Bhagwati, J. - (1.) The sole question which arises for determination in this appeal is as to what is the rate at which the goods which had been purchased earlier and which were in stock with the assessee on 30-6-74 were assessable to purchase tax when the purchases were found to be last purchases as a result of events which took place subsequent to 30-6-1974. This question has become material since the rate of purchase tax was increased, from 3% to 5% with effect from lst July, 1974. Now it is not disputed in the present case that the purchases of goods effected by the assessee prior to 30-6-74 were last purchases within the State because the goods purchased which were in stock on 30-6-74 were subsequently sold by the assessee in the course inter-State trade or commerce which means that they were not sold within the State and hence the assessee was clearly the last purchaser within the State and as such was liable to pay purchase tax under Item 71 of the First Schedule to the Kerala General Sales Tax Act. Equally it is clear that the assessee could not be made liable to tax on the purchases made by it prior to 30th June, 1974, unless the purchases acquired the quality of being last purchases in the State. It was pointed out by this Court in State of Madras v. T. Narayanaswami Naidu, (1967) 3 SCR 622 when the assessee "files a return and declares the stock in hand, the stock in hand cannot be said to have been acquired by last purchase because he may still during the next assessment year sell it or he may consume it himself or the goods may be destroyed, etc. He would be entitled to claim before the assessing authorities that the character of acquisition of the stock in hand was undetermined; in the light of subsequent events it may or may not become the last purchase inside the State." There can therefore be no doubt that the assessee in the present case became liable to pay tax on the purchases made by it prior to 30th June, 1974, as soon as it became determined though subsequent to 30th June, 1974, that these purchases were last purchases inside the State and were consequently exigible to tax.
(2.) But the question remains as to what is the rate at which the assessee was liable to be taxed in respect of these purchases. Since the purchases took place before 30th June, 1974, the assessee would, in our opinion, be liable to be taxed at the rate prevailing at the time when the purchases were made and since the rate at that time was 3% of the sale price, the High Court was right in taking the view that the purchases made by the assessee prior to 30th June, 1974 were taxable at the rate of 3%. We may point out that a similar view has been taken by the Kerala High Court in Season Rubbers v. State of Kerala, 48 STC 256. We find ourselves in agreement with the reasoning adopted by the Full Bench of the High Court in that case.
(3.) We accordingly reject the appeal but with no order as to costs.;