Section 46A of The Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963 (No.15 of 1963) View Chapter 8

Penalty for illegal collection of tax.

 (1) If any person collects any sum by way of tax or purporting to be by way of tax in contravention of sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 22, he shall be liable to pay penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees and any sum collected by the person by way of tax or purporting to be by way of tax in contravention of sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 22 shall be liable to be forfeited to the Government by an order issued by the assessing authority after giving such person an opportunity to show cause why penalty or forfeiture shall not be ordered.

Provided that no penalty or forfeiture shall be ordered under this sub-section if the assessing authority is satisfied that his sum so collected has been returned to the person from whom it was collected.

(2) Where any sum is forfeited to the Government under subsection (1), any person from whom the amount was collected in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (2) or subsection (3) of section 22 may apply to the assessing authority for reimbursement of such sum and the amount shall be reimbursed to such person in the prescribed manner.

(3) No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be instituted in respect of the same facts on which a penalty has been imposed or forfeiture has been ordered under this section.