Pulling up Sesa Sterlite for not complying with its earlier order, the Supreme Court on Monday asked it to deposite balance R23.29 crore within eight weeks, failing which the Orissa government can take coercive steps to recover its entry tax dues.
A bench headed by Jutsice HL Dattu asked the Vedanta group company to deposite R10 crore within four weeks and the balance amount in four weeks thereafter. ?In case of default, the respondent (Orissa government) can take all steps including coercive steps to recover the amount,? the bench ordered.
The company was supposed to pay entry tax to the tune of Rs 119 crore on goods imported by it in Orissa between 2008 and 2012. The apex court had earlier allowed it to deposite 50% of the dues as demanded by the state government. However, the company paid only R29 crore till now allegedly on the ground that no entry tax was liable to be paid in the SEZ area.
The Orissa High Court had earlier upheld the state?s decision to tax the import of capital goods under the provisions of the Orissa Entry Tax Rules, 1999. Big companies, such as Vedanta Aluminium, Essar Steel, Tata Steel, Adani, Bharti Telemedia, Hindalco and MSP Metallics had challenged
the levy.