GULATI, J. - (1.) THIS is a reference under section 11(3) of the U.P. Sales Tax Act at the instance of the Commissioner of Sales Tax, U.P., Lucknow.
(2.) THE assessee deals amongst other things in foodgrains. During the assessment year 1964-65, there was a change in the tax liability on the turnover of foodgrains. For the first six months from 1st April, 1964, to 30th September, 1964, the turnover of foodgrains was liable to sales tax. With effect from 1st October, 1964, foodgrains became liable to purchase tax under section 3-D. Only the first purchases were so liable. In either case the minimum taxable limit remained at Rs. 25,000. In other words, the sale of foodgrains was liable to tax only if the turnover of sales exceeded Rs. 25,000, and similarly, the first purchases of foodgrains were liable to sales tax, if the turnover of such purchases exceeded Rs. 25,000. The Sales Tax Officer determined the turnover of sales of the assessee for the first six months at Rs. 14,000 and the turnover of the first purchases in the second half of the year at Rs. 13,000. Taking separately, neither sales tax was payable nor purchase tax was leviable as the turnover of sales and purchases for the two periods was below the taxable limit. The Sales Tax Officer, however, aggregated the sales and the purchases and held that the assessee was liable both to sales tax and purchase tax. The assessee objected to this aggregation and his contention was upheld by the Assistant Commissioner (Judicial). The Commissioner went up in revision against this decision and the Judge (Revisions) agreed with the view of the appellate authority and dismissed the revision. At the instance of the Commissioner, the Judge (Revisions) has referred the following two questions for the opinion of this court : "(1) Whether, for the purposes of determining the liability of tax under section 3-D of the U.P. Sales Tax Act, the definition of 'turnover' or the definition of 'turnover of purchases' shall apply ? (2) Whether the turnover of sales of foodgrains determined under section 3 of the U.P. Sales Tax Act and the turnover of purchases of foodgrains determined under section 3-D of the U.P. Sales Tax Act shall be amalgamated for the purposes of determining the liability of tax ?" Section 3 is the charging section for the levy of sales tax, sub-section (1) whereof provides : "(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every dealer shall, for each assessment year, pay a tax at the rate of 3 paise per rupee on his turnover of such year, which shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed." "Turnover" has been defined in section 2(i) (as it stood prior to its amendment in 1971) as follows : "2. (i) 'Turnover' means the aggregate amount for which goods are supplied or distributed by way of sale or are sold, or the aggregate amount for which goods are bought, whichever is greater, by a dealer either directly or through another, on his account or on account of others, whether for cash or deferred payment or other valuable consideration."
(3.) IT will be noticed that for the purposes of levy of sales tax, the turnover of sales or turnover of purchases whichever is greater is to be taken into account. The turnover of sales and purchases cannot be aggregated. Thus, in the instant case, it was open to the Sales Tax Officer either to take the turnover of sales or of purchases for the first six months. There is no finding with regard to the turnover of purchases of that period. The only finding recorded by the Sales Tax Officer is that the turnover of sales for the first six months was Rs. 14,000, which was below the taxable limit and, as such, no tax could be levied on the turnover of sales.;