Sales tax dues of company can’t be recovered from directors of company in absence of statutory provision: Bombay HC
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- Last Updated on 10 November, 2022
Case Details: Mukesh D. Ramani v. State of Maharashtra - [2022] 144 taxmann.com 135 (Bombay)
Judiciary and Counsel Details
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- K.R. Shriram & Gauri Godse, JJ.
- Sriram Sridharan for the Petitioner.
- Ms Jyoti Chavan, Himanshu Takke & Dushyant Kumar AGP’s for the Respondent.
Facts of the Case
The petitioner was a director of a company and the department issued notice demanding sales tax dues of company from the director. The orders were passed to recover dues under the Bombay Sales Tax Act (BST Act) by relying upon the provisions of Section 142(8) and Section 89 of the GST Act. It filed writ petition challenging the recovery of dues.
High Court Held
The High Court noted that the liability for duty of the company can’t be fastened upon the directors of the company unless there is statutory provision to that effect as per the settled position in law. In the instant case, amount was demanded by invoking Section 142(8) of the GST Act but this section would only be applicable when the amount first becomes recoverable in terms of the “existing law”.
However under the BST Act, there didn’t exist any section which provided for dues of the company to be recoverable from its Directors. Therefore, it was held that no amount would be recoverable under the BST Act from the directors of the company for the dues recoverable from the company.
List of Cases Reviewed
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- Narinder Singh v. Union of India [2019] 367 ELT 775 (Punj. & Har.) (para 21)
- Maganbhai Hansrajbhai Patel v. Asstt. CIT [2012] 26 taxmann.com 226/211 Taxman 386/[2013] 353 ITR 567/256 CTR 269 (Guj.) (para 23)
- Ram Prakash Singeshwar Rungta v. ITO [2015] 59 taxmann.com 174/370 ITR 641 (Guj. – Mag.) (para 24)
- Gul Gopaldas Daryani v. ITO [2014] 46 taxmann.com 35/227 Taxman 190 (Mag.)/367 ITR 558 (Guj.) (para 25)
- Parle International Ltd. v. Union of India followed.
List of Cases Referred to
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- Satish D. Sanghavi v. Union of India [2012] 25 taxmann.com 328 (Bom.) (para 15)
- Narinder Singh v. Union of India 2019 (367) ELT 775 (Punj. & Har.) (para 21)
- Maganbhai Hansrajbhai Patel v. Asstt. CIT [2012] 26 taxmann.com 226/211 Taxman 386/[2013] 353 ITR 567/256 CTR 269 (Guj.) (para 23)
- Ram Prakash Singeshwar Rungta v. ITO [2015] 59 taxmann.com 174/370 ITR 641 (Guj. – Mag.) (para 24)
- Gul Gopaldas Daryani v. ITO [2014] 46 taxmann.com 35/227 Taxman 190 (Mag.)/367 ITR 558 (Guj.) (para 25)
- Parle International Ltd. v. Union of India [Writ Petition No. 12904 of 2019, dated 26-11-2020] (para 32)
- Sushitex Exports India Ltd. v. Union of India [W.P. (L) No. 9641 of 2020, dated 14-1-2022] (para 33).
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