2016 (11) TMI 545 - SC - VAT and Sales Tax

Constitutional validity of levy of entry tax - power of the state legislature - Article 304(a) of the Constitution - non-obstante clause - interpretation - concept of compensatory tax - Levy of a nondiscriminatory tax may constitute infraction of Article 301 of the Constitution of India if it impedes the freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse. All taxes which contain restrictions to trade, commerce and intercourse, discriminatory or nondiscriminatory infringe Article 301 unless they are saved under Article 302 – 304.

Article 304 (a) frowns upon discrimination (of a hostile nature in the protectionist sense) and not on mere differentiation. Therefore, incentives, set-offs etc. granted to a specified class of dealers for a limited period of time in a non-hostile fashion with a view to developing economically backward areas would not violate Article 304(a). The question whether the levies in the present case indeed satisfy this test is left to be determined by the regular benches hearing the matters.

States are well within their right to design their fiscal legislations to ensure that the tax burden on goods imported from other States and goods produced within the State fall equally. Such measures if taken would not contravene Article 304(a) of the Constitution. The question whether the levies in the present case indeed satisfy this test is left to be determined by the regular benches hearing the matters.

The questions whether the entire State can be notified as a local area and whether entry tax can be levied on goods entering the landmass of India from another country are left open to be determined in appropriate proceedings.