Kerala High Court
The Travancore Cements Ltd vs The Asst. Commissioner (Assmt.)I on 19 December, 2006
Author: C.N.Ramachandran Nair
Bench: C.N.Ramachandran Nair
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
OP No. 10362 of 2003(H)
1. THE TRAVANCORE CEMENTS LTD., NATTAKOM,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. THE ASST. COMMISSIONER (ASSMT.)I,
... Respondent
2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL
3. THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES,
For Petitioner :SRI.JOSEPH MARKOSE
For Respondent : No Appearance
The Hon'ble MR. Justice C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR
Dated :19/12/2006
O R D E R
C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J.
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O.P. No.10362 of 2003
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Dated this the 19th day of December, 2006.
JUDGMENT
Heard counsel for the petitioner and Government Pleader. The petitioner is challenging order of the Commissioner sustaining penalty levied under Section 45A(g) of the KGST Act for deficiency in payment of advance tax. Even though counsel for the petitioner contended that advance tax was substantially paid and shortage arises on account of unprecedental sales in the end of the year, Government Pleader submitted that petitioner could have made payment atleast by the last day of March of the year. In any case it is a settled position that failure or deficiency to pay advance tax is violation of the mandatory provision of Rule 21(7) of the KGST Rules and therefore penalty can be levied. However, having regard to the fact that petitioner is a Government company and that petitioner has paid substantial amount of advance tax, I feel the case calls for further reduction of penalty. However, since violation is committed by a State Government company, it is for the management to consider whether penalty should be recovered from the concerned officer responsible for the same. In the circumstances, O.P. is disposed of reducing the penalty to rupees one lakh.
C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR Judge pms