proceedings under the excise act to abate with the death of the assessee

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  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    REPORTABLE

    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

    CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

    CIVIL APPEAL NO.5802 OF 2005

    SHABINA ABRAHAM & ORS. … APPELLANTS

    VERSUS

    COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE& CUSTOMS ...RESPONDENT

     J U D G M E N T

    R.F. Nariman J.

    1. “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.”   Thus spake

    Be!a"# F$ak%# # h#s %ee$ '( N')e"*e$ 1+, 1-/ ' 0ea

    Bap#se Le$'. T' a2 he 3ea3 #s a 4'$a3#4#' # e$"s. Ta2

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    3ea3 pe$s' #s 5ha #s %e( *eh#3 # he ('$" '( su4h pe$s'8s

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    pe$s'8s p$'pe$, # he ('$" '( h#s '$ he$ esae, 4a *e a2e3

    5#h'u he e4essa$ "a4h#e$ p$')#s#'s # a a2 saue.

    The p$e4#se 9ues#' ha a$#ses # he p$ese 4ase #s 5hehe$ 

    a assess"e p$'4ee3#6 u3e$ he Ce$a% E24#ses a3 Sa%

    1

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     A4, 1/::, 4a 4'#ue a6a#s he %e6a% $ep$esea#)es;esae

    '( a s'%e p$'p$#e'$;"au(a4u$e$ a(e$ he #s 3ea3. The (a4s '( 

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  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    sh'5 4ause '#4e 3ae3 1

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    D#)#s#' Be4h '( he H#6h C'u$ '( >e$a%a $e)e$se3 he s#6%e

    0u36e8s !u36"e.

    ?. Sh$# Ra!shekha$ Ra', %ea$e3 4'use% appea$#6 ('$ he

    %e6a% he#$s "a3e su*"#ss#'s *e('$e us 5#h 6$ea 4%a$# a3

    pe$suas#)eess. He su*"#e3 ha a $ea3#6 '( Se4#'s

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    @. Sh$# A.>. Pa3a, %ea$e3 se#'$ a3)'4ae appea$#6 '

    *eha%( '( he $e)eue 4'e3e3 ha a 4%'se $ea3#6 '( Se4#'

    11 '( he Ce$a% E24#ses a3 Sa% A4 5#%% #3#4ae ha su"s

    a$e $e4')e$a*%e ($'" a assessee * a aa4h"e a3 sa%e '( 

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    he a"'u s' $e4')e$a*%e (a%%s sh'$, # 4a *e $e4')e$e3 ($'"

    he pe$s' h#"se%( as a a$$ea$ '( %a3 $e)eue. Ias"u4h as

    a 3ea3 "a8s p$'pe$ 4a *e aa4he3 a3 s'%3 a3

    p$'4ee3e3 a6a#s, # #s 4%ea$ ha he e4essa$ "a4h#e$ #s

    4'a#e3 # he Ce$a% E24#ses a3 Sa% A4. H#s (u$he$ 

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    p$')#s#' a3, he$e('$e, he $u%e ' *e app%#e3 #s ha ha

    4's$u4#' sh'u%3 *e p$e(e$$e3 5h#4h "akes a "a4h#e$

    Se4#' 5'$ka*%e. He a%s' $e(e$$e3 us ' he 3e(###' '( 

    pe$s' # Se4#' +:

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    p$#4#p%e, a"e%, ha a 4ause '( a4#' a*aes 5he a pe$s'

    5h' #s#ues a p$'4ee3#6 3#es #s ' app%#4a*%e # he p$ese

    4ase a3 4#e3 )a$#'us !u36"es *e('$e us # supp'$ '( he

    sa#3 p$#4#p%e. He a%s' su*"#e3 ha he p's##' u3e$ he

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    5h#4h 5#%% *e 3ea% 5#h # he 4'u$se '( h#s !u36"e.

    -. 7e ha)e hea$3 %ea$e3 4'use% ('$ he pa$#es. Be('$e

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    6#)e *e%'5G

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    (ii) I $e%a#' ' sa%, #4%u3es 4'%%e4#', $e"')a%,p$epa$a#', seep#6, e)ap'$a#', *'#%#6, '$ a 'e '$ "'$e '( hese p$'4esses, hesepa$a#' '$ pu$#(#4a#' '( sa% '*a#e3 #he "au(a4u$e '( sa%pee$, he sepa$a#' '( sa% ($'" ea$h '$ 'he$ su*sa4e s' as 'p$'3u4e e%e"ea$ sa%, a3 he e24a)a#''$ $e"')a% '( au$a% sa%#e 3ep's#s '$ e((%'$es4e4e

    (iii) I $e%a#' ' pae '$ p$'p$#ea$ "e3#4#es,as 3e(#e3 # Ie" N'. 1:E '( he (#$sS4he3u%e a3 # $e%a#' ' 4's"e#4s a3'#%e p$epa$a#'s as 3e(#e3 # Ie" N'.1:F'( ha S4he3u%e, #4%u3es he 4')e$s#' '( 

    p'53e$ #' a*%es '$ 4apsu%es, he %a*e%#6'$ $e%a*e%#6 '( 4'a#e$s #e3e3 ('$ 4'su"e$s a3 $epa4k#6 ($'" *u%k pa4ks '$ea#% pa4ks '$ he a3'p#' '( a 'he$ $ea"e ' $e3e$ he p$'3u4 "a$kea*%e 'he 4'su"e$s

    (iv) I $e%a#' ' 6''3s 4'"p$#se3 ' Ie"N'.1A '( he F#$s S4he3u%e, #4%u3es s#J#6,*ea"#6, 5a$p#6, 5$app#6, 5#3#6 '$ $ee%#6, '$ a 'e '$ "'$e '( hesep$'4esses, '$ he 4')e$s#' '( a ('$" '( he sa#3 6''3s #' a'he$ ('$" '( su4h6''3s

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    a44'u.

    +. Du#es spe4#(#e3 # he F#$s S4he3u%e ' *e%e)#e3. 1 The$e sha%% *e %e)#e3 a3 4'%%e4e3 #su4h "ae$ as "a *e p$es4$#*e3 3u#es '( e24#se' a%% e24#sa*%e 6''3s 'he$ ha sa% 5h#4h a$ep$'3u4e3 '$ "au(a4u$e3 # I3#a a3 a 3u '

    7

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    sa% "au(a4u$e3 #, '$ #"p'$e3 * %a3 #', apa$ '( I3#a as, a3 a he $aes se ('$h # he F#$sS4he3u%e.

    :. Va%ua#' '( e24#sa*%e 6''3s ('$ pu$p'ses '( 4ha$6#6 '( 3u '( e24#se. K1 7he$e u3e$ h#s A4, he 3u '( e24#se #s4ha$6ea*%e ' a e24#sa*%e 6''3s 5#h $e(e$e4e' )a%ue, su4h )a%ue sha%%, su*!e4 ' he 'he$ p$')#s#'s '( h#s se4#' *e 3ee"e3 ' *e Ka he '$"a% p$#4e he$e'(, ha #s ' sa, he p$#4ea 5h#4h su4h 6''3s a$e '$3#a$#% s'%3 * heassessee ' a *ue$ # he 4'u$se '( 5h'%esa%e$a3e ('$ 3e%#)e$ a he #"e a3 p%a4e '( $e"')a%,

    5he$e he *ue$ #s ' a $e%ae3 pe$s' a3 hep$#4e #s he s'%e 4's#3e$a#' ('$ he sa%eG

    : F'$ he pu$p'ses '( h#s se4#', a assessee "eas he pe$s' 5h' #s %#a*%e 'pa he 3u '( e24#se u3e$ h#s A4 a3 #4%u3esh#s a6e

    11. Re4')e$ '( su"s 3ue ' =')e$"e. I$espe4 '( 3u a3 a 'he$ su"s '( a k#3paa*%e ' he Ce$a% =')e$"e u3e$ a '( hep$')#s#'s '( h#s A4 '$ '( he $u%es "a3ehe$eu3e$, he '((#4e$ e"p'5e$e3 * he  Ce$a%B'a$3 '( E24#se a3 Cus'"s 4's#ue3 u3e$ heCe$a% B'a$3s '( Re)eue A4, 1/@+, ' %e) su4h3u '$ $e9u#$e he pa"e '( su4h su"s "a3e3u4 he a"'u s' paa*%e ($'" a "'e'5#6 ' he pe$s' ($'" 5h'" su4h su"s "a *e$e4')e$a*%e '$ 3ue 5h#4h "a *e # h#s ha3s '$ 

    u3e$ h#s 3#sp'sa% '$ 4'$'%, '$ "a $e4')e$ hea"'u * aa4h"e a3 sa%e '( e24#sa*%e 6''3s*e%'6#6 ' su4h pe$s' a3 #( he a"'upaa*%e #s ' s' $e4')e$e3 he "a p$epa$e a4e$#(#4ae s#6e3 * h#" spe4#(#6 he a"'u 3ue($'" he pe$s' %#a*%e ' pa he sa"e a3 se3 #' he C'%%e4'$ '( he 3#s$#4 # 5h#4h su4h pe$s'

    8

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    9/40Page 9

    $es#3es '$ 4'3u4s h#s *us#ess a3 he sa#3C'%%e4'$, ' $e4e#p '( su4h 4e$#(#4ae, sha%%p$'4ee3 ' $e4')e$ ($'" he sa#3 pe$s' he a"'uspe4#(#e3 he$e# as #( # 5e$e a a$$ea$ '( %a3$e)eue.11A. Re4')e$ '( 3u#es ' %e)#e3 '$ ' pa#3 '$ sh'$ %e)#e3 '$ sh'$ pa#3 '$ e$$'e'us% $e(u3e3.1 7he a 3u '( e24#se has ' *ee %e)#e3'$ pa#3 '$ has *ee sh'$%e)#e3 '$ sh'$pa#3 '$ e$$'e'us% $e(u3e3, a Ce$a% E24#se O((#4e$ "a,5#h# s#2 "'hs ($'" he $e%e)a 3ae, se$)e'#4e ' he pe$s' 4ha$6ea*%e 5#h he 3u 5h#4hhas ' *ee %e)#e3 '$ pa#3 '$ 5h#4h has *eesh'$%e)#e3 '$ sh'$pa#3 '$ ' 5h'" he $e(u3 has

    e$$'e'us% *ee "a3e, $e9u#$#6 h#" ' sh'54ause 5h he sh'u%3 ' pa he a"'u spe4#(#e3# he '#4eG

    P$')#3e3 ha 5he$e a 3u '( e24#se has '*ee %e)#e3 '$ pa#3 '$ has *ee sh'$%e)#e3 '$ sh'$pa#3 '$ e$$'e'us% $e(u3e3 * $eas' '( ($au3, 4'%%us#' '$ a 5#%(u% "#ssae"e '$ supp$ess#' '( (a4s, '$ 4'$a)e#' '( a '( hep$')#s#'s '( h#s A4 '$ '( he $u%es "a3ehe$eu3e$ 5#h #e ' e)a3e pa"e '( 3u, *su4h pe$s' '$ h#s a6e, he p$')#s#'s '( h#ssu*se4#' sha%% ha)e e((e4, as #( ('$ he 5'$3s s#2"'hs, he 5'$3s (#)e ea$s 5e$e su*s#ue3.

    Ru%e

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    10/40Page 10

    $e6#se$e3 pe$s' '( a p$#)ae 5a$eh'use # 5h#4he24#sa*%e 6''3s a$e s'$e3

    '. R"(%)"r* %# +,$*.- E)e$ pe$s' 5h' p$'3u4es,4u$es '$ "au(a4u$es a e24#sa*%e 6''3s, '$ 5h's'$es su4h 6''3s # a 5a$eh'use, sha%% pa he3u '$ 3u#es %e)#a*%e ' su4h 6''3s, a su4h #"ea3 p%a4e a3 ' su4h pe$s's as "a *e3es#6ae3, #, '$ u3e$ auh'$# '( hese $u%es,5hehe$ he pa"e '( su4h 3u '$ 3u#es #sse4u$e3 * *'3 '$ 'he$5#se.

    P$')#3e3 ha 'h#6 4'a#e3 # h#s $u%e sha%%app% ' "'%asses p$'3u4e3 # a kha3sa$# su6a$ 

    (a4'$.

    P$')#3e3 (u$he$ ha # $espe4 '( 6''3s (a%%#6u3e$ Chape$ @< '( he F#$s S4he3u%e ' heCe$a% E24#se Ta$#(( A4, 1/? ? '(  1/@, "au(a4u$e3 ' !'*5'$k, he p$')#s#'s '( hese $u%es sha%% app% su*!e4 ' he p$')#s#'s '( $u%e -AA.

    . O a $ea3#6 '( he a('$esa#3 p$')#s#'s, # #s 4%ea$ ha

    Sh$# Ra!shekha$ Ra', %ea$e3 4'use% appea$#6 ' *eha%( '( 

    he appe%%as #s 4'$$e4 K he$e #s # (a4 ' sepa$ae

    "a4h#e$ p$')#3e3 * he Ce$a% E24#ses a3 Sa% A4 '

    p$'4ee3 a6a#s a 3ea3 pe$s' 5he # 4'"es ' assess#6 h#"

    ' a2 u3e$ he A4.

    /. The p's##' u3e$ he I4'"e Ta2 A4, 1/

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    11/40Page 11

    Se4'3 A"e3"e A4 '( 1/++. P$#'$ ' he #$'3u4#' '( 

    he a('$esa#3 Se4#', he B'"*a H#6h C'u$ ha3 '44as#' '

    3ea% 5#h a s#"#%a$ 9ues#' # C%mmi&&i%n"r %# In(%m" Ta

    B%m/a* ). Ei& C. R"i+, A.I.R. 1/+1 B'"*a +++. A D#)#s#'

    Be4h '( he B'"*a H#6h C'u$ '#4e3 he 3e(###' '( 

    assessee 4'a#e3 # Se4#'

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    12/40Page 12

    These a$e, I h#k, he '% "ae$#a% p$')#s#'s, '( he A4. I #s ' *e '#4e3 ha he$e #s h$'u6h'uhe A4 ' $e(e$e4e ' he 3e4ease '( a pe$s' '5h'" he a2 has *ee '$#6#a%% 4ha$6e3, a3 # #s)e$ 3#((#4u% ' supp'se he '"#ss#' ' ha)e *eeu#e#'a%. I "us ha)e *ee p$ese ' he "#3'( he %e6#s%au$e ha 5hae)e$ p$#)#%e6es hepa"e '( I4'"ea2 "a 4'(e$, he p$#)#%e6e '( #""'$a%# #s ' a"'6s he". E)e$ pe$s'%#a*%e ' pa a2 "us e4essa$#% 3#e a3 #p$a4#4a%% e)e$ 4ase, *e('$e he %as #sa%%"ehas *ee 4'%%e4e3, a3 he %e6#s%au$e has '4h'se ' "ake a p$')#s#'s e2p$ess% 3ea%#65#h assess"e '(, '$ $e4')e$#6 pa"e ($'",

    he esae '( a 3e4ease3 pe$s'. I '$3e$ ha he=')e$"e "a su44ee3 a3 he assess"e"a3e # h#s 4ase "a *e he%3 %e6a% I h#k, 'e"us 3' a 4e$a# a"'u '( )#'%e4e ' he%a6ua6e '( Se4#'

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    a(e$ assess"e *u *e('$e pa"e. a pa6e++?

    1. =#)e he a('$esa#3 3e4#s#' '( he B'"*a H#6h C'u$,

    he %e6#s%au$e 5as 9u#4k ' a"e3 he I4'"e Ta2 A4, 1/

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    14/40Page 14

    I4'"ea2 O((#4e$ "a "ake a assess"e '( he'a% #4'"e '( su4h pe$s' a3 3ee$"#e he a2paa*%e * h#" ' he *as#s '( su4h assess"e,a3 ('$ h#s pu$p'se "a, * he #ssue '( heapp$'p$#ae '#4e 5h#4h 5'u%3 ha)e ha3 ' *ese$)e3 up' he 3e4ease3 pe$s' ha3 he su$)#)e3,$e9u#$e ($'" he e2e4u'$, a3"##s$a'$ '$ 'he$ %e6a% $ep$esea#)e '( he 3e4ease3 pe$s' aa44'us, 3'4u"es '$ 'he$ e)#3e4e 5h#4h he"#6h u3e$ he p$')#s#'s '( se4#'s

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    15/40Page 15

    "#3 '( he %e6#s%au$e ha 5hae)e$ p$#)#%e6es hepa"e '( #4'"ea2 "a 4'(e$, he p$#)#%e6e '( #""'$a%# #s ' a"'6s he". E)e$ pe$s'%#a*%e ' pa a2 "us e4essa$#% 3#e a3, #p$a4#4a%% e)e$ 4ase, *e('$e he %as #sa%"ehas *ee 4'%%e4e3, a3 he %e6#s%au$e has '4h'se ' "ake a p$')#s#'s e2p$ess% 3ea%#65#h assess"e '(, '$ $e4')e$#6 pa"e ($'" heesae '( a 3e4ease3 pe$s'.

    The #3#)#3ua% assessee has '$3#a$#% ' *e a %#)#6pe$s' a3 he$e 4a *e ' assess"e ' a 3ea3pe$s' a3 he assess"e #s a 4ha$6e # $espe4'( he #4'"e '( he p$e)#'us ea$ a3 ' a 4ha$6e

    # $espe4 '( he #4'"e '( he ea$ '( assess"eas "easu$e3 * he #4'"e '( he p$e)#'us ea$.7a%%a4e B$'he$s & C'. L3. ) C'""#ss#'e$ '( I4'"ea2. B se4#'

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

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    he%3 ha e)e a(e$ Se4#'

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    17/40Page 17

    a44'$3a4e 5#h a3 su*!e4 ' he p$')#s#'s '( he A4, a3 he Le6#s%au$e has ' p$')#3e3 ha he#4'"e $e4e#)e3 * a %e6a% $ep$esea#)e 5h#4h5'u%3, *u ('$ he 3eah '( he 3e4ease3, ha)e *ee$e4e#)e3 * su4h 3e4ease3 pe$s', #s ' *e$e6a$3e3 ('$ he pu$p'se '( assess"e as hepe$s'a% #4'"e '( he %e6a% $ep$esea#)e. T'assess a2 ' su4h $e4e#ps ' he (''#6 ha # #she pe$s'a% #4'"e '( he %e6a% $ep$esea#)e #s '4ha$6e a2 ' # a44'$3a4e 5#h he p$')#s#'s '( he A4. a pa6e +?

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    18/40Page 18

    'u # he 5' Sup$e"e C'u$ !u36"es $e(e$$e3 ' a*')e,

    5e$e s'u6h ' *e $e4#(#e3 # he e5 p$')#s#'s 4'a#e3 #

    he 1/@1 A4. Se4#'s 1?/ a3 1@ '( he A4 a$e app's#e #

    h#s $e6a$3 a3 $ea3 as ('%%'5sG

    1?/. 1 7he$e a pe$s' 3#es, h#s %e6a%$ep$esea#)e sha%% *e %#a*%e ' pa a su" 5h#4hhe 3e4ease3 5'u%3 ha)e *ee %#a*%e ' pa #( heha3 ' 3#e3, # he %#ke "ae$ a3 ' he sa"ee2e as he 3e4ease3.

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    19/40Page 19

    he 3e4ease3, 5h#4h a$e #, '$ "a 4'"e #', h#sp'ssess#', *u su4h %#a*#%# sha%% *e %#"#e3 ' he)a%ue '( he asse s' 4ha$6e3, 3#sp'se3 '( '$ pa$e35#h.

    ? The p$')#s#'s '( su*se4#'

  • 8/20/2019 Proceedings Under the Excise Act to Abate With the Death of the Assessee

    20/40Page 20

    : I 4'"pu#6 he 'a% #4'"e '( a p$e)#'usea$ u3e$ h#s se4#', a #4'"e '( he esae '( ha p$e)#'us ea$ 3#s$#*ue3 ', '$ app%#e3 ' he*ee(# '(, a spe4#(#4 %e6aee '( he esae 3u$#6ha p$e)#'us ea$ sha%% *e e24%u3e3 *u he #4'"es' e24%u3e3 sha%% *e #4%u3e3 # he 'a% #4'"e '( he p$e)#'us ea$ '( su4h spe4#(#4 %e6aee.

    1?. I 5#%% *e '#4e3 ha u3e$ Se4#' 1?/

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    21/40Page 21

    *e4'"es 4ha$6ea*%e # he ha3s '( he e2e4u'$ '( su4h 5#%%.

    Th#s #s "a3e 4%ea$ * Se4#' 1@.

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