Penalty u/s 45 (3A) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act, 1969 is not mandatory.

In this matter, the Hon ’ble Gujarat High Court has held that prima facie it is of the view that penalty u/s 45 (3A) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act, 1969 is not mandatory. However, in the opinion of the court, the question as to whether once the authority decides to impose penalty, can it reduce the same below the minimum prescribed required closure scrutiny. The question was, however, kept open to enable the State to urge the same in future in appropriate case and the appeals of the State were dismissed / disposed of on the ground that amounts involved were extremely small.

HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

TAX APPEAL No. 928 of 2013
With

TAX APPEAL No. 929 of 2013
To

TAX APPEAL No. 930 of 2013

STATE OF GUJARAT

Versus

NARENDRAKUMAR REVACHAND KOTAK

Dated : 9th January 2014

COMMON ORDER (PER : HONORABLE Mr. JUSTICE AKIL KURESHI)

State has preferred these Appeals challenging separate but similar orders passed by the Gujarat Value Added Tax Tribunal, Ahmedabad [“Tribunal” for short]. We may notice the facts from Tax Appeal No. 928 of 2013. In such appeal, the judgment of the Tribunal dated 2^nd April 2013 is under challenge. Following question of law has been presented for our consideration :‑

“Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal has rightly held that the provision of penalty under section 43(3A) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act, 1969 is not mandatory to levy penalty per default of filing declaration or late return ?”

For the alleged breach of furnishing return by the prescribed date, as required under section 40 (1) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act, 1969 {“Act” for short}, the competent authority imposed penalty under section 45 (3A) of the said Act. Such penalty was challenged before the Tribunal. Tribunal, by the impugned judgment, held that it was not mandatory to levy penalty at the rate of Rs. 200/= per month for the default of filing declaration or return beyond the prescribed date. The Tribunal relied on its earlier judgment in case of Shree Rubber Industries Limited v. State of Gujarat to come to the conclusion that combined reading of Section 45 (3A) with Section 45(9) of the Act would show that the provision for penalty was not mandatory and the word “shall” contained in sub­section (3A) of Section 45 should be read as “may” and resultantly, the penalty was not mandatory.

Having said so, considering the facts of the case, the Tribunal reduced the penalty from that imposed by the  competent authority and confirmed by the appellate authority.

Learned AGP Mr. Jaimin Gandhi appearing for the State, however, relied on the decisions of the Supreme Court in case of Union of India & Ors. v. Dharamendra Textile Processors & Ors., reported in (2008) 13 SCC 369 and Union of India v. Rajasthan Spinning & Weaving Mills, reported in (2009) 13 SCC 448 to urge that such penalty is mandatory. However, we do not conclude this issue in the present Tax Appeals and therefore refrain from making any observations in this regard.