(1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir 1[Motor Spirit and Diesel Oil] (Taxation of Sales) Act, 2005.
In this Act unless there be anything repugnant in the context,—
1[3. Levy of tax.—Subject to the Provisions of this Act, every dealer shall pay to the Government a tax on the sale of motor spirit and diesel oil at such rate or rates not exceeding 2[forty percent], advalorem as may be specified by the Government by notification in the *[Government Gazette] :
1[3-A. Levy of cess.––(1) Every dealer liable to pay tax under section 3 shall also be liable to pay a cess on the volume of 2[Motor Spirit and Diesel Oil other than Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and Natural Gas] sold within the 3[Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir] at a rate not exceeding Rs. 5 per litre, and subject to such conditions, as the Government may by notification in the 4[Official Gazette] specify from time to time.
1[3-B. Omitted].
When the payment of any tax or penalty under this Act falls due the amount may be recovered as if it were an arrears of land revenue.
(1) Any question as to whether a tax or penalty is recoverable under this Act, the person from whom it is due and the amount so recoverable shall be determined by the Petrol Taxation Officer for the area where the sale takes place.
After the expiry of a period of two months from the commencement of this Act, no person shall carry on business as 1[ ] dealer unless he is in possession of a valid licence.
(1) Except as provided hereunder, a licence shall be granted to any person applying therefor to the Petrol Taxation Officer on payment of a fee of not more than 1[one hundred] rupees, if any, as may be prescribed.
(1) The Petrol Taxation Officer may, after giving the licensee an opportunity to be heard, suspend or cancel a licence for a breach of any of the conditions which may be prescribed as the conditions subject to which a licence is granted.
1[9. Penalty.––If any person,—
1[9-A. Interest on delay in payment of tax etc.—If any amount of tax, penalty or any other sum payable under this Act, except the amount payable under this section, is not paid within the time prescribed or specified in the notice of demand, as the case may be, the person who is in default shall in addition to such tax, penalty or any other sum pay interest at 2 per month for each month of default.
1[(1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 6 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or to a sum double the amount of the tax due in respect of the sale of any 2[motor spirit or diesel oil] conducted by or on behalf of such person, whichever is greater.
1[10-A. Power to set up check posts and road barriers. ––(1) For purposes of preventing evasion in the payment of tax under this Act or the rules made thereunder, the Government may by notification in the *[Government Gazette] setup check-posts and road barriers at such places and in such manner as it may specify in the notification.
(1) A Magistrate may issue a warrant— (a) for the arrest of any person whom he has reason to believe to have committed an offence punishable under this Act, or
All searches made under the provisions of this Act shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the 1[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)].
The provisions of section 61 of the 1[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], shall apply to all arrests without warrant made under the provisions of this Act.
Every person employed by Government, by any local body or by the Court of Wards, every village headman, village accountant and village watchman shall give immediate information to the 1[Deputy Commissioner] of the commission of any offence or of the intention of preparation to commit any offence punishable under this Act which may come to his knowledge.
1[(1) An officer not below the rank of Petrol Taxation Officer shall have power to investigate all offences punishable under this Act within the area for which he is appointed.]
All offences punishable under this Act shall be bailable.
Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act who,—
Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act who vexatiously and unnecessarily delays forwarding to a Magistrate any person arrested under this Act and not released by him on bail shall, on conviction, be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
(1) The 1[Commissioner] may accept from any person who has committed an offence punishable under this Act, by way of composition of such offence, a sum of money not exceeding one thousand rupees or a sum double the amount of the tax payable under section 3 in respect of any sale conducted by such person, whichever is greater.
The powers of Government to appoint any person or to invest any person with any authority prescribed by the Act may be exercised by the Minister-in-Charge, subject to the orders of Government.
(1) Any civil or criminal proceedings instituted against any person in respect of any act done or purporting to be done in the exercise of any powers or the execution of duty under this Act shall be dismissed unless the court is satisfied that the act complained of was not done in good faith.
1[22. Appeals. —(1) A dealer or any other assesses objecting to an order passed by the Petrol Taxation Officer may within 30 days from the date on which he is served with a notice of demand appeal to such Appellate Authority as the Government may authorise in this behalf :
1[22-A. Appeals to the Tribunal.––(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any person aggrieved by an order passed under section 22 may within three months from the date of such order prefer an appeal to the Tribunal.
(1) The Commissioner may, of his own motion call for the records of any proceedings which are pending before the Petrol Taxation Officer or have been disposed of by the Appellate Authority for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of such proceedings or any order made therein and may pass such order in relation thereto as he may think fit.
The provisions of section 5 and section 12 of *[the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963)], shall apply to appeals, revisions filed under this Act before Appellate Authority, Reviewing Authority or the Tribunal.
In discharging its functions under this Act, the Tribunal shall have the same powers as are exercisable by it under the Jammu and Kashmir General Sales Tax Act, 1962.
The provisions of section 12-D of the Jammu and Kashmir General Sales Tax Act, 1962 shall mutatis mutandis apply for referring any question of law under this Act to the High Court.]
Any order made under this Act, other than an order made by a Criminal Court, may be reviewed by the officer making it or his successor, but not to the disadvantage of the person against whom it is made, unless he has done anything to mislead the officer passing the order.
1[23-A. Refunds.— The Petrol Taxation Officer shall, in the prescribed manner, refund to dealer any amount of tax, penalty or any other amount paid in excess of the amount due from him under this Act :
The Commissioner shall superintend the administration and the collection of tax leviable under this Act and shall also have the following powers:—
(1) The Government may make rules to carry out all or any of the purposes of this Act.
The Government may, by a general or special order, empower any person to perform any functions exercisable by Government under this Act, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by Government in that behalf.