Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Balvinder Singh and others regarding recovery of Sales Tax arrears from all the defaulters, Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today expressed dissatisfaction over recovery of arrears from Government and semi-Government Departments and directed Chief Secretary to take up the matter himself and ensure that the statutory mechanism provided by various statutes be put in operation for making huge recovery of Rs. 111 crore as per the provisions of law or any other effective steps which may successfully result in recovery of the arrears.
After hearing Advocate Sunil Sethi along with Advocate Deewakar Sharma for the PIL and Senior Additional Advocate General Gagan Basotra for the State, DB observed, “a compliance report purported to comply the directions issued on December 11, 2013 has been filed. However, it does not, as a matter of fact, comply with the directions in letter and spirit”.
“The mechanism provided by the J&K General Sales Tax Act 1962 and J&K VAT Act for recovery has not been resorted to. Even after attachment, the departments like Conservator of Forests and many other continuing to operate. It is evident that the account head has been attached and despite that the department has been functioning as pointed out by counsel for the petitioner”, the DB said.
DB directed the Chief Secretary to take up the matter himself and ensure that the statutory mechanism provided by various statutes be put in operation for making huge recovery of Rs 111 crore from the Government/semi Government departments as per the provisions of law or any other effective steps which may successfully result in recovery of the arrears. The status report by the Chief Secretary shall be filed within two weeks, failing which the Chief Secretary shall remain present in court.
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