M/S Navakar Granites And Marbles v. State Of Telangana And 2 Others

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO WRIT PETITION No.15575 OF 2019 ORDER:

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

2. Petitioner claims to have purchased Mercedes Benz E 220 D make, from Land Mark Cars Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, for an invoice of Rs.57,00,000/-. At the time of purchase, petitioner claims to have paid life tax of Rs.7,98,000/- and he was given temporary registration number as MH/4/TMP/2019/19923. 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 which was upheld by the Division Bench in W.A.No.805 of 2018.

4. Learned Single Judge of this Court held that the State cannot be allowed to levy life tax on the ex-Showroom price shown

- 2 - 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 Mercedes Benz E 220 D make, purchased from Land Mark Cars Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, bearing temporary registration number MH/4/TMP/2019/19923, without demanding additional life tax, if the life tax already paid based on the invoice dated 30.06.2019 is as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the vehicle is fulfilling all other parameters for registration. Further as vehicle was purchased outside the State and registration is sought in Telangana State, petitioner shall also submit all the documents required for registration of vehicle purchased out side the state of Telangana. No order as to costs. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ P.NAVEEN RAO, J July 25, 2019 KTL