IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3450 OF 2008
(Arising out of SLP(C) No. 7272/2007)
State of Jharkhand & Ors. ... Appellant(s)
versus
Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Giridh and Anr. ... Respondent(s)
With
Civil Appeal No.3451/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.5520 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3452/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.5962 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3453/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.8916 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3454/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.9393 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3456/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.2291 of 2008)
ORDER
Leave granted.
This batch of Civil Appeals is filed by the State of Jharkhand against the
judgment and order passed by the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi.
For the sake of convenience we may mention facts of the case in original
Writ Petition (T) No. 6163 of 2006 filed by M/s. Atibir Hi-Tech (Pvt) Ltd. v/s.
State of Jharkhand disposed of by the High Court vide its judgment dated
11.1.2007.
M/s. Atibir Hi -Tech Pvt. Ltd. is an Industry having Induction Furnace
and Rolling Mill at Mohanpur. It purchases electricity from Damodar Valley
Corporation (“DVC”, for short) for the purpose of its Industry under an
agreement executed between it and DVC (respondent No.2 herein). The
petitioner started its commercial activities from November, 1998. Before the
High Court the Company pleaded that under ill-advice it had applied for
registration as an assessee under Rule 3 of Bihar Electricity Duty Rules, 1949 and
consequently on 9th December, 1999 it stood registered under Rule 4 and a
Registration Certificate stood issued making it liable to pay duty for distribution
and/or consumption of energy from 7.11.1998, as an assessee under the Bihar
Electricity Duty Act, 1948. Accordingly, the Company sought refund of
electricity duty and surcharge paid on the footing that it had applied for
cancellation of registration which was wrongly rejected by the Authority under
the said Rules, 1949. In short, the Company submitted before the High Court
that it was not obliged to pay duty directly to the State as an assessee and that the
Deputy Commissioner had wrongly dismissed their application for cancellation of
registration. The Company accordingly sought refund of the duty paid by them
for the period 7.11.1998 to 27.1.2006. Having examined the provisions of the said
1948 Act and the said 1949 Rules, the High Court, inter alia, came to the
conclusion vide impugned judgment that the Company was not liable to pay duty
and surcharge and consequently the impugned order dated 3rd March, 2006
passed by Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes rejecting the application of
the petitioner for cancellation of registration was set aside. Hence, this Civil
Appeal has been filed by the State.
The matter was argued threadbare before this Court. We have
examined in detail the impugned judgment of the High Court. The key issue
which arose for determination before the High Court was whether the Company
was an assessee under the 1948 Act read with 1949 Rules. Detailed arguments
were advanced before us on the interpretation of Section 3 of 1948 Act in the light
of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Damodar Valley Corporation
Vs. State of Bihar (1976 (3) SCC 710).
At this stage we may state that, on instructions, learned counsel for the
Company – respondent No.1 (M/s. Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd.) stated that the said
respondent would not press its claim for refund, particularly, as the said
Company is interested in an authoritative decision of this Court on its liability to
pay duty/surcharge to the State. According to the learned counsel, the Company
is not an assessee under the said 1948 Act and, therefore, it is not bound to file
returns and face assessment proceedings under the said Act. It is important to
note at this stage that under Section 2(d) of the 1948 Act, the word `licensee’ is
defined to mean any person including a Company licensed under Part II of Indian
Electricity Act, 1910 to supply energy. Pre 2003, Damodar Valley Corporation
was not a licensee under Indian Electricity Act, 1910. However, on 10.6.2003 the
earlier enactment, namely, Indian Electricity Act, 1910 stood repealed and it
stood replaced by the Electricity Act, 2003. Under fourth proviso to Section 14 of
the said 2003 Act it has been stipulated that Damodar Valley Corporation shall be
deemed to be a licensee under 2003 Act but shall not be required to obtain a
licence under the said Act and the provisions of Damodar Valley Corporation
Act, 1948 insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, shall
continue to apply to that Corporation.
In our view, with the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003 the nature of
the dispute has undergone structural change particularly in view of the fact that
under the Electricity Act, 2003 the entire scheme brings in new concepts like
`deemed licensee’. In this connection Section 185 which deals with repeal and
savings is also relevant. This aspect has not, at all, been considered by the High
Court in the impugned judgment. In fact, upfront this question was not
specifically raised by any of the Companies before the High Court. However,
since an important point of law arises, we are of the view that the point needs to
be considered afresh by the High Court keeping in mind the change in law in view
of the Electricity Act, 2003. We may reiterate that the respondent – Company
has fairly given up its claim for refund and, therefore, what needs to be decided is
whether the said Company or the Damodar Valley Corporation is the assessee
under the 1948 Act particularly in view of the provisions of Section 14 of the Said
2003 Act; the effect of 2003 Act on the Registration Certificate issued earlier
under the Bihar Electricity Act, 1948 and the interpretation of 1948 Act, the 1949
Rules in juxtaposition to the Electricity Act, 2003. These questions were not
raised and, therefore, not gone into by the High Court, however, they are of
considerable public importance hence we have to remit this matter for
consideration in accordance with law.
We make it clear that till the High Court decides the matter the respondent
– Company shall continue to pay duty/surcharge under the 1948 Act. It may be
clarified that the Company is directed to pay the taxes under the said 1948 Act as
the primary question involved is not on quantum of liability, but whether the
Company is required to file its returns as an assessee under the Act or whether it
is the obligation of Damodar Valley Corporation to do so. We keep all
contentions on both sides expressly open. We, however, make it clear that the
High Court shall also consider whether its judgment should or should not operate
prospectively, particularly, when after the enactment of the 2003 Act the
Regulatory Regime has come into force.
Liberty is given to the respondent – Company to amend its original Writ
Petition (T) No. 6163 of 2006. Needless to add that the State and Damodar Valley
Corporation would be entitled to file its additional affidavit to the amended Writ
Petition.
We request the High Court to hear and expeditiously decide the Writ
Petition in accordance with law within a period of four months from today.
Accordingly the civil appeals are disposed of with no order as to costs.
………………………….J.
(S.H. Kapadia)
………………………….J.
(B. Sudershan Reddy)
New Delhi;
April 30, 2008.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3457 OF 2008
(Arising out of SLP(C) No.9700 of 2007)
Tata Steel Limited ... Appellant(s)
Versus
State of Jharkhand & Ors. ... Respondent(s)
ORDER
Leave granted.
This matter is a sequel to Civil Appeal No. 3450 of 2008
(Arising out of SLP (C) No.7272 of 2007) – State of Jharkhand &
others v. Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Giridh and Anr.
Two questions arose for determination before High Court of
Jharkhand at Ranchi in original Writ Petition (T) No.6163 of 2006 which
came to be decided vide judgment and order dated 11.1.07 (“impugned
judgment”, for short).
The two questions were :
(a) Whether Department was entitled to reopen the completed
assessment under the provisions of Bihar Electricity Duty Act, 1948;
and
(b) Whether Tata Steel Ltd. (appellant herein) is an assessee
under the said 1948 Act.
The High Court has not considered the first above-mentioned
issue. It has not decided the question as to whether the Department was
justified in reopening the assessment. Therefore, we hereby set aside the
impugned judgment and remit the matter to the High Court for fresh
consideration in accordance with law.
As regards the second point, namely, whether the appellant, Tata
Steel Ltd., is an assessee under the said 1948 Act, we may state that the
dispute in that regard is covered by our order in Civil Appeal No 3450
of 2008 (Arising out of SLP (C) No.7272 of 2007) – State of Jharkhand
& others v. Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Giridh and Anr. We may state that
Tata Steel Ltd. in its original writ petition before the High Court had raised
the dispute, namely, that Damodar Valley Corporation alone was the
assessee and that Tata Steel Ltd. could not be an assessee under the
1948 Act. For the sake of clarity and to avoid confusion we direct the
appellant-Tata Steel Ltd. to file an independent writ petition on this count
before the High Court within four weeks from today and if the High Court
is so moved within the stipulated period, it is requested to hear the
independent writ petition of Tata Steel Ltd. along with the original Writ
Petition (T) No.6163 of 2006 filed by M/s. Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd.,
Giridh v. State of Jharkhand & others so that both the matters could be
heard simultaneously and disposed of together.
Subject to what is stated hereinabove, this civil appeal stands
disposed of with no order as to costs.
………………………………J.
(S.H. KAPADIA)
………………………………J.
(B. SUDERSHAN REDDY)
New Delhi;
April 30, 2008.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3458 OF 2008
(Arising out of SLP(C) No. 19433/2007)
Damodar Valley Corporation ... Appellant(s)
versus
Tata Steel Ltd. & Ors. ... Respondent(s)
With
Civil Appeal No.3459/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.19438 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3460/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.19437 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3461/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.19435 of 2007)
Civil Appeal No.3462/2008 (@ SLP (C) No.15546 of 2007)
Civil Appeal Nos.3463-67/2008 (@ SLP (C) Nos.19921-19925 of 2007)
ORDER
Leave granted.
Civil Appeal Nos.3463-67/2008 (@ SLP (C) Nos.19921-19925 of 2007) are
taken on board.
In view of the Order passed in Civil Appeal No.3450/2008 (@ SLP (C)
No.7272 of 2007) – State of Jharkhand & Ors. v. Atibir Hi-Tech Pvt. Ltd., Giridh
and Anr. these civil appeals are accordingly disposed of with no order as to costs.
………………………….J.
(S.H. Kapadia)
………………………….J.
(B. Sudershan Reddy)
New Delhi;
April 30, 2008.