Penalty u/s 29(8) of Maharashtra VAT Act.
The govt of maharashtra has passed the bill to amend the vat act. a new
sub sec 8 of sec 29 has been introduced, which gives the commissioner
the authority to directly impose a penalty order, for late filing of
returns. there is no show cause, no hearing, a direct penalty order
of rs 5000 is served for even a delay of a single day. if the taxes
are paid in time, or if there is no tax liability or if there is a
refund, but if and only if the return is filed late, this penalty is
imposed and further more, it is non appealable to any court or any superior.
Is this constitutional? If challenged in court, will it testify under
article 14, 19 and 226? and what would the possible judgement of the court would be?
Penaltlies under VAT Act
Section 29 of MVAT Act makes the provisions for ‘imposition of penalty in certain cases’. In this article it is intended to discuss the provision related to non-submission / late submission of return. Relevant section 29[8] reads as under:
MVAT sec 29 [8] – (8) Where, any person or dealer has failed without reasonable cause to file within the prescribed time, a return for any period as provided under section 20, the I-452 Sales Tax Review .. November, 2009 Article – Maharashtra VAT Act – Non submission of Returns ... 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commissioner may, after giving the person or dealer a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order in writing, impose on him, in addition to any tax payable by him, a sum of rupees two thousand by way of penalty. Such penalty shall be without prejudice to any other penalty, which may be imposed under this Act:
Provided that, if the return is filed before the initiation of the proceeding for levy of penalty, the penalty shall be levied at rupees one thousand and in any other case, the penalty shall be levied at rupees two thousand.
(In the above section 29, subsection (8), for the words ‘rupees two thousand’ the words ‘rupees ten thousand’ & for the words ‘rupees one thousand’ the words ‘rupees five thousand’ are substituted and new subsection (8) is as follows by the Maharashtra Act No. VIII of 2008 Dt. 31-3-2008)
(8) Where, any person or dealer has failed without reasonable cause to file within the prescribed time, a return for any period as provided under section 20, ‘ the Commissioner may, after giving the person or dealer a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order in writing, impose on him, in addition to any tax payable by him, a sum of rupees ten thousand by way of penalty. Such penalty shall be without prejudice to any other penalty, which may be imposed under this Act:
Provided that, if the return is filed before the initiation of the proceeding for levy of penalty, the penalty shall be levied at rupees five thousand and in any other case, the penalty shall be levied at rupees ten thousand.