I being resident of neighbourhood state of Telangana while travelling in course of meeting my son who resides in telangana in my four wheeler was stopped by Motor vehicle inspector of telangana govt and we were served a notice insisting for payment of life tax for my vehiles under the pretext that it is moving in telangana for more than 30 days and also collected original licence etc and told us that we will get them back only after payment of LLT and left the place. Having no alternate and helpless in other state couple of days later ( in the Month of March 2015) we did pay the Life time tax amounting to Rs 29000/- and got back originals from MVI
Few days back the Honorable Hyderabad High court has quashed the Go under which we were made to pay LTT. In a writ petition filed by other ( not by us) similiarly placed persons refe( writ petition NO>6978 of 2015) holding that once a life time tax is paid at the time of purchase of vehicle irrespective of states where it is purchased there is no provision for levying LTT second or any other times.
Now my question is whether it is possible for us to get back the amount which have been collected from us under the GO which has been now held illegal and without the power of authority by Transport Department of Telangana.
Kindly show us the way if any and how we should approach the matter
Dear Subhash Chandra,
You need to obtain the High Court order quashing the imposition of Life Time Tax and read the judtgement. If it is mentioned that the Life Time Tax cannot be collected from vehicles from outside moving around in Telangana from a certain date, it would be applicable like that. If the Court had given orders quashing the Life Tax for outside vehicles moving in Telangana for brief period, you may get your money back. You may contact a good Lawyer good in Motor Vehicle Act and act according to his advice.
Further, you have not mentioned your Employment. Many states give exemption from paying Life Time Tax for Officials of Nationalised Banks, Military, Navy, Air Force and other jobs where the Officials get transferred pan India. If you are in the exempted category, it is not correct for the MV Authorities to collect Life Tax. Telangana being a new state, they would not have any laws of their own. The laws as made out in the combined Andhra Pradaesh State are being followed now.
sir,
Of course iam certainly not covered under exemption clause as I am an retired employee of different state govt
The Go under reference was enacted on 4/2/2015 and writ petition was filed on 18/3/2015 and I did pay the LTT at fag end of March 2015. The Go under reference was quashed by Honourable High Court in the first week of April 2015. Accordingly is it not right to hold that whatever tax collected or notices issued during the period from date of enactment of GO and date of prouncement of verdict (quashing the Go) is without power of authority hence illegal?
Dear Sir,
Unfurtunately, inour country going to Court and obtention of Stay Order etc.is quite expensive both financially and timewise. Otherwise, when your vehicle papers were confiscated by the MV Inspector as if he has a proof that you are moving around in Telangana beyond permitted period, a writ should have been filed then itself directly implicating that MV Inspector by name.
However, it cannot be done now.
OK coming to the point, I am of the opinion that without actually reading the High Court Order, we cannot presume conclusions and try to go ahead half-cocked. It is better to obtain the judgement, read and then seek legal help. It will cost money and surely you have to visit the place where the case can be filed and thereby you have to spare your time.
I shall surely say that the MV Inspector behaved in a very high handed manner even without considering you being a Senior Citizen.
Ho
Sir,
Yes filing an writ petition was one of the option at that time but being out sider It would have been costlier and taxingas much hence did not opt it given the situation. As for as judgement, I do have a copy of but unable to find option here to attach it since it is in pdf format
My question is whether Judgement applies retrospectivly ie, from the date of enactment of GO under reference
Dear Sir,
That is exactly what I am trying to tell. To know whether the judgement shall be applicable from retrospective effect or from the date of judgement,we need to go through the operative part. Since it is a judgement on a Write petition, challenging the law itself and not a specific incident, I am of the view that it shall be with retrospective effect.
For attaching a file, please look below the box where you are typing the reply and you will find on the left side a small black rectangle with words "Attach a file" in white. Click on that and you can attach a pdf as you attach file in your e mail.
You may take the advise of local advocate and proceed with the legal action if there are chances to get refund.
Sir
Thanks for guiding me
I hereby attach judgement File for your reference
Dear Sir,
I have gone through the Order Dated18 03 2015 and it is noted that Government has no authority to impose Life Tax once again on a vehicle which entered the state which was registered in another state. This is very clear from the Order. Since High Court expressed as above, the order is effective right from beginning and the RTA/RTO is not in order in imposing any life tax on the vehicles.
However, while concluding Honorable High Court mentioned as follows:
""...Direct the concerned respondent authority to hear and take note of specific power to impose life time tax on a vehicle which has been registered admittedly in another state. This exercise shall be completed within a period of three weeks from the date of communication of this order...."
The time is almost over and the authority concerned must have completed the exercise and whether they had come to a conclusion in the matter is not known.
However, I am of the view that quoting this Order sent attached to your query, a case can be filed and maintained in appropriate court. Therefore, you may contact a suitable Lawyer in the place where the cause of action arose and file a case in the appropriate court.
Once word of caution I wish to add here that although chances of winning are bright, it depends upon how the case is presented and how best the Order on the Write Petition is utilised as a case law.
Anyhow, all the best to you.
sir
Thanks for being in loop and I have taken note of your suggestion and decided to wait till govt files their response to direction issued in the matter (after three weeks)
To be fair to myself I am still unable to comprehend the legal meaning (in laymans parlance or term) of this direction quoted below
"Direct the concerned respondent authority to hear and take note of specific power to impose life time tax on a vehicle which has been registered admittedly in another state. This exercise shall be completed within a period of three weeks from the date of communication of this order...."
Kindly elaborate if possible
subhaschandra
