(1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Passengers Taxation Act, 1963.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(1) There shall be levied, charged and paid to the Government a tax on all fares in respect of all passengers carried by motor vehicles, at such rate not exceeding 30 of the value of the fare as may be notified by the Government from time to time in this behalf subject to a maximum of two Naya Paise in any one case the amount of tax being calculated to the nearest Naya Paisa.
1[3-A. Payment of tax in lump.—Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3 an owner may, in lieu of tax chargeable under the Act opt to pay by way of composition such sum of money the lump sum as may be determined from time to time by the Government with reference to the seating capacity of Motor Vehicle and notified by it :
An owner who has opted or shall opt to pay the tax in lump sum and has collected or shall collect tax in excess of the amount payable under sub-section (1) shall pay to the Government in the prescribed manner the tax collected in excess.]
The tax shall be collected by the owner of the motor vehicle and paid to the Government in the prescribed manner.
Save as otherwise provided by this Act, no passenger shall be allowed to travel by the owner in a motor vehicle unless he is issued a ticket in the prescribed form for the journey, denoting that the tax has been paid.
(1) An owner may be required to keep such accounts and to submit such returns at such intervals and to such authority as may be prescribed :
1[7. Authorities under the Act.—(1) For carrying out the purposes of this Act, the Government shall appoint one or more persons as the Commissioners under this Act and such other persons to assist him as it thinks fit in this behalf.]
No owner shall ply for hire his motor vehicle in the *State unless he is in possession of a valid registration certificate as provided hereinafter.
(1) A registration certificate shall be granted in the prescribed manner to any owner applying therefor to the prescribed authority on payment of a 1[fee of twenty-five rupees].
The Government may, by general or special order and subject to specific condition, if any, 1[exempt either partly or in full, any person or class of persons from the operation of any of the provisions] of this Act, if in its opinion such exemption would be expedient in the public interest.
An owner shall, in the prescribed manner, furnish to the 1[Assessing authority] a table of fares of public service vehicles, a table regulating timings of arrival and departure of motor vehicles and such other particulars connected with the business as the 1[Assessing authority] may, by order from time to time, require.
(1) Any arrears of tax or penalty imposed under this Act shall be recoverable as an arrear of land revenue.
1[12-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) The driver of a motor vehicle shall cause the vehicle to stop and remain stationary, when required so to do by any 1[Assessing authority] in order to enable the said authority to carry out any duty imposed by or under this Act and the said authority may also enter and travel in the motor vehicle for doing so.
(1) The 1[Assessing authority] may, if he has reason to believe that the driver of a motor vehicle charged with any offence under this Act may abscond or otherwise avoid the service of summons, seize any licence held by such driver and forward it to the Court taking cognizance of the offence.
A passenger shall, upon demand made during the course of or immediately before or after the journey, produce to any 1[Assessing authority] the ticket, voucher or document relating to his travel. On his failure to do so he would be chargeable with twice the fare as penalty. In case of his failure to pay the amount determined it shall be recoverable from the driver of the vehicle if it is proved that he allowed the passenger to travel without a ticket for the journey.
1[16. Appeals. ––2[(1) The owner of the vehicle or any other person objecting to an order passed by the Assessing Authority, other than Deputy Sales Tax Commissioner (Adm.), may appeal to the Appellate Authority or if the order is made by the Deputy Sales Tax Commissioner (Adm.) to the Commissioner :
1[16-A. Appeals to the Tribunal. ––(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, any person aggrieved by an order passed under section 16 may within three months from the date of such order prefer an appeal to the Tribunal.
The provision of section 5 and section 12 of the 1[Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963)] shall apply to appeals and revisions filed under this Act before the Appellate Authority, Reviewing Authority or the Tribunal.
In discharging 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 apply mutatis mutandis for referring any question of law under this Act to the High Court].
1[17. Revisions. ––(1) Commissioner may, of his own motion call for the records of any proceedings which are pending before, or have been disposed of by the Appellate Authority or any authority appointed under section 7 to assist the Commissioner for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of such proceedings or of any order made therein and may pass such orders in relation thereto as he may think fit.
1[17-A. Penalty imposable.–– If any person—
(1) Whoever—
(1) The 1[Assessing authority] may, at any time, accept from any person, who has committed an offence under section 18, by way of composition of such offence, a sum of money not exceeding one thousand rupees or double the amount of tax involved, whichever is greater.
1[19-A. Immunity from penalty and interest in certain cases.–– Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government may, if it is of the opinion for reasons to be recorded in writing, that it is necessary or expedient so to do in public interest, by notification grant immunity from penalty for any offence under this Act or reduce or remit interest on arrears of tax assessed by the concerned authorities subject to such conditions as it may like to impose for such period, not exceeding six months, as may be specified :
No prosecution shall lie against any person authorised under this Act, for anything done or purporting to have been done in good faith under this Act or the rules made thereunder.
No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction in any matter which the Government or any 1[Assessing authority] is empowered by this Act or the rules made thereunder to dispose of or take cognizance of, and regarding the manner in which the Government or any 1[Assessing authority] exercise any powers vested in it or him by or under this Act or the rules made thereunder.
The 1[Assessing authority] shall, in the prescribed manner, refund to a registered owner, applying in this behalf, any amount of tax paid by such owner in excess of the amount due from him under this Act.
1[22-A. Rectification of mistake. ––(1) The Commissioner, Appellate Authority, Assessing authority or any authorised officer may, either on his own motion or on an application, at time within four years from the date of any order passed by him, rectify any mistake apparent on the face of any order made by him :
(1) The Government may make rules, consistent with this Act, for securing the payment of the tax and generally for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.