TMI Blog2021 (4) TMI 189X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 'C' declaration forms. Petition allowed. - W.P. No.2956 of 2021 - - - Dated:- 25-3-2021 - Honourable Dr. Justice Anita Sumanth For the Petitioner : Mr.S.Ramanathan For the Respondents : Mr.ANR.Jayapratap, Government Advocate. ORDER Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Advocate for the respondents. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the issue that arises in this writ petition, for the issuance of C forms under the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 read with the Central Sales Tax (Registration and Turnover) Rules, 1957 for the purchase of High Speed Diesel from suppliers in other States, is covered by a decision of this Court in M/s Ramco Cements Ltd. V. The Co ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Tamil Nadu, to enable the dealers to seek a concessional rate of tax, is covered in favour of the assessee by a decision of this Court in M/s Ramco Cements Ltd. V. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (W.P.Nos.19460 of 2018) dated 26.10.2018 in a batch of over fifty (50) Writ Petitions. 4. A learned Single Judge of this Court in considering the issue held categorically that the benefit of the concessional rate is available to dealers who purchase High Speed Diesel from neighbouring States by way of inter-state sales. Reference is made to the decisions of other Courts that have considered an identical issue, holding the same in favour of the assessee. In fact, the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has been carried to the Sup ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ell as other High Courts, one of which has been confirmed by the Supreme Court, are decisions in rem, applicable to all dealers that seek benefit thereunder, of course, in accordance with law. 7. For the above reasons, these Writ Petitions are allowed. Consequently, necessary action to be taken by the department, forthwith. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous petitions are closed.' 3. The State has, after the date of the above order, filed a Writ Appeal in W.A.No.3403 of 2019 challenging the decision in the case of Ramco Cements (Supra) that has been considered and dismissed by a Division Bench of this Court on 09.03.2020 in the following terms: .......... 13. It is true that the liability to pay tax arises under ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... f the CST Act. Even a person, who is only purchasing goods in the inter-State Trade or Commerce, who may not be liable to pay tax under the provisions of CST Act as a Seller can also secure registration under the provisions of the said Act and can continue with it. Even a dealer liable to tax under State Sales Tax law, which may include even new State GST Act, 2017, can obtain registration under CST Act. In the present case, the Assessee, a Cement Company, continues to be liable to pay tax under local TNVAT Act, 2006 if it sells or purchases any of these six goods also. The TNVAT Act also has not been completely repealed but now applies only to these six commodities after 1.7.2017, as per Section 174 of the TNGST Act, 2017. 14. Therefo ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... except the six specified items in the GST Tax Law Regime. Such a view on the part of the Revenue is self defeatative and cannot be countenanced by the court. The freedom of trade including the right to purchase in the course of inter-State Trade or Commerce enshrined in Article 301 read with Article 304(b) is not taken away by GST Regime laws. ................... 39. Therefore, if a Dealer has a right to sell as well the restricted six items under CST Act, one fails to understand as to how their right to purchase those goods at present time under the existing Registration Certificates can be taken away merely because they are not selling those goods. If sale of the goods was the only criteria of registration under the CST Ac ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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