Finance Act, 1981

The Commissioner of Wealth Tax, Gujarat sought to assess Ellis Bridge Gymkhana, an unincorporated club, for wealth tax for assessment years 1970‑71 to 1977‑78, arguing that the club fell within the term “individual” in Section 3 of the Wealth Tax Act, 1957. The club contended that an association of persons is not an in…

The Union of India challenged the clearance of aluminium dross and skimmings by Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. without payment of excise duty. The company claimed credit for duty paid on aluminium ingots under Rule 56A while clearing aluminium sheets, and argued that the dross and skimmings, being waste, were not excisable …

The petitioners, a consortium of newspaper publishers, challenged the imposition of customs and auxiliary duties on imported newsprint under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, arguing that the levy infringed their freedom of speech and expression (Art. 19(1)(a)) and the right to practice a professi…

The Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) challenged the assessment of surtax on its agreements with foreign companies, contending that the exemption notification GSR 307(E) dated 31‑03‑1983 under Section 24AA of the Companies (Profits) Surtax Act, 1964, covered both categories of foreign companies – those with dire…