Ashok Bhaskar v. The Commercial Tax Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR FRIDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2015/6TH AGRAHAYANA, 1937 WP(C).No. 35648 of 2015 (E) ---------------------------- PETITIONER :
------------------ ASHOK BHASKAR SNRA, 26, KRISHNA KRIPA SURYA NAGAR, PADAMUGAL, KAKKANAD ERNAKULAM-682030.
BY ADVS.SRI.PHILIP T.VARGHESE SRI.THOMAS T.VARGHESE SMT.ACHU SUBHA ABRAHAM SRI.DENNY VARGHESE SMT.K.R.MONISHA RESPONDENT :
--------------------- THE COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCIAL TAXES, SECOND CIRCLE, TRIPUNITHURA-682301.
BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT. LILLY K.T.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 27-11-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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WP(C).No. 35648 of 2015 (E) ---------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1 :
TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE NO.32071186552C/2011-12 BY THE RESPONDENT DT.20-9-2014.
P2 :
TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER NO.32071186552C/2011-12/CST ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT DT.23-9-2015.
P3 :
TRUE COPY OF THE C FORM NO.241065277521218 DT.12-6-2012. P4 :
TRUE COPY OF THE C FORM NO.4973138 ISSUED TO M/S. GEO IMAGING SYSTEMS DT.21-9-2011.
RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS :
NIL.
//TRUE COPY// P.A.TO JUDGE bp
A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR, J.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No.35648 of 2015 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 27th day of November 2015
JUDGMENT
The challenge in the writ petition is against Ext.P2 order of assessment passed by the respondent under the Central Sales Tax Act, in relation to the petitioner for the assessment year 2011-12. The grievance of the petitioner against Ext.P2 order is essentially that, before passing the said order, the petitioner was not afforded an opportunity of hearing before the respondent. It is the contention of the petitioner therefore that Ext.P2 order is vitiated by a non-compliance with the rules of natural justice.
2. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned Government Pleader for the respondents.
3. On a consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions made across the Bar, and finding from Ext.P2 that there is no reference therein to any personal hearing given to the petitioner by the officer who passed Ext.P2 order, prior to the passing of the said order, I am of the view that Ext.P2 order of assessment cannot be legally sustained. I therefore quash Ext.P2
W.P.(c).No.35648 of 2015 : 2 :
order and direct the respondent to pass fresh orders of assessment in relation to the petitioner, for the assessment year in question, after hearing the petitioner. To enable the respondent to do so, I direct the petitioner to appear before the respondent at his office at 11 a.m. on 08.12.2015. The respondent shall pass fresh orders within a period of six weeks thereafter.
The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. Sd/- A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR JUDGE sm/