M/S.Prakash Exports, Tuni. vs. Asst. Commissioner (CT) (Ltu) Kakinada.

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WP/17313/2006HC Andhra PradeshGSTCNR APHC01007958200608 April 2025Bench: R RAGHUNANDAN RAO,K MANMADHA RAO8 pages

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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH :: AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN RAO AND HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE K MANMADHA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 17313 OF 2006 Between: M/S.Prakash Exports, Tuni, Proprietory concern. Rep. by its Proprietor: Sri R.Prakash Nair. ...PETITIONER AND 1. Asst. Commissioner (CT) (LTU) Kakinada., Kakinada. 2. Assistant Commissioner (State Tax), Tuni Circle, Commercial Tax Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Respondent No.2 was amended as per c.o.dt.09.04.2025 vide I.A.No.3 of 2025 in W.P.No.17313 of 2006. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue Writ of Certiorari, call for the records relating to the order of the Assistant Commissioner (CT) (LTU), Kakinada in REF: TIN NO:28280196028/05-06, dated 29.07.2006 and quash the same. lA NO: 2 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to set aside the Order dated 07.12.2023passed Hon’ble Court in W.P.No. 17313 of 2006 and restore the said Writ Petition; lA NO: 4 OF 2025 ^R6tition under Section 151 CPC is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend the operation of the Urgent Demand Notice dated 24.02.2025 issued by the Assistant Commissioner (State Tax), Tuni Circle, Commercial Tax Department, Government Andhra Pradesh. of l-A. NO: 1 OF 2006fWPMP. NO: 21695 OF 2QQ6\ Petition under Section 151 CPC is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend operation of the

order of the Assistant Commissioner (CT) (LTU), No.28280196028/05-06, dated 29.07.2006, pending disposal of the writ petition. Kakinada, in REF: TIN Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI S CHAKRAPANI Counsel for the Respondents: SRI SURIBABU S (SPL SC FOR CT AP) Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX The Court made the following: ORDER

1 APHC010079582006 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Juri iction) [3525] WEDNE AY,THE NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSANDAND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN RAO THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE K MANMADHA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 17313/2006 Between: M/s.prakash Exports, Tuni. ...PETITIONER AND Asst Commissioner Ct Ltu Kakinada ...RESPONDENT Counsel for the Petitioner: I.Phani Viswanath Challa Counsel for the Respondent: 1.9460/SURIBABU S(SPL SC FOR CT AP) 2.GP FOR COMMERCIAL TAX The Court made the following order: (per Hon’ble Sri Justice R. Raghunandan Rao) The petitioner is a proprietary concern having it’s principal place of business at Kollam in Kerala State. It was registered under the A.P VAT Act as well as the CST Act as the petitioner had established a branch in Tuni in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh and was exporting Cashew nut and Kernel from Tuni.

2.

The assessment of the petitioner for the year 2005-2006 was undertaken by the 1®* respondent, culminating in an order of assessment, dated 29.07.2006. The petitioner had claimed exemption on the turnover of Rs.12,42,84,516/- on the ground that the said turnover related to export sales covered under Section 5(1) of the CST Act or sales in the course of export, covered under Section 5(3) of the CST Act.

3.4.

The 1®* respondent split the above turnover into two parts namely, Rs.4,34,60,582/- relating to the export sales claimed under Section 5(1) and Rs.8,08,23,934/- falling under Section 5(3) of the CST Act. The 1®* respondent, after going through the documents submitted by the petitioner, stated that the petitioner which is M/s.Prakash Exports, Tuni had purchased Cashewnut and Kernel from unregistered dealers within the State of Andhra Pradesh. However, the Cashewnut purchased was exported by M/s. Prakash Exports, Kollam. The 1®* respondent took the view that though M/s. Prakash Exports, Kollam is the Head Office of the petitioner and M/s.Prakash Exports, Tuni was a Branch Office of the petitioner, they would have to be treated as two separate entities and consequently the exports made by M/s.Prakash Exports, Kollam cannot be taken as export sales made by M/s.Prakash Exports, Tuni. The 1®‘ respondent, on this basis, held that there was a notional branch transfer from M/s.Prakash Exports, Tuni to M/s. Prafesb Exports, Kollam. Due to this transfer, there was no sale, by M/s. 5. 3 Prakash Exports, Tuni under Section 5(1) of CST Act and the purchase of the said Cashewnut and Kernel would be taxable under Section 4(4) of the A.P VAT Act, 2005. 6. Similarly, the respondent while verifying the sales claimed by the petitioner under Section 5(3) of the CST Act, had held that the petitioner had sold the Cashewnut and Kernel to M/s.Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company, Kasibugga, Sun Food Corporation, Narsingapallyand M/s.Nut Product Company, Tuni but the cashew, which was sold to these organizations was not exported by them directly. The 1®* respondent held that the exports made by these purchasers were by the Head Offices of the purchasers and not by the Branch Office which had purchased the Cashewnut and Kernel. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the turnovers, in both categories, are sought to be taxed on the ground that the Head Office of the petitioner and the Branch Office of the purchasers different entities due to which benefits under Section5(1) and 5(3) of the GST Act cannot be granted. The learned counsel submits that the said view is not in accordance with law. 7. are 8. Aggrieved by the said order of assessment, dated 29.07.2006 the petitioner had approached this Court, by way of the present Writ Petition.

9.

Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner as well as the purchasers who had exported Cashewnut and Kernel under Section 5(1) of CST Act are individual juristic entities and they cannot be split

4 A into two separate personalities of Head Office and Branch Office. Learned counsel for the petitioner would also submit that the same view was taken in relation to another assessment order passed against the petitioner. The Appellate Authority in the appeal filed by the petitioner against such an order, had referred to variousjudgments of this Court as well as the Hon’ble Supreme the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of English Electrical Company of Ref:TIN No:28280196028/05-06, dated 29.07.2006. A.P VAT Act make

13.14.

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is allowed. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, shalljtand closed. / That Rule Nisi has been made absolute as above witness that Hon’ble the Chief Justice Sri Dhiraj Singh Thakur on this Wedne ay, Ninth Day of April, Two Thousand and Twenty Five. A. VENU GOPAL RAO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR SE^ION OFFICER //// To,

1.

The Assistant Commissioner (CT) (LTU) Kakinada, Kakinada. The Assistant Commissioner (State Tax), Tuni Circle, Commercial Tax Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. One CC to Sri s Chakrapani Advocate [OPUC] One CC to Sri Suribabu S (SPL SC for CT AP) Advocate [OPUC] Two CCs to GP for Commercial Tax, High Court of Andhra Pradesh. [OUT] Three CD Copies 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. TF

HIGH COURT DATED:09/04/2025 ^WANOS^ ORDER & B 6 AUG 2(1?5 X to. ^ . Current cation . WP.No.17313of 2006 ALLOWING THE W.P., WITHOUT COSTS

Reproduced from the public record of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.