Khawaja FAROOQ BAKHSH And Others vs PROVINCE OF THE PUNJAB And Other
The petitioners sought leave to appeal against the judgment of the High Court dismissing their writ petition concerning the levy of property tax by the Excise and Taxation Department on a hotel. The core legal question involved the manner in which the Department is empowered to assess the rent received by the landlord for property tax purposes, specifically whether assessment based on presumed income of the hotel management is permissible under the law. The Supreme Court held that the contentions raised by the petitioners regarding the method of assessment require further consideration. Consequently, the Court granted leave to appeal to examine the proper interpretation and application of Section 5 of the West Pakistan Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance, 1959 and related rules.
- Is the Department empowered to assess property tax rent on the basis of income presumed to have been earned by a hotel management?
- Whether the method of assessing rent for property tax purposes complies with Section 5 of the West Pakistan Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance, 1959?
- Section 5, West Pakistan Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance 1959
ORDER
ASLAM RIAZ HUSSAIN, J.--Petitioners seek leave to appeal against the judgment of the High Court, dated 12-5-1979, dismissing their writ petition in a matter relating to the levy of property tax by the Excise and Taxation Department.
2. The question involved relates to the manner in which the said Department, is empowered to assess the rent received by the landlord, for the purpose of levying property tax thereon. In the present case the property in question is a hotel and it is asserted by the petitioners that the respondent-Department has assessed the rent arbitrarily on the basis of income presumed to have been earned by the Hotel Management. Learned counsel has referred to Lyallpur Cotton Mills Ltd. v. Commissioner, Sargodha Division and another PLD 1976 SC 615 to contend that the method of assessing the rent was not permissible under the relevant law i.e. Section 5 of the West Pakistan Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance, 1959 read with the relevant provisions of rule ti made under the said Act.
We feel that the contentions need further consideration. Leave is, therefore, granted for the purpose.
Security in the sum of Rs.2,000.
To be argued on the same record with permission to file additional documents.
3. Since it is an old case it may be fixed at an early date.