Establishment of check posts for inspection of goods in transport 61

67. Establishment of check posts for inspection of goods in transport :- (1) The Government may, with a view to prevent or check avoidance or evasion of tax, by notification in the official gazette, direct the establishment of the check post or barrier at such places as may be specified in the notification and every officer who exercises powers and discharges his duties at such check post by way of inspection of documents produced and goods being moved, shall be in-charge. (2) The driver or person in-charge of vehicle or carrier of goods in movement shall :- (a) carry with him the records of the goods including challan, bills of sale or dispatch memos and prescribed declaration form duly filled in and signed by the consignee or transporter of goods carried; CHAPTER-X

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(b) stop the vehicle or carrier at every check post set up under sub- section(l) or at any other place by an officer authorized by the Commissioner in this behalf; (c) produce all the documents including the prescribed forms relating to the goods before the officer-in-charge of the check post or the authorized officer; (d) give all the information in his possession relating to the goods; (e) allow the inspection of the goods for search of the vehicle by the officer-in-charge of the check post or any authorized officer. (3) Where any goods are in movement within the territory of the state of Tripura, an officer empowered by the state government in this behalf may stop the vehicle or the carrier or the person carrying such goods, for inspection, at any place within his jurisdiction and provisions of sub-section (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply. (4) Where any goods in movement are without documents, or are not supported by documents as referred to in sub-section (2), or documents produced appeared to be false or forged, the officer-in-charge of the check post or the officer empowered under sub-section (3), may - (a) direct the driver or the person in-charge of the vehicle or carrier or of the goods not to part with the goods in any manner including by transporting or re-booking, till a verification is done or an enquiry is made, which shall not take more than seven days; (b) seize the goods for reasons to be recorded in writing and shall give receipt of the goods to the person from whose possession or control they are seized; (5) The Officer-in- charge of the check post or the officer empowered under sub-section (3), after having given the person in-charge of the goods a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after having held such enquiry as he may deem fit, shall impose for possession or movement of goods, whether seized or not, in violation of the provisions of clause (a) of sub- section (2) or for submission of false or forged documents in addition to tax leviable, a penalty equal to double the amount of tax, or rupees one thousand, whichever is higher. (6) During the pendency of the proceeding under sub-section (5), if any one

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prays for being impleaded as a party to the case on the ground of involvement of his interest therein, the said officer-in-charge or the empowered officer on being satisfied, may permit him to be included as a party to the case; and thereafter, all provisions of this section shall mutatis mutandis apply to him. (7) The officer-in-charge of the check post or the officer empowered under sub-section (3) may release the goods to the owner of the goods or to any person duly authorized by such owner on payment of the tax and penalty imposed under sub-section (5). (8) Where the driver or person in charge of the vehicle or the carrier is found guilty for violation of the provisions of sub-section (2), subject to the provisions of clause (a) of sub-section (4), the officer-in-charge of the check post or the officer empowered under sub-section (3) may detain such vehicle or carrier and affording an opportunity of being heard to such driver or person in charge of the vehicle or the carrier, may, impose a penalty not exceeding ten thousand rupees. (9) Where atransporter, while transporting goods, is found to be in collusion with dealer to avoid or evade tax, the officer-in-charge of the check post or the officer empowered under sub-section (3), shall detain the vehicle or carrier of such transporter and after affording him an opportunity of being heard with prior approval in writing of the Commissioner may confiscate such vehicle or carrier.