Shah, J. - (1.) Motor Lorry No. K. L. R. 3919 driven along a highway from Coimbatore in the State of Madras towards the border of the State of Kerala was when searched by the Check Post Officer found to carry 85 bags of foodstuffs:45 bags of maida, 20 bags of flour, and 20 bags of Khandasari sugar. The driver of the motor lorry was found to carry with him a bill of sale and a delivery note which covered 85 bags of flour. On the ground that without a bill of sale or delivery note maida and Khandasari sugar were attempted to be transported, and suspecting that there was an attempt at evasion of sales tax, the Check Post Officer by order dated March 2, 1965, confiscated the goods and gave an option to M/s K. P. Abdulla and Bros. the owners of the goods to pay Rs. 1,000/- as penalty in lieu of confiscation.
(2.) The owners of the goods then moved a petition in the High Court of Madras challenging the validity of Section 42 (3) (a) of the Madras General Sales Tax Act, 1959, and for an order quashing the penalty, and another petition for a direction to the State of Madras and the Check Post Officer to return the goods seized and "confiscated while in transit". Ramakrishnan, J. rejected the petitions. In appeals filed by the owners, the petitions were allowed and the orders imposing penalty and confiscation of goods were set aside. The State of Madras has appealed to this Court with certificate granted by the High Court.
(3.) Section 42 of the Madras General Sales Tax Act, 1959, provides: "(1) If the Government consider that with a view to prevent or check evasion of tax under this Act in any place or places in the State, it is necessary so to do, they may, by notification, direct the setting up of a check post or the erection of a barrier or both, at such place or places as may be notified. "(2) At every check post or barrier mentioned in sub-section (1) , or at any other place when so required by any officer empowered by the Government in this behalf, the driver or any other person in charge of any vehicle or boat shall stop the vehicle or boat, as the case may be, and keep it stationary as long as may reasonably be necessary, and allow the officer in charge of the check post or barrier, or the officer empowered as aforesaid, to examine the contents in the vehicle or boat and inspect all records relating to the goods carried, which are in the possession of such driver, or other person in charge, who shall, if so required, give his name and address and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle or boat as well as those of the consignor and the consignee of the goods. (3) The officer in charge of the check post or barrier, or the officer empowered as aforesaid, shall have power to seize and confiscate any goods which are under transport by any vehicle or boat and are not covered by, (i) a bill of sale or delivery note, (ii) a Goods Vehicle Record, a Trip Sheet or a Log Book as the case may be; and (iii) such other documents as may be prescribed under Sections 43 and 44; Provided that before ordering confiscation the officer shall give the person affected an opportunity of being heard and make an inquiry in the prescribed manner; Provided further that the officer ordering the confiscation shall give the person affected option to pay in lieu of confiscation - (a) in cases where the goods are taxable under this Act, in addition to the tax recoverable, a sum of money not exceeding one thousand rupees, or double the amount of tax recoverable, whichever is greater; and (b) in other cases, a Sum of money not exceeding one thousand rupees". By sub-section (2) the driver or any person in charge of the vehicle is required to stop the vehicle and to allow the officer in charge of the check post or barrier to examine the contents in the vehicle, and to inspect all records relating to the goods carried in the vehicle. The officer in charge of the check post or barrier is invested with power by sub-sec. (3) to seize and confiscate any goods which are carried and are not covered by the documents specified there in. The officer is required when orderings confiscation to give the person affected option to pay penalty in lieu of confiscation.;