Holding

The 7 May 1990 notification withdrawing the sales‑tax exemption for oil industries is a valid exercise of the State’s power, and supervening public interest prevails over any claim of promissory estoppel.

Summary

The State of Rajasthan, under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954, issued an incentive scheme in 1987 exempting new industrial units, including oil extraction and manufacturing, from sales tax. In 1990 the State withdrew this exemption for oil industries by a notification issued under both the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act and the Central Sales Tax Act, citing supervening public interest. Maha Veer Oil Industries applied for an eligibility certificate, was denied, and challenged the 1990 notification; the High Court quashed the notification and ordered issuance of the certificate. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the 1990 notification was a valid exercise of the State's power and that a supervening public interest outweighs the doctrine of promissory estoppel, rendering the respondents ineligible for the exemption. However, the Court allowed the respondents to retain benefits accrued up to 4 April 1994, consistent with its earlier decision in the Gopal Oil Mills case. The appeal was disposed of, upholding the notification and limiting retained benefits.

Issues considered

The validity of the 7 May 1990 notification withdrawing sales tax exemption for oil industries under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954.
Whether the doctrine of promissory estoppel bars the State from withdrawing the incentive scheme benefit.
Whether a supervening public interest can override promissory estoppel in the context of tax incentive schemes.
Whether the respondents are entitled to retain benefits accrued before the Supreme Court’s interim stay of 4 April 1994.

Legislation cited

Central Sales Tax Act, 1956s. 8(5)
Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954s. 4(2)

Subjects

Promissory estoppelSupervening public interestSales tax exemptionIncentive schemeRajasthan Sales Tax ActCentral Sales Tax ActTax policyPublic interest

Judgment

A STATE OF RAJASTHAN AND ANR.
v.
M/S. MAHA VEER OIL INDUSTRIES AND ORS.

APRIL 22, 1999

B [MRS. SUJATA V. MANOHAR, D.P. MOHAPATRA AND
R.C. LAHOTI, JJ.]

Administrative Law :

C Promissory estoppel-Oil extraction and manufacturing industry-
Exemption notification dated 23.5.1987-!ncentive scheme to new industries
exempting from payment of sales tax-Failure of the scheme to achieve its
object in oil industry-Notification dated 7. 5.1990, withdrawing benefit of
exemption from oil industries-Validity of-Held; supervening public interest
to prevail over promissory estoppel-Government not precluded from
D withdrawing benefit of sche"Je in public interest-Notification dated 7.5.1990
issued in valid exercise of power by State Government-Oil industries not
entitled to claim exemption-Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954-Sec. 4(2)-
Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.

E Respondent-industry was engaged in the business of oil extraction and
.manufacture. Appellant-State issued a notification dated 23.5.1987, under
Sec. 4(2) of the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954, exempting inter alia, new
industrial units from payment of sales tax. Oil extracting and manufacturing
industries were eligible for the benefits of the said scheme. During the
subsistence of the said scheme the State Government by a notification dated
F 7.5.1990, amended the notification dated 23.5.1987. The benefits ofincentiVe
scheme was withdrawn from oil extracting and manufacturing industries
both under the State Sales Tax Act and Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.
Respondents, application for eligibility certificate was rejected. Thus, writ
petition before High Court was filed challenging the notification dated
G 7.5.1990. Single Judge of the High Court quashed the said notification and,_
directed· the appellant to issue eligibility certificate to respondents. In the
meantime, High Court in Gopal Oil Mills* case allowed the benefit of
incentive scheme, which on appeal was stayed by this Court on 4.4.1994 ..
Subsequently, this Court in the said case upheld the validity of notification
dated 7.5.1990 under the State Sales Tax Act and set aside the one issued
H under the Central Sales Tax Act. The Division Bench of the High Court, in
798
STATE v. MAHA VEER OIL INDUSTRIES 799
the instant case, without noticing the judgment of this Court in Gopal Oil A,
Mills *case dismissed the appeal of State. Hence the present appeal.

On behalf of the appellant-State it was contended that it was open in
public interest to withdraw any concession which it may have granted under
the incentive scheme.
B
On the other hand, the contention of the respondents was that by
framing the incentive scheme, the State had held out a promise and relying
upon that promise they had taken out effective steps to set up the new
industrial unit within that period. Hence on the doctrine of promissory
estoppel, it would not be open to the State to withdraw the benefit of the
scheme by the notification of 7.5.1990. C
Disposing of the appeal, this Court

HELD: 1. The notification dated 7.5.1990, withdrawing the benefits
under the incentive scheme, was issued in valid exercise of power by the D
appellant-State. Thus, respondent-industries were not entitled to the benefit
of the incentive scheme, exempting payment of sales tax under the Rajasthan
Sales Tax Act, 1954. (807-G]

2.1. Public interest requires that the State be held bound by the promise
held out by it. But this does not preclude the state from withdrawing the E
benefit prospectively even during the period of the scheme, if public interest
so requires. Even in a case where a party has acted on the promise, if there
is any supervening public interest which requires that the benefit be
withdrawn or the scheme be modified, that supervening public interest would
prevail over any promissory estoppel. (805-F-GJ •
F
Kasinka Trading & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr., (1995J 1 SCC 274;
Union of India & Ors. v. Godhawani Brothers & Anr., (1997) 11 SCC 173
and Shrijee Sales Corporation & Anr. v. Union of India, (1997) 3 SCC 398,
relied on.

2.2. In the instant case, appellant-State has pointed out in their affidavit, G
the experience with regard to implementation of the said incentive scheme
during the years 1988 and I 989 revealed that the object of having more new
industries in the areas specified could not be achieved, particularly in the
case of oil industry and cotton industry. On the contrary, the policy had
adversely affected existing units in the State. Since the tax liability of new H
800 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] 2 S.C.R.

A units was much less, and the tax liability on the old units was high, old units
gradually started closing down while new units started coming up. As a
result, in the two years 1988 and 1989, 64 old units were closed down and
74 new units were started. The closure of old units and their replacement
by new units resulted in blocking of capital and funds invested in the old
units. Therefore, in effect, the incentive scheme as operating for oil industries
B was resulting in closure of existing units and substitution of the same by
new units-which was never the intention of the incentive scheme. It was,
therefore, decided to withdraw the benefit of the scheme in public interest
in respect of oil industry. The notification of7.5.1990, therefore, was clearly
issued on account of a supervening public interest. Secondly, in the present
C case the respondents do not seem to have taken steps which can be considered
as effective steps for starting a new unit prior to the notification of 7.5.1990,
thereby entitling them to invoke the doctrine of promissory estoppel.
(806-C-F)

3. Respondent-industries cannot claim the benefit of an eligibility
D certificate which was granted entirely on account of a judgment of a Single
Judge in their favour which is now being set aside. Therefore, the benefits
flowing from that certificate were clearly subjudice throughout and were
subject to the outcome of the proceedings. However, respondents should be
allowed to retain the benefits they have enjoyed upto 4.4.1994, just as the
other oil industries have been allowed to retain benefits in view of the
E judgment of this Court in Gopal Oil Mills* case. But they cannot retain the
entire benefit they have received beyond 4.4.1994 ·or upto the date of this
judgment on the ground that no stay was granted by this Court while admitting
the special leave petition of the appellants. [809-A-D]

4. The Judgment of the High Court quashing the notification of7.5.1990
F issued in respect of the incentive scheme under the Central Sales Tax Act
is upheld in the light of the decision of this court in Gopal Oil Mills* case.
(809-F]

*State of Rajasthan & Anr. v. Gopa/ Oil Mills & Anr, Civil Appeal No.
G 5738of1994, decided by S.C. on 23.2.1995, relied on.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 669of1997.

From the Judgment and Order dated 14.8.95 of the Rajasthan High C<:mrt
in D.B.C.S.A. No 788of1993.

H Prakash Shrivastava and Sushi! KI. Jain for the Appellants.
STATE v. MAHA VEER OIL INDUSTRIES [SlJJATA V. MANOHAR,J.] 801
Pallav Shishodia and A.P. Medh for the Respondents. A
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
MRS. SUJATA V. MANOHAR, J. At all material times the respondent
was an industry engaged in the business of oil extraction and manufacture
in the State of Rajasthan. B
By a notification dated 23rd of May, 1987 issued in the exercise of its
powers under Section 4(2) of the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954, the appellant
- State of Rajasthan notified a Sales Tax Incentive Scheme for Industries, 1987
(hereinafter referred to as the "Incentive Scheme") under which it exempted
(inter alia) new industrial units from· payment of tax on the sale of goods C
manufactured by them for sale within the State of Rajasthan in the manner
and to the extent and for the period as specified in that notification. The
operative period of the scheme under that notification was from 5th of March,
1987 to 31st of March, 1992. It was subsequently extended to 31st March,
1997. The incentive scheme was applicable, inter alia, to new industrial units
set up in areas mentioned in Annexure-A to the notification. Annexure-B sets D
out a list of industries which were not eligible for the benefit of t~e said
notification. Oil extraction or manufacture was not listed in appendix- B.
Hence this industry was eligible for benefits under the scheme of 23rd of May,·
1987.
By another notification dated 23rd of May, I 987 issued under Section E
8(5) of the Central Sales Tax Act the State Government notified another sales
tax incentive scheme for industries exempting (inter alia) new industrial units
from payment of central sales tax on the inter-state sale of goods manufactured
by them within the State of Rajasthan. Under this notification also it was
provided that industries listed in appendix-B would not be eligible for the F
benefit of the scheme. Oil extraction or manufacture was not listed in appendix-
B to this notification. Hence oil extraction units were eligible for exemption
from central sales tax in respect of inter-state sale of their goods.
By a notification dated 6th of July, 1989 issued under Section 4(2) of
the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954 the appellants notified Sales Tax New G
Incentive Scheme for Industries, 1989, to exempt industrial units from payment
of tax on sale of goods manufactured by them within the State of Rajasthan
in the manner and to the extent and for the period covered by that notification.
The new Incentive Scheme of 1989 was deemed to have come into operation
with effect from 5th of March, 1987 and was to remain in force upto 31st of
March, 1992. A similar notification of the same date was issued in respect of H
802 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) 2 S.C.R.

A the central sales tax exemption for the said units under Section 8(5) of th~
Central Sales Tax Act. Under this notification also appendix-B contained a list
of industries not eligible for benefits under the said notification. Once again
oil extraction or manufacture was not listed in appendix-B in either of the two.
notifications.

B By two notifications dated 7th of May, 1990 - one issued under the
Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954 and the other issued under the Central Sales
Tax Act, the notifications of 23rd of May, 1987 were amended. As a result,
by amendment of Annexure-B, oil extracting or manufacturing industry was
added as an entry, thus withdrawing the benefits of the incentive scheme from
C oil extracting and manufacturing industries both in respect of Rajasthan Sales
Tax as also Central Sales Tax. Thereafter by further notifications dated I 0.9. I 990
issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954 and the Central Sales Tax Act,
it was further notified, inter alia, that whenever an industry is included on any
date during the period of operation of the scheme in Annexure-B, the units
of such industry which have started commercial production and whose
D applications for benefit under the scheme are pending on the said date before
the appropriate screening committee will be entitled to claim full benefit of the
scheme.

Thus by reason of the notifications issued on 7.5.1990 the benefit of the
E incentive scheme was withdrawn from oil extracting and manufacturing
industries. Thereafter the position was reviewed by the Finance Department
and the Industry Department of the State of Rajasthan. Ultimately by a
notification dated 26.7.1991 the benefit of exemption from Central Sales Tax
was restored to oil extracting and manufacturing industry to the extent of 75%
in the case of new industries and to the extent of 60% in the case of industries
F going for expansion or diversification. Thus new industrial units established
after 7.5 .1990 and before 26. 7. l 991 alone were not entitled to the benefit of
the Incentive Scheme under the Central Sales Tax Act in respect of inter-state
sales of their goods.

G The respondents commenced commercial production on 17th of February,
199 l. Prior thereto, on 2.4.1991 they applied for an eligibility certificate. The
appellants sent a reply dated 29.4.1991 pointing out that they were not eligible
for the benefit of the incentive schemes since the benefit of the said schemes
had been withdrawn with effect from 7.5.1990 in respect of their industry. The
application of the respondents was finally rejected on 30.11.1991. The
H respondents thereupon filed writ petition no. 2529 of 1992 before the High
- STA'l'Ev. MAHA VEER OIL INDUSTRIES (SUJATA V. MANOHAR,J.] 803

Court challenging the two notifications of 7.5 .1990 issued under the Rajasthan
Sales Tax Act, 1954 and the Central Sales Tax Act. Several such petitions were
A
filed between the years 1990 and 1992 by various oil industries challenging
the two notifications of 7.5.1990. When the writ petition of the respondents
came up for hearing before.a learned Single Judge, one such petition in the

- case of Govardhan Oil Mills had already been decided by the same High
Court by a Single Judge quashing the notifications of 7.5.1990. Relying on the
said judgment the Single Judge granted relief to the respondents setting aside
B·

the notifications of 7.5.1990 and directing the appellants to issue an eligibility
certificate to the r.esponde~ts within six weeks. An appeal filed by the appellant
before the Division Bench· of the High Court has been dismissed by the
impugned judgment dated 14.8.1995. .. c
During the pendency of the appeal before the Division Bench in the
present case, six other writ petitions filed by various oil industries including
Gopal Oil Mills were heard by a Division Bench of the same High Court and
decided on 12.1.1993. By the .said judgment the High Court held that the
notifications of 7.5 .1990 cannot be given effect to where all necessary acts D
for setting up the new industry had been done prior to 7.5.1990 and production
had also started. The High Court invoked the doctrine of promissory estoppel
and gave relief to the six industries before it, as also new industries set up
before 31.3.1992.
E
The appellants in those cases filed a special leave petition before this
Court in which this Court on 4.4.1994 granted an interim stay of the judgment
of the High Court dated 12.1.1993. Thereafter the appeals of Gopal Oil Mills
and other appeals were decided by this Court on 23.2.1995. Before this Court,
the respondents in those appeals only pressed their claim for exemption from
Central Sales Tax forthe period 7.5.1990 to26.7.1991. This Court came to the F
conclusion that there was no public interest in withholding the benefit in
respect of Central Sales Tax for the short period 7.5.1990 to 26.7.1991. Therefore,
it set aside the notification of 7.5.1990 issued under the Central Sales Tax Act
and upheld the High Court judgment in respect of the said notification issued
under the Central Sales Tax Act. The respondents in those appeals stated that G
they were not pressing their challenge to the notification of 7.5 .1990 issued
under the Rajasthim Sales Tax Act, 1954. This Court, therefore, by the impugned
judgment set aside the order of the High Court and upheld the validity of the
notification of 7.5.1990 issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954.
However, it also held that prior to 4.4.1994, which was the date when this
Court stayed the judgment of the Division Bench under challenge, any benefit H
804 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) 2 S.C.R.

A availed of under the High Court judgment could b~ retained by the said
-
industry.

In the present case, the appeal before the Division Bench was decided
on 14.8.1995. The attention of the Division Bench does not appear to have

B
been drawn to the decision of this Court i!l Gopal Oil Mills (Supra:). The
Division Bench dismissed the appeal of the State of Rajasthan, the present
-
appellants, on the ground that the respondent-industry had started its
production much before 31.3 .1992, relying on the earlier judgment of the
Division Bench of the High Court dated 12.1.1993.
-
C We have to consider whether the respondents were rightly given by the
High Court the benefit of the said incentive scheme in respect of exemption
from Central Sales Tax as also Rajasthan Sales Tax. The notification of7.5.1990
issued under the Central Sales Tax Act withdrawing the benefit of the scheme
from oil extraction and manufacturing industries in respect of inter-state sales
effected by them has already been quashed by this Court by its judgment
D dated 23.2.1995 in State of Rajasthan ~ Anr. v. Gopal Oil Mills & Anr., being
Civil Appeal No. 5738 of 1994. In view thereof, since the respondents have
started commercial production on 17th of February, 199 l during the subsistence
of the said scheme, they are entitled to the benefit of the said scheme
pertaining to exemption from Central Sales Tax from the date of starting their
E commercial production. To this extent the judgment of the Division Bench
must be upheld.

However, the respondents contend that the judgment of this Court in
-
State of Rajasthan & Anr. v. Gopal Oil Mills & Anr., (Supra) should not be
applied to them in so far as that judgment.upholds the validity of the notification
F of 7.5.1990 withdrawing the benefit of the Incentive Scheme under the
-
Rajasthan Sales Tax Act. The respondents contend that this· Court did. not
consider the validity or otherwise of the notification of 7.5.1990 issued under
the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, on merit. This Court quashed the said notification
in the said judgment merely on the basis of a concession made by the
G .respondent - oil industries that they were not challenging the validity of the
notification of 7.5.1990 issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act. The
respondents are. right in contending that the validity or otherwise of the
notification of 7.5.1990 issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act has to be
examined independently in their case. They are also right in contending that
its validity must be considered independently of the validity of the notification
H of 7.5.1990 issued under the Central Sales Tax Act. The notification of7.5.1990
- STATEv.MAHAVEEROIL INDUSTRIES [SU.TATA V. MANOHAR,.T.] 805
issued under the Central Sales Tax Act was withdrawn on 26. 7. l 991. In the A
light of this fact, this Court said that there was no public interest in withholding
the benefit of the incentive scheme granting exempJion from Central Sales Tax·
from oil industries for the short period 7.5.1990 to 26.7.1991. In the case of
the notification of 7.5.1990 under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, no subsequent
notification has been issued to restore the benefit of the scheme to oil
extraction industries. The ratio, therefore, on the basis of which the notification B
of 7 .5 .1990 under the Central Sales Tax Act was set aside, is not available
while considering the notification of 7.5.1990 under the Rajasthan Sales Tax
Act.

The appellant, State of Rajasthan, contends that it is open to it in public C
interest to withdraw any concessions which it may have granted to oil
extraction industries under the incentive scheme. In fact, the scheme itself
provides in Clause 8 that the scheme can be reviewed or amended from time
to time during the subsistence of the scheme. The respondents, however,
contend that by framing the said incentive scheme the State of Rajasthan had
held out a promise that the benefit of the scheme would be available for all D
new industries set up during the period 5.3.1987 to 31.3.1992. Relying upon
this promise the respondents had taken all effective steps to set up the new
industrial unit within that period. Hence the doctrine of promissory estoppel
would be attracted in the present case. It would not be open to the State of
Rajasthan to withdraw the benefit of the scheme during the subsistence of E
the said scheme by the notification of 7.5.1990.

Are the respondents justified in holding the State to the promise made
by it in the form of an incentive scheme which is made available for a specified
- period of time, when new industries are set up on the basis of that scheme
relying on the promise of benefits held out by it? Public interest requires that F
the State be held bound by th~ promise held out by it in such a situation.
But this does not preclude the State from withdrawing the benefit prospectively
even during the period of the scheme, if public interest so requires. Even in
a case where a party has acted on the promise, if there is any supervening
G

--
public interest which requires thjlt the benefit be withdrawn or the scheme be
modified, that supervening public interest would prevail over any promissory
estoppel.

After examining a large number of authorities, this Court in the case of
Kasinka Trading and Anr. v. Union of India and Anr., [ 1995] l SCC 274 held
that when there was a supervening public interest in withdrawing the promise H
806 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [t 999] 2 S.C.R.

A held out, the Government cannot be estopped from withdrawing the benefit
held out under an existing scheme. In the case of Shrijee Sales Corporation
and Anr. v. Union of lndi~ [1997] 3 SCC 398, once again this Court after
examining a number of authorities has held that if any supervening public
interest so demands, the benefit under any incentive scheme can be withdrawn.
The same view has been again reiterated in Union of India and Ors. v.
B Godhawani Brothers and Anr., [1997] I I SCC 173.

The State Government has, with the permission of this Court, relied
upon an affidavit in this connection which they had filed in Civil Appeal No.
5738of1994 State ofRajasthan and Anr. v. Gopal Oil Mills and Anr.;,(Supra).
C The appellant - State has pointed out that their experience with regard to
implementation of the said incentive scheme during the years 1988 and 1989
revealed that the object of having more new industries in the areas specified
could not be achieved, particularly in the case of oil industry and cotton
industry. On the contrary, the policy had adversely affected existing units in
the State. Since the tax liability of new units was much less, and the tax
D liability on the old units was high, old units gradually started closing down
while new units started coming up. As a result, in the two years I988 and
1989, 64 old units were closed down and 74 new units were st&rted~ The
closure of old units and their replacement by new units resulted in blbcking
of capital and funds invested in the old units. Therefore, in effect, the
E incentive scheme as operating for oil industries was resulting in closure of
existing units and substitution of the same by new units - which was never
the intention of the incentive scheme. It was, therefore, decided to withdraw
the benefit of the scheme in public _interest in respect of oil industry. The
notification of 7.5 .1990, therefore, was clearly: issued on account of a
supervening public interest.
F
Secondly, in the present case the respondents do not seem to have
taken steps which can be considered as effective steps for starting a new unit
prior to the notification of 7.5. I990, thereby entitling them to invoke the
doctrine of promissory estoppel. The respondents rely upon the following for
the purpose of invoking promissory estoppel:
G
I. The respondent firm got its provisional registration certificate on
I 5.2. I 990. This is merely a provisional registration issued by the Directorate
of Industries.

2. They applied for allotment of land and land was allotted to them by
H RIICO Limited, by its letter dated 19.2.1990. Possession of the land was
STATEv. MAHA VEE ROIL INDUSTRIES [SUJATA V. MANOHAR. J.) 807

- handed over on 7.3. 1990 and lease agreement was executed in March, I 990.
For this land, only an amount of Rs. 30,849 was invested.
A

3. The respondent firm was registered as a partnership firm with the
Registrar of Firms on 6.3. I 990.

4. On 2.4. I 990 the respondent firm applied for registration under the B
Rajasthan Sales Tax Act which was granted on 17.4. 1990.

5. A loan of Rs. 7.5 lakhs was sanctioned by the Rajasthan Financial
Corporation in favour of the respondents on 17.4. 1990. It is not stated how
much loan was actually availed of by the respondents on or before 7th of
May, 1990. c
6. Construction of building was started by the respondent on 20.4. 1990
barely 3 weeks before the withdrawal of the benefit under the said scheme.

7. The respondents claim that they placed orders for machinery on
18.4.1990. It is, however, not stated whether any amount either as earnest or D
advance for the purchase of machinery was paid by the respondent to anybody
before 7 .5.1990. The respondents also claim to liave applied for power
connection, to have installed a transformer and to have invested about Rs.
15 Jakhs in installing the industrial unit. However, there is no material to show
that any of this was done prior to 7.5.1990. In fact, the respondents could E
commence commercial production only in February, 1991 long after the benefit
of the incentive scheme had been withdrawn. Their application for eligibility
certificate under the said scheme was made only on 2.4.1991 long after the
benefit of the scheme had been withdrawn in respect of oil industry. In these
circumstances, even if we were to hold that the doctrine of promissory
estoppel can be invoked, the same cannot be invoked in the case of the F
respondents.

In view of the withdrawal of the benefits .under the said incentive
scheme by the notification of 7 .5 .1990 which was issued in valid exercise of
power by the appellant, the respondents are not entitled to the benefit of the G
incentive scheme pertaining to exemption from payment of sales tax under the
Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954.

The respondents, however, contend that they were granted a certificate
of eligibility in respect of both Central and State Sales Tax Schemes on
6. l .1993. They have enjoyed the benefit of exemption from the State Sales Tax H
808 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] 2 S.C.R.

A as well as the Central Sales Tax throughout as a result of the said certificate.
Their unit has now closed down with effect from 31st of July, 1997. In view
of the exemption granted by the appellant to the respondents under both the
-
schemes, the respondents have not collected sales'tax in respect of any of
the transactions covered by the two incentive schemes. Hence, now they
B should not be asked to pay any amount by way of State Sales Tax on the
transactions of sale within the State during the period commencing from 6th
of January 1993 (the date of grant of eligibility certificate).

The respondents also rely upon a circular dated 27 .1.1994 issued by the
Directorate of Industries, Rajasthan, Jaipur. This circular states that it is being
C issued in view of the Rajasthan High Court's decision in the case of M/s.
Goverdhan Oil Mills and Mis. Bindal Oil Mills. Since there is some confusion,
it has been clarified that in view of the above judgment of the High Court all
oil manufacturing units which commenced production upto 31.3.1992 are
entitled to the benefit under the 198711989 schemes under both the Rajasthan
D Sales Tax Act and the Central Sales Tax Act. We fail to see how this circular
of 27.1.1994 can help the respondents. The circular was issued entirely on
account of the decision of the Rajasthan High Court and was meant for
implementing that decision. Appeals, however, from the judgments referred to
in that circular as also similar judgments pronounced in respect of other oil
industries, were filed by the State and have been finally decided by this Court
E in the case of State of Rajasthan and Anr. v. Gopa/ Oil Mills and Anr.,
(Supra). A circular, therefore, which was issued entirely to give effect to a
judgment which was not accepted by the department but was appealed
against, cannot be considered as conferring any permanent rights thereby. In
the case of the respondents, however, they were granted an eligibility certificate
F on 6.1.1993 long prior to the said circular entirely because of the directions
contained in the judgment of the Single Judge dated 27 .11.1992 in their writ
petition. The respondents have been aware throughout that the judgment of
the Single Judge was appealed against. Even after the Division Bench
dismissed the appeal the matter was carried further by filing the present
G special leave petition/appeal before this Court. The respondents continued to
enjoy. the benefits of the said two schemes since no stay was obtained.
Nevertheless, the question whether the respondents are entitled to the said
benefits, has been sub judice throughout. Since the appeal is now being
decided against the respondents, they cannot claim the benefit of an eligibility
certificate which was granted entirely on account of a judgment of a Single
H Judge in their favour which is now being set aside.
ST ATE v. MAHA VEER OILINDUSTRIES [SUJAT AV. MANO HAR, J J 809
The respondents, however, point out that this Court in its judgme~t·irf A
State of Rajasthan and Anr. v. Gopal Oil Mills and Anr., (Supra) allowed·the
· respondent - oil industries to retain the benefit they had obtained under the
scheme framed under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act upto 4.4.1994. This was on
the ground that the stay of the impugned High Court judgment was granted
by this Court only on 4.4.1994. In the present case, the respondents cannot
be discriminated against. They should, therefore, be allowed to retain the B
benefits they have enjoyed at least upto 4.4.1994, just as the other oil industries
have been allowed to retain benefits availed of upto 4.4.1994. Looking to the
benefits which other oil industries have enjoyed in view of the judgment of
this Court in State of Rajasthan and Anr. v. Gopal Oil Mills and Anr.,
(Supra); we do not see any reason why the respondents also should not have C
the same benefit. They cannot, however, retain the entire benefit they have
received beyond 4.4.1994 or upto the date of this judgment on the ground that
no -stay was granted by this Court while admitting the special leave petition
of the appellants. The· eligibility certificate, as far as the respondents are
concerned, was given entirely on account of a judgment delivered in the
course of the present proceedings, which judgment has been set aside. D
Therefore, the benefits, flowing from that certificate were clearly sub judice
throughout and were subject to the outcome of the proceedings.

In the premises, the judgment of the High Court, in so far as it sets aside
the notification of 7 .5 .1990 issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act, 1954 is E
set aside and the notification of7.5.1990 issued under the Rajasthan Sales Tax
Act, 1954 is upheld as valid. The respondents, however, will be entitled to
retain the benefits received by them under the incentive scheme framed under
the Rajasthan Sales Tax Act upto 4.4.1994. The judgment of the High Court
in so far as it quashes the notification of 7 .5 .1990 issued in respect of the
incentive scheme under the Central Sales Tax Act is upheld in the light of the F
decision of this Court in the case of State of Rajasthan and Anr. v. Gopal
Oil Mills and Anr., (Supra). The appeal is disposed of accordingly. There will,
however, be no order as to costs looking to the circumstances of the present
case.

S.VKI. Appeal disposed of. G