TMI Blog2016 (8) TMI 87X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... o 23820 of 2015, M.P.Nos.1 to 1; 2 to 2 & 3 to 3 of 2015 - - - Dated:- 14-6-2016 - T. S. Sivagnanam, J. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Rajasekar For Respondents : Mr.Manokaran Sundaram ORDER Heard Mr.S.Rajasekar, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Manokaran Sundaram, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents and with the consent of learned counsel appearing on either side, these writ petitions are taken up for final disposal. 2.The petitioner is a manufacturer of yarn and was an assessee on the files of the first respondent under the erstwhile Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959, subsequently, they are registered on the file of the first respondent under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax, 2006 (TNVAT Act). The orders impugned in these Writ Petitions are orders passed by the second respondent, the designating authority under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu [Settlement of Arrears] Act, 2011(Act No. 29/2011) 3.After elaborately hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and carefully perusing the materials placed on record, it is evidently clear that the impugned orders have been passed in gro ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ction 6 deals with determination of amount payable by the applicant and Section 7 deals with rate applicable in determining amount payable and they are as follows: 5. Application for settlement.- (1) An application for the purpose of section 4 shall be made to the designated authority by an applicant within six months from the date of commencement of this Act or by such later date as the Government may, by notification, specify, from time to time, in such form, and in such manner, as may be prescribed, with proof of payment of the amount payable at the rates specified in section 7. (2) A separate application shall be made for each assessment year. (3) The applicant shall send a copy of the application made under sub-section (1) to the assessing authority, appellate authority or revisional authority under the relevant Act, before whom any proceeding or appeal or revision, as the case may be, is pending, within seven days from the date of making such application before the designated authority. 6. Determination of amount payable by the applicant. - (1) The designated authority shall verify the correctness of the particulars furnished in the application made under ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... it relates to arrears of penalty or interest or both and where there is no corresponding arrears of tax pending collection on the date of application, the applicant shall pay ten per cent of the penalty and twenty five per cent of interest, the balance of penalty and interest shall be waived. 21. In terms of the above provisions, the applications shall be presented within six months from the date of commencement of the Act in the form prescribed with proof of payment of the amount payable at the rates specified in Section 7. Section 7 contains four clauses. Clause (a) deals with the cases relating to best of judgment assessment for non-production of accounts; Clause (b) deals with non-filing of declaration forms, which arise under the provisions of CST Act; Clause (c) relates to arrears of tax, which has been admitted as tax due as per the returns filed for the year with corresponding arrears of penalty and interest and Clause (d) relates to arrears of penalty or interest or both and where there is no corresponding arrears of tax pending collection on the date of application, the amount which the applicant has to pay under each of the clauses have been mentioned. 22. Th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s that further amount is payable and if the same fall short of not more than 10% grant relief to the dealer and if not the application stands summarily rejected. Therefore, the Act operates on strict limits as clearly defined under the Statute. The onus is not only on the dealer to carefully peruse all his records and relevant documents while determining the rate payable by him, but also on the assessing officer while verifying the application as to the correctness of the particulars furnished exercising power, under Section 6(1) by taking into consideration relevant records and then determine the amount payable at the rates specified in Section 7. It is a settled legal principle that any Settlement Act or amnesty scheme have to be strictly interpreted and there cannot be any substitution or reading down the provision and the dealer/applicant cannot seek for reliefs beyond the scope of the scheme of the Settlement Act. 24. Apart from the above referred provisions, Section 8 of the Act deals with settlement of arrears and issuance of certificate. If the authority is satisfied about the payment of amount determined under Section 6(1), by an order, settle the arrears of tax, pena ..... 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