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2015 (7) TMI 374 - SC - Indian LawsDemand of luxury tax imposed on a building that consists of 13 residential apartments - clubbing of plinth area of more than one residential unit of single owner - Kerala Building Tax Act, 1975 - Held that:- The learned Single Judge, as we have reproduced a paragraph hereinbefore, has opined that when the plinth area of any residential apartment is above 278.7 sq. mts., then the authority can demand luxury tax for such apartment or flat. Be it noted, the learned Single Judge has held that even if the person is the owner of the entire building the computation would be apartment-wise. The said analysis is also incorrect. We have given purposive interpretation to Explanation II as it has to be read with Section 5A of the Act. When the owner parts with the building each apartment will be segregable for the purpose of luxury tax. If he remains the owner for the whole or part then he will be liable to pay for the plinth area in respect of the flats or apartments that is retained by him subject to the cap as envisaged under Section 5A of the Act. If he sells away the entire building then it has to be flat/apartment-wise calculation/computation, for every apartment owner is different than the others. Thus, the plinth area would be different. To clarify further, if a singular person purchases three flats, he will be liable on the basis of aggregate plinth area subject to the cap envisaged under Section 5A of the Act.
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