M/S Raghavendra Industries v. State Of Telangana

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO WRIT PETITION No.11806 OF 2019 DATED:17.06.2019 Between:

M/s. Raghavendra Industries, Having its registered office at #Plot No.20, D Block, Laxmi Valley, Ville, DK Nagar, Road No.70, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad -500 033, Rep., by its Proprietor, Mr.K.Ranjit Kumar Reddy .. Petitioner And State of Telangana, rep., by its Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and others .. Respondents The Court made the following:

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO WRIT PETITION No.11806 OF 2019 ORDER:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Transport.

2.

Petitioner claims to have purchased BMW Make X5 XDRIVE 30D Model from Navnit Motors situated at Mumbai, Maharashtra for an invoice of Rs.57,44,554/-. Pursuant to purchase of the vehicle petitioner was given temporary registration number as MH/4/TEMP/2019/11862.

Subsequently, when petitioner approached the respondents to register his vehicle permanently, he was asked to deposit additional amount on ex Showroom price towards life tax holding that petitioner paid less amount than the tax payable on Ex-Showroom price of the vehicle. According to petitioner, life tax is payable on the invoice, but not on the Ex-Showroom price and therefore petitioner is not required to pay the additional tax demanded.

3.

In support of the claim that petitioner is not required to pay additional amount demanded by the respondents, he placed reliance on the decision in W.P.No.5286 of 2018, dated 02.05.2018, which was upheld by the Division Bench in W.A.No.805 of 2018, dated 29.01.2019.

4.

Learned Single Judge of this Court held that the State cannot be allowed to levy life tax on the Ex-Showroom price shown in the price list, when it is not the actual cost of the vehicle, and the life tax has to be levied on the actual cost of the

vehicle as paid by the purchaser of the vehicle which can be reflected from the invoice. This view of learned Single Judge was upheld by the Division Bench of this Court.

5.

Learned Government Pleader does not dispute the fact that the issue is covered by the decision, referred to above. 6.

Following the earlier decision in W.P.No.5286 of 2018, dated 02.05.2018, this Writ Petition is also allowed directing the respondents to register the BMW Make X5 XDRIVE 30D Model without demanding additional life tax, if the life tax already paid based on the invoice dated 18.04.2019 is as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the vehicle is fulfilling all other parameters for registration. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed.

_____________________ P. NAVEEN RAO, J 17th June, 2019 Rds