferred by the petitioner against the demand made, it would not be just and proper on me part of this Court to exercise the powers under Art. 226 of the Constitution.
In support of such contentions, the learned Advocate for the opponent has relied upon the decisions of the Supreme Court in the cases of C. A. Abraham v. Income-Tax Officer, Kottayam & Anr., AIR 1961 SC 609 and Commissioner of Income-Tax, Lucknow v. U.P. Forest Corporation, 1998 (3) SCC 530.
4. In reply to such contention, the learned Advocate representing the petitioner submits that the Court is not debarred from entertaining the application and disposing the same of in accordance with law. Even in the case where efficacious remedy is not resorted to the Court is vested with the discretion to entertain and decide the application and in the facts and circumstances of the case the discretion has to be exercised. If the Court finds that it would be futile to direct the petitioner to resort to the efficacious remedy available for the same may fall short for doing complete justice and at last the petitioner will have to come again to this Court for the order he craves for the present and this Court will have to pass the order at that time, it would amount to unnecessarily putting the petitioner to several difficulties or hardships as well as prolonging the finality in the matter which is condemned by law. Further, after a long time, it would not be just and proper to direct the party to first file the appeal, an then if required to again prefer the petition in this Court. Looking to the issue involved the petitioner will have to come again to this Court for appropriate order. It would be better if appropriate order is passed at this stage and the dispute is set at rest finally rather than driving the petitioner craving for speedy justice from pillar to post.
to first resort to efficacious remedy likely to consume several years for final redressal of grievances. Again, likewise question arose before this Court in the case of K. S. Joy v. Indian Institute of Management & Ors., 1994 (1) GLR 57, wherein it is made clear that once the petition is entertained and heard by the High Court on merits, it would not be proper to relegate the party to an alternative remedy. Even if in law the efficacious remedy is available as an alternative adequate remedy, the same does not oust the jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain the petition and decide the same, for relegating the petitioner to alternative remedy after about 4 1/2 years, would not be an adequate efficacious remedy. For holding so, this Court in that case also relied upon the decisions of the Supreme Court rendered in the case of Ariday Narain v. I. T. Officer, Bombay, AIR 1971 SC 33 and Ram & Shyam Company v. State of Haryana & Ors., AIR 1985 SC 1147.
representing the opponent also lay down that ordinarily rule is not to entertain the petition when adequate and efficacious alternative remedy is available but when the petition is already admitted and years have passed thereafter, equity and prudence dictate not to direct the petitioner to resort to the alternative remedy available in law and dismiss the petition.
7. This petition was presented on 12-11-1991 and on 15th December, 1991 rule was issued. Thereafter, the petition was placed for effective hearing, but could not be heard within reasonable time, and by now more than eight years have rolled by. Further, the petition is being heard on merits for the last two days. It would not, therefore, be just and proper to direct the petitioner at this belated stage to resort to the efficacious remedy available under Section 200(6) of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993 and then come again to this Court, if it is aggrieved by the order. Directing petitioner to resort to the alternative remedy of appeal available would be a curse, it would be burdensome and cause several hardships as well as undue delay. It should also be stated that the other alternative remedy must be efficacious and adequate remedy. In the case on hand within what period the demand should be made is the question of law raised by the petitioner and the appellate authority hearing the appeal under Section 200(6) of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993 as rightly submitted, would not be able to decide the question relating to the interpretation of the provision of Section 200(6) of the Gujarat Panchayats Act and connected questions of law. Even if, therefore, the petitioner is asked to resort to that alternative remedy, it would not be efficacious or adequate because the petitioner will not get complete justice and will have to come back to this Court for having the finding on the issues posed before this Court. In such facts and circumstances of the case, it would not be just and proper to direct the petitioner to resort to the alternative remedy viz the appeal. I will now switch over to the next point that arises for consideration.
8. The learned Advocate for the petitioner now contends that after the demand was made issuing the notice, the parties negotiated for settlement of the dispute. It was agreed that when the demand was made for the first time in 1984, the petitioner-Company would in the absence of any other record, pay the octroi duty on lumpsum basis i.e., at the rate of Rs. 51,000/- per year. When that proposal was accepted by the opponent-Panchayat, as full and final settlement of the whole claim right from 1961-62, the petitioner-Company vide its letter dated 7th November, 1990 sent the cheque for Rs. 3,06,000/- which was accepted by the opponent-Panchayat and the letter acknowledging the same was also sent to the petitioner-Company. When the opponent-Panchayat has thus accepted the payment of Rs. 3,06,000/- by a cheque by way of full and final satisfaction of the whole of the claim, it is now not open to the opponent-Panchayat to again demand the octroi duty relating to the period from 1961-62 to March-1984. On this count the petition must fail.
Panchayat has also accepted the cheque for Rs. 3,06,000/-, but it was not accepted as full and final settlement of the whole of the claim; it was relating to the claim for the period from 1st April, 1984 to March, 1990, The claim relating to the period from 1961-62 to March, 1984 even still survives and the petitioner cannot escape of its liability to pay the octroi duty under the guise that cheque for Rs. 3,06,000/- was sent by way of full and final satisfaction of the whole claim from 1961-62.
10. Admittedly, in this case, writing the letter dated 5th October, 1991, the copy of which is produced at Annexure-A, the Panchayat demanded the octroi duty from 1961-62. The parties were then having correspondence, and arranged several parleys for settlement. As per the letter dated 7th November, 1990 at Annexure-E viable solution was worked out. The petitioner-Company agreed to pay the octroi duty for a period of 6 years from 1st April, 1984 (because for the first time the demand was made in 1984) to 31st March, 1990. The petitioner-Company also with a view to close the chapter for ever agreed to pay the octroi duty at the rate of Rs. 51,000/- per year and accordingly by way of full and final satisfaction of the whole claim from 1961-62 the cheque for Rs. 3,06,000/- (Rs. 51,000 x 6) was given, which was without any protest or clarificatory note accepted by the opponent-Panchayat. When accordingly the settlement was arrived at despite the fact that octroi duty from 1961-62 was demanded, it can be said that the whole of the claim was settled for Rs. 3,06,000/ – and when the cheque was accepted by way of full and final settlement of the whole claim, it is now not open to the opponent-Panchayat to demand the octroi duty relating to the period from 1961-62 to 31st March, 1984.
or its provision and give a meaning and amplitude far beyond the intention of the legislature. The Court has not to innovate at pleasure and allow its own predilection or ideology or ideals to be the determining factor. It would not be hence just and proper while interpreting Section 200 of the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993 to assume or fix up time-limit relating to recovery of octroi duty. To do so, would amount to usurping the powers to legislate which the Court does not have.
12. Of course, the function of the judiciary is not to legislate but to interpret the laws, and while interpreting it should not bring in something foreign to the law or read or assume what the legislature in its wisdom thought it wise not to bring in. However, the sphere of interrelation can not always confine to what has been canvassed for the life of law is not the logic, but experience; and that the judicial process is a technique founded upon experience of the judge and not upon the scholastic interpretation or tricky or unpragmatic i.e.. too technical or literary interpretation of authoritative text. The interpretation should, therefore, be creative and meaningful as well as balancing the clashing facets and not too technical, or unjust to one, giving disproportionate benefit to others putting some persons or sections of the society to precarious position. In other words, the Court has to see that its interpretation does not come out to be arbitrary or unreasonable or agonising or oppressive. If required the Court should bear in mind other provisions of the same Act or other applicable laws in force.
prescribes for initiating the action for the recovery of tax/duty. The action for demand and recovery of the octroi duty is governed by Art. 113 of the Limitation Act. As per the said provision the demand and recovery of octroi duty has to be made within 3 (three) years from the day the right to sue accrues. The reasonable period in such cases, should therefore, be considered to be 3 (three) years. When the provision is accordingly interpreted, it would not amount to legislating by judiciary intruding in to the field of legislature.
14. Even otherwise, it may be stated that if the above provision of the Act qua levy of octroi duty is resorted to after considerable long of time the same would certainly operate as an engine of oppression, and the claim would take the shape of the stale claim, putting the person to precarious situation. The claim put forth after the period of limitation prescribed cannot be allowed to stand or hold the field and same has to be quashed because the cardinal principle is that whatever is set well firmly since long owing to inaction on the part of the authority amounting to closure of the chapter cannot be upset at the sweet-will of the authority exercising power and taking action. If at any time i.e., after reasonable time the action regarding the recovery of the tax is taken, it would be irksome, abashing, persecutory as well as infelicitous to those who are called upon to pay the duty because after a very long time he will have to struggle like a fish out of water so as to get through the precarious position for want of necessary record and proof: Equity and good conscious, therefore, demand that the tax or duty has to be collected at the right earnest i.e., as and when the same becomes due or within reasonable period. If time-limit about its recovery is not fixed, the Court can read implied or woven aspect i.e., reasonable period while interpreting the provision because the statue as held by the Supreme Court in the case of Tata Engineering & Locomotive Co. Ltd. v. State of Bihar & Anr., 2000 (5) SCC 346, should be construed not as theorems of Euclid, because in that case, it would amount to becoming too literal in the meaning and to see the skin and miss the soul. In other words, for implementation of the provision, when time-limit is not fixed, the same has to be assumed keeping the law of limitation in mind for the law cannot encourage, arbitrariness, vexation and excruciation or oppression. Such interpretion checking or curbing the resultant agonizing situation and appearing meaningful if accepted, it would not amount to legislating as submitted.
15. In the case on hand, a demand relating to the period from 1961-62 to 1983-84 is made and that too after a period over seven to twenty years. The claim at the time of demand had become a stale claim. The demand ought to have been made within the period of limitation stated hereinabove. As that is not done for the reasons stated hereinabove the claim, being stale and having taken the shape of arbitrariness or unreasonableness cannot be allowed to stand. The same being inequitable, vexatious, oppressive and excruciating and upsetting what is set well since long, is required to be quashed.
hereby restrained from demanding or levying the octroi duty relating to the period from 1961-62 to March, 1984 making it clear that it would be open to the Panchayat, to levy the octroi duty as and when the dutiable goods are brought within the octroi limits by the petitioner henceforth. Rule accordingly made absolute.
he shall take appropriate action to eradicate the evil.
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References: Art. 226
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 Art. 113
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