Entry Tax Matter before 9 Judges Bench; SC Registry directs all Advocates for the parties to file respective submissions

The Supreme Court Registry has issued a notice Today reminding all the Advocates appearing in a batch of Cases relating to Entry Tax, to file their respective submissions/compilations to Senior Advocate Harish Salve as well as to the Court. The matter is listed for hearing before a Nine Judges Bench in the week starting from 18^th July. It is also informed that in view of the Court's Order dated 11^th May, 2016 no adjournment will be given in the matter.

A three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court on 11^th May,2016 made it clear that all the matters relating to the States’ Goods Entry Tax will be heard by a Nine Judges Bench in the week commencing 18th July, 2016. Many Companies including Vedanta and Reliance have challenged entry tax provisions of various states on the ground that they are inconsistent with Article 301 of the Constitution of India which deals with Freedom of trade commerce and intercourse.

FROM THE ORDER

“Mr. Harish N. Salve, learned senior counsel appearing for some of the petitioners, submits that he would file a comprehensive compilation of his submission on each one of the questions that have been referred for determination by the larger Bench. This would include suggestions which other counsel appearing in the connected matters may have to make including citing the decided cases relied upon by them or any additional facets that they may like to project in support of their cases. We accordingly permit Mr. Salve to file a common comprehensive compilation of all submissions relevant to the points referred to for determination supported by the decisions relied on behalf of the assessees concerned. Learned counsel for the State Governments are similarly free to have the decisions relied upon by the States to be included in the common Compilation to be filed by Mr. Salve. We make it clear that apart from the comprehensive compilation which Mr. Salve proposes to file, each one of the counsel for the parties to these appeals/petitions shall file a brief of the submissions not exceeding 10 pages in each case. The submission shall be filed within six weeks from today. We make it clear that none of the counsel shall be permitted to seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for hearing. No further notice regarding this need be issued by the Registry. This order shall be uploaded on the official website of the Supreme Court for information of all those who are not present today at this hearing. The Registry shall club all the connected matters and list them for final hearing before the larger Bench in the week commencing 18th July, 2016”.

Read the notice here.