LexSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH versus FIRM GAPPULAL ETC.
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J J STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH· v. FIRM GAPPULAL ETC. December 17, 1975 [A. N. RAY, C.J., M. H. BEG, R. s. SARKARIA AND P. N. SHINGf0L, JJ.] 1041 Madhya Pradesh Excise Act-Sections 25, 26 and 62-Levy of excise duty on liquor not lifted by the contri:xtors under a contract is neither authorised by s. 26 of the Act, nor such a power to levy excise duty Vested in the State under s. 62 of the Act-Meaning of the word "pratikar"-Whether denotes "com- prnsation or excise duty". Under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Excise Act, an excise licensee has to pay the following : (i) The prescribed licence fee, which licence gives the licensee privileges of selling liqnor in a shop. (ii) The price of liquor which he purchases from the State Govern- ment; and (iii) Excise on the liquor so purchased by him. In all the appeals, the appellants are the auction contractors to sell liquor in the various shops. One of the term~ of the sale memo was that the con- tractor would have to lift a presoribed minimum quantity of liquor and pay duty or consolidated duty at the prevalent rate, otherwise they would have to pay duty on the quantity short of the minimum prescribed. In all the app·eals, the appellants were served with various demand notices demanding a fourth item, viz., duty. on liquor: not lifted by the contractor who was bound to lift under the conditions prescribing minimum quantity. The vi res of these demands were challenged under Art. 226 of the Constitution before the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and they were allowed. Dismissing the appeals by certificate, the Court, HELD: (1) "Pratikar" is excise duty. (1042 F] A B c D E ( 2) The State confers the right to require by farming out either by auction or by private treaty. Rental is the consideration for the privilege granted by F the Government for manufacturing or vending liquor. Rental is the considera- tion for the agreement for grant of privilege by the Government. [1042 GJ Nashirwar v. State of Madhya Pradesh, [1975] (2) S.C.R. 861; Hari Shankar v. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, (1975] (3) S.C.R. 254, discussed ed. (3) These appeals relate to the demand of excise only in respect of liquor. Levy of excise duty on undrawn liquor imposed by the State-respondent was exercise of powers which the State did not posses. (1042 H, 1043 El G Bimal Chandra Baneriee v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1971] (1) S.C.R. 844, followed. . , Panna Lal & Ors. v. State of Raiasthan, (1976] (1) S.C.R. 220, not appli- cable. CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeals Nos. (1) 1751, 1747-50 & 1752, (2) 2041 & 2042 and (3) 1753-1756 of 1971. H [From the judgment and order dated the (1) 20-1-1971, (2) 17-2-1971, (3) 21-8-1971 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court 1042 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1976] 2 s.c.n. A (Gwalior Bench) in (1) Miscellaneous Petitions Nos. 19/70 & 10, 109 and 111 of 1969 and 18 and 20 of 1970, (2) in 9 and 10 of 1971 and (3) 123-125 and 127 of 1970 respectively.] I. N. Shroff for the appellant. A. K. Sen (in CA 1751/71) for the respondents. B Hargobind Misra (in CAs 2041-42/71) for the respondents. A. Raman (in CA 1751/71) and S. S. Khanduja in all the appeals with him for the respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by RAY, C.J. These appeals by certificate turn on the question C whether the Government was right in making a demand of excise duty on liquor not lifted by the liquor contractors. D E F G H The High Court relying on the decision of this Court in Bimal Chandra Banerjee v. State of Madhya Pradesh( 1) held against the Government. There is no dispute that in these appeals the demaml notice is in respect of duty on liquor which has not been lifted. The liquor contractors were subject inter alia to the following conditions at auction which the Government wants to enforce : "In case the fixed monthly quantity is not taken in any month, the concerning contractor shall be liable to pay to the Government the amount of PRATJKAR at the rate lixed by the Government for spiced spirit and plain spirit to the extent to which it would be less than the fixed monthly minimum quantity and the amount of such PRA- TIKAR shall be paid within the tenth day of the month such shortage is concerned. Security to the extent of one sixth to one tenth of the whole of the amount of yearly PRATIKAR will have to be given". Pratikar is excise duty. This Court in t
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