ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS LIMITED v UNION OF INDIA

_>_ ,.... ## • A B c _Constitution_ _of India,_ _1950:_ _Articles_ _14_ _and_ _19( l)(g)-Hotel_ _Receipts Act, 1980-Whether violative of._ _Articles 246,_ _248_ _and 254_ & _Schedule VII-Entries in_ _legislative_ _list-Whether_ _to_ _be construed_ _in_ _a_ _wide_ _and comprehensive conno-_ _tation._ ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS LIMITED AND ANR. ETC. ETC. _v._ UNION OF INDIA MAY 2, 1989 [R.S. PATHAK, CJ, SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, S. NATARAJAN, M.N. VENKATACHAL!AH AND S. RANGANATHAN, JJ.] ' D _Hotel Receipts Act,_ _1980:_ _Sections_ _3,_ 5 _and 6-Legislative_ _competence-Whether falls under Entry 82,_ _List/._ The Hotel Receipts Tax Act, 1980 came into force on 9.12.1980. The Act imposed a special tax of 15% on the gross receipts of certain hotels, where the room charges for residential accommodation provided E to any person during the previous year were Rs. 75 or more per day per individual. The levy commenced from the assessment year 1981-82 but was discontinued from 27 .2.1982. Charges received from persons within the purview of certain Vienna Conventions were exempt from the tax. F The constitutional validity of the said Act was challenged in these **writ petitions, on grounds of lack of legislative competence and of viola-** tion of Articles 14 and 19(I)(g). It was contended on behalf of the petitioners that the reliance on Entry 82, List I in support of the tax was wholly misconceived and the G tax in pith and substance was an impost under Entry 62, List II reserved to the States. It was also contended that the Act is patently violative of Article 14 since the basis of classification has no nexus with the object of the tax, in that other hotels which have much higher gross receipts are left out. It was contended hy the petitioners that the law imposed unreasonable burden on their freedom of business and H constituted a violation of Article 19(I)(g) of the Constitution. 880 , i ··~ . _r-_ ; _A_ ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS _v._ U.0.1. 881 .~ On behalf of the Respondent it was contended that the said tax A falls under Entry 82, List I and the word 'income' should not be read in a narrow and pedantic sense, but must be given its widest amplitude. The challenge to the Act on the ground that it was violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g), was'also resisted by the Respondent. __i..._ Dismissing the writ petitions, B HELD: 1.1. The word 'income' is of elastic import. In interpreting expressions in the legislative lists a very· wide meaning should be -· given to the entries. In understanding the scope and amplitude of the HELD: 1.1. The word 'income' is of elastic import. In interpreting expressions in the legislative lists a very· wide meaning should be -· given to the entries. In understanding the scope and amplitude of the expression 'income' in Entry 82, List I, any meaning which fails to accord with the plenitude of the concept of 'income' in all its width and # given to the entries. In understanding the scope and amplitude of the expression 'income' in Entry 82, List I, any meaning which fails to accord with the plenitude comprehensiveness should of be the concept of 'income' in all its width and avoided. The cardinal rule of interprela· c ~ [lion is ] [that ] [the entries in the legislative lists are not to be read in a ] narrow or restricted sense and that each general word should be held to extend to all ancillary or subsidiary matters which can fairly and reasonably be said to be comprehended in it. The widest possible cons· !ruction, according to the ordinary meaning of the words in the entry, _D_ must be put upon them. Reference to legislative practice maybe admis· sible in reconciling two conflicting provisions in rival legislative lists. In --J_ construing the words in a constitutional document confering legislative power the most liberal construction should be put upon the words so that the same may have effect in their widest amplitude. E 1.2. The expression 'income' in Entry 82, List I, cannot be subjected, by implication, to any restriction by the way in which that term might have been deployed in a fiscal statute. A particular statute enacled under the Entry might, as a matter of fiscal policy, seek to tax some species of income alone. The definitions would, therefore, be limited hy the consideration of fiscal policy of a particular statute. But the expres 7 F species of income alone. The definitions would, therefore, be limited hy the consideration of fiscal policy of a particular statute. But the expresF sion 'income' in the legislative entry has always been understood in a ~ [wide and comprehensive connotation to embrace within it every kind ][of ] receipt or gain either of a capital nature or of a revenue nature. The 'taxable-receipts' as defined in the statute cannot be held to fall outside **such a 'wider connotation' of 'income' in the wider constitutional mean-** ~ ing and sense of the term as understood in Entry 82, List I. G _Navinchandra Mafatlal_ v. _CIT, Bombay City,_ [1955] 1 SCR 829 and _Bhagwandas Jain_ v. _Union of India,_ AIR 1981 S.C. 907, relied on. ' _Navnitlal_ v. _K.K. Sen,_ [1965] l SCR 909; _Governor-General in_ _Council_ v. _Province_ _of Madras,_ [1945] FCR 179 and _Kamakshya_ H ~ A B. c 882 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1989] 2 S.C.R. _Narain Singh_ v. _CIT;_ l !TR 513 (PC), referred to. 2. t. it is now well settled that a very wide latitude is available to the legislature in ihe lltaiter of classification of objects, for purposes of taxation. It must needs to be so, having regard to ·the complexities involved in the formulation of a taxation policy. Taxation is not now a mere source of raising money to defray eli:penses of Government. It is a recognised fiscal-tool to achieve fiscal and social objectives. The ;..... differentia of classification presupposes and proceeds on the premise •. that it distinguishes and keeps apart as a distinct class hotels, with higher economic status reflected in one of the indicia of such economic superiority. The presumption of constitutionality has not been dislodged by the petitioners by demonstrating how even hotels, not brought into the class, have also equal or higher chargeable-receipts and how the assumption of economic superiority of hotels to which the ~ Act is applied is erroneous or irrelevant. 2.2. As regards reasonableness of classification and restriction D on the petitioners' freedom of trade and business, similar contentiolls were raised in a connected case. As has been held in that case and for the reasons given therein, the challenge to constitutionality of the provisions of the Act, based on Articles 14 and 19(l)(g) is rejected. ~ E. _Federation_ _of Hotel_ & _Restaurant Association_ _of India_ _etc._ v. _Union of India,_ (1989] 2 SCR 918, followed. F ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition Nos. 254 to 261 of 1981. .Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. N.A. Palkhiwala, Soli J. Sorabjee, T.R. Andhyarujina, H.P. ~ Ranina, S. Ganesh, J.B. Dadachanji, Ravinder Narain, Mrs. A.K. Verma, D.N. Misra, S. Sukumaran, Lira Goswami, Joel Pares, Ms. Rubia Anand, R.F. Nariman, P.H. Parekh, Sanjay Bhartari, M.K.S. G Menon, R.K. Dhillon, Ms. Rohini Chhabra, Sunita Sharma, Ms. ~ Ayesha Misra, A. Subba Rao, S. Balakrishnan, Harish N. Salve, S.S. Shroff, Mrs. P.S. Shroff, Ms. Malvika Rajkotia, B. Parthasarthi, Vi jay Kumar Verma, Mukul Mudgal, Suresh Verma, Praveen Kumar and Vishnu Mathur for the Petitioners. H K. Parasaran, B. Datta, V. Jaganatha Rao, K. Sudhakaran, Dr. _**Ac**_ ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS''· U.O.L [VENKATACHALIAH, J. I 883 V. Gauri Shankar, S.K. Dholakia, P.S. Poti, G.A. Shah, Ms. A. A 'Subhashini, B.B. Ahuja, H.K. Puri, A. Subba Rao, K.R. Nambiar, A.S. Bhasme and M.N. Shroff for the P.espondents. The Judgment of the Cmrt was delivered by **VENl(ATACHALli\11,** **J.** In this batch of writ petitions under ,.J., Article 32 of the Constitution of India petitioners who are hoteliers !3 ch<illenge on grounds of lack of legislative competence and of violation of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) the constitutional validity of the Hotel ##### • Receipts Tax Act, 1980 ('Act' for short) which imposes a special tax on the gross receipts of certain cetegory of hotels. Section 3 of the Act limits the application of the 'Act' to those hotels where the "room# - charges" for residential accommodation provided to any person during the previous year are Rs.75 or more per day per individual. If a hotel is c within this class, then, Section 5 brings to charge the Hotel's 'chargeable-receipts' as defined under Sec. 6 of the Act. **-J.** _7_ -~ The Act was passed on 4.12.1980 and came into force on 9.12.1980 when it received the assent of the President of India. The levy under the 'Act' commences from the assessment-year 1981-82 and [D ] brings to tax the chargeable receipts of the corresponding previous year. The rate of tax is a flat rate of 15 per cent of the "chargeablereceipts" defined in sec. 6 as the total amount of all charges, by whatever name called, received by or accruing or arising to the assessee in the previous-year in connection with the provision of· residential accommodation, food, drink and other services in the course of carry- E ing on the business of a hotel. But such charges received from persons within purview of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, or Vienna Convention on Consular Relations are exempt from the tax. The machinery under the Income-tax Act, 1961, is engrafted for purposes of essessment, levy and collection of tax under the Act. F It is, however, relevant to note that though the 'Act' is put into force from the Asst. Year 1981-82 the levy was discontinued from 27.2.1982. 2. This batch of writ petitions were heard along with Writ Petition 1395 of 1987 and the connected writ petitions in which the constitutional validity of the Expenditure Tax Act, 1987, was challenged G on substantially similar grounds. In the present 'Act' the levy is on 'Chargeable-Receipts' while in the Expenditure Tax Act, 1987, it is on "Chargeable-Expenditure" which represents substantially the same items as to constitute 'Chargeable-Receipts' under the present 'Act'. We have disposed WP 1395 of 1987 and the connected matters by a H separate Judgment. A B c D E F G H 884 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [!989] 2 S.C.R. 3. Sections 3, 5, 6 of the Act have a bearing on the application of the contentions urged in support of the challenge to the constitutionality of the Act. Section 3 reads: "3.(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) and subsection (3), this Act shall apply in relation to every hotel wherein the room charges for residential accommodation provided to any person at any time during the previous year are seventy-five rupees or more per day per individual. Explanation.-·Where the room charges are payable otherwise than on daily basis or per individual, then the room charges shall be computed as for a day and per individual based on the period of occupation of the residential accommodation for which the charges are payable and the number of individuals ordinarily permitted to occupy such accommodation according to the rules and custom of the hotel. (2) Where a composite charge is payable in respect of residen(ial accommodation and food, the room charges included therein shall be determined in the prescribed **manner.** (3) Where (i) a composite charge is payable .in respect of residential accommodation, food, drink and other services, or any of them, and the case is not covered by the provisions of sub-section (2); or (ii) it appears to the Income-tax Officer that the charges for residential ar,commodation, food, drink or other services are so arranged that the room charges are understated and the other charges are overstated, the Income-tax Officer snail, for the purposes of subsection ( 1), determine the room charges on such reasonable basis as he may deem fit." Section 5(1) provides: "5.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, there shall be }~•. )<.___ •• ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS "· U.0.1. [VENKATACHALIAH, J. [ 885 _• .J.,_ charged on every person carrying on the business of a hotel A in relation to which this Act applies, for every assessment year commencing on or after the Ist day of April, 1981, a tax in respect of his chargeable receipts of the previous year at the rate of fifteen per cent of such receipts: ~. Provided that where such chargeable receipts include any B charges received in foreign exchange, then, the tax payable by the assessee shall be reduced by an amount equal to five per cent of the charges (exclusive of the amounts payable ### • by the assessee shall be reduced by an amount equal to five per cent of the charges (exclusive of the amounts payable by way of sales tax, entertainment tax, tax on luxuries or tax under this Act) so received in foreign exchange." c Explanation-omitted as unnecessary ) Section 5(2)-omitted as unnecessary except explanation (ii) Explanation (ii) to Section 5(2) provides: D "any food, drink or other services shall be deemed to have been provided on the premises of a hotel if the same is or are provided in the hotel or any place appurtenant thereto and where the hotel is situate in a part of building, in any J are provided in the hotel or any place appurtenant thereto and where the hotel is situate in a part of building, in any other part of the building." E Section 6 provides: "6(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the chargeable receipts of any previous year of an assessee shall be the total amount of all charges, by whatever name called, _r_ received by, or accruing or arising to, the assessee in ·con total amount of all charges, by whatever name called, received by, or accruing or arising to, the assessee in ·con- F nection with the provision of residential accommodation, ·~ food, drink and other services or any of them (including such charges from persons not provided with such accommodation) in the course of carrying on the business of a hotel to which this Act applies and shall also include every amount collected by the assessee by way of tax under this G ..,_ ' **Act, sales tax, entertainment tax and tax on luxuries."** **Act, sales tax, entertainment tax and tax on luxuries."** (2) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any such charges have been included in the chargeable receipts of any previous year as charges accur**ing or arising to the assessee during that previous year,** H 886 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] 2 S.C.R. A such charges shall not be included in the chargeable ~receipts of any subsequent previous year in which they are received by the assessee." Other provisions are machinery-provisions, providing for the mode of assessment: levy and collection of the tax; for appeals; for B [offences: penalties; punishments, etc. The challenge to the 'Act' is, ][in ],,._ the main, lack of legislative competence on the part of the Union. Parliament to enact the law. Respondent-union seeks to support th~ legislation under and as referable to Entry 82 of List I i.e., Taxes on Income. The contentions raised in support of the petitions are these: #### (a) That in pith and substance, the law is one impos- c ing a tax on luxuries provided in Hotels and therefore, the law is one under Entry 62, List I of the 7th Schedule to the _-<_ Constitution and outside the Union power; (b) That, at all events, the Act is patently violative of D Article 14 in that the basis of classification of hotels on the dividing line of room ch~rges, though in itself an intelligible one, has, however, no nexus, let alone any rational nexus with the object of the law viz., to impose a tax on income; .~ While hotels which collect room charges of Rs. 75 per E day from any individual in the previous year fall within the tax net, other hotels which have much higher gross-receipts are left out. The classification does not include all persons who, from the point of view of the objects of the Act, are similarly situated. F ( c) That the law imposes unreasonable burden on the ·~ petitioners' freedom of business and constitutes a violation of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. 4. _Re: Contention (a):_ ###### ' G Shri Palkhivala contended that the impugned law which seeks to __,.. impose a tax on what is styled 'Chargeable-receipts' which includes payments for residential accommodation, food, drink and other services at petitioners' hotels really brings to tax "luxuries"-an impost under Entry 62, List I, reserved to the States. Learned counsel submitted that the reliance by the Respondents on Entry 82, List I, to ti [support the impost ] [as ] [a tax on income ] [is ] [wholly misconceived ] ~ .. ELELHOTELSAND INVESTMENTS _v._ U.0.1. IVENKATACHAL!AH, J.] 887 . **inasmuch** as, **the concepts** **of** ~'income'' **and** **"tax on income"** **have** definite legal connotations crystallised by settled legislative-practice and do not admit of "gross-receipts" being treated as "income" for purposes of levy of tax under Eµtry 82, List L Learned counsel ;ubmitted that neither the nomenclature given to the tax nor the standard by which it is measured can determine its true nature and the legislature cannot enlarge its power by choosing an appropriate name to the tax. To show the essential characteristics of what is the concept of 'income' learned counsel referred to certain observations of the Supreme Court of the United Stated of America: " . . . it becomes essential to distinguish between what is and what is not "income" as the term is there used; and to apply the distinction, as cases arise, according to truth and substance, without regard to form. _Congress cannot by any_ _definition it may adopt conclude the matter, since it cannot_ _by legislation alter the Constitution, from which alone it_ _derives its power to_ legislate, and within whose limitations alone that power can be lawfully exercised. A B c D **The fundamental relation** **of** **"capital" to "income"** has been much discussed by economists, the former being likened to the tree or the land, the latter to the fruit or the crop; the former depicted as a reservoir supplied from E springs, the latter as the outlet stream, _to be measured by its_ _flow during a period of time."_ [See: _Eisnerv. Macomber,_ 64LawEd. 521at528] Learned counsel also relied upon the following observations of F Gajendragadkar, J. _inNavnitlalv. K.K. Sen,_ [1965] 1SCR909at915 **"This doctrine does not, however, mean that** ..... " " ..... **Parliament** **can** **choose to** **tax** **as** ~come **an** **item** which in no rational sense can be regarded as a citizen's G income. The item taxed should rationally be capable of being considered.as the income of a citizen ..... " Learned counsel submitted that the gross-receipts of a hotel received from a customer towards room charges, food, drink and other services provided at the hotel cannot constitute 'income' known as H 888 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] 2 S.C.R. A such to law. The submission, in substance are two fold: first that while the "Chargeable-Receipts" as conceived in the "Act" do not constitute 'income' for purposes, and within the meaning of Entry 82 list I, as the receipts cannot rationally be related to the concept of 'income'; and, seCQJldly, that in pith and substance the levy is one under Entry 62 list I within the States' power. Learned counsel inviting attention to B the following observations of Lord Salmond's in Governor-General in _Councilv. Province of Madras,_ [1945] FCR 179 at 191 c D E " ..... Their Lordships do not doubt that the effect of these words is that, if the legislative powers of the Federal and Provincial legislatures, which are enumerated in List I and List II of the seventh schedule, cannot fairly be reconciled, the latter must give way to the former. But it appears to them that it is right first to consider whether ·a fair reconciliation cannot be effected by giving to the language of the Federal Legislative List a meaning which, if less wide than it might in another context bear, is yet one that can properly be given to it, and equally giving to the language of the Provincial Legislative List a meaning which it can properly bear." submitted that Entry 62 list II and Entry 82 list I would require to be j. . reconciled accordingly. 5. Learned Attorney General, appearing for the Union of India sought to support the impost as a tax on income under Entry 82 of List I. It was urged that the word 'income' in that entry broadly indicates the topic or field of legislation and that it should not be read in a narrow and pedantic sense, but must be given its widest amplitude and F should not be limited by any particular definition which a legislature might have chosen for the limited purposes of that legislation. The Statutory-definitions of and meanings given to 'income' are matters of legislative policy and do not exhaust the content of the legislativeentry by the particular manner in which, and the extent to which, the statute has chosen to define that expression. G 6. On a consideration of the matter, we are of the opinion that the submission of the learned Attorney General as to the source of the legislative power to enact a law of the kind in question require to be accepted. The Word 'income' is of elastic import. In interpreting expressions in the legislative lists a very wide meaning should be given H to the entries. In understandirig the scope and amplitude of the expres ELEL HOTELS AND INVESTMENTS _v._ U .0.1. IVENKATACHALIAH, J. J 889 / sion 'income' in _Entry_ 82, list I, any meaning which fails to accord with A the plenitude of the concept of 'income' in· all its width and comprehensiveness should be avoided. The cardinal rule of interpretation is that the entries in the legislative lists are not to be read in a narrow or restricted sense and that each general·word should be held to extend to all ancillary or subsidiary matters which can fairly and reasonably be said to be comprehended in it. The widest possible construction, B according to the ordinary meaning of the words in the entry, must be **.imt** upon them. Reference to legislative practice may be admissible in :reconciling two conflicting provisions in rival legislative lists. In construing the words in a constitutional document conferring legislativ.e power the most liberal construction should be put upon the words so that the same may have effect in their widest amplitude. c ~ -'\ \ ) **J..** In _Navinchandra Mafatlal_ v. _CIT, Bombay City,_ [1955) 1 SCR 829 the question was whether the provisions of section 12(b) of the Indian Income-tax· Act, 1922, imposing a tax on capital gains was _ultra-vires_ the powers of the federal legislature under Government of India Act, 1935. It was contended that taxes on income under Entry D 54, list I, of·the Government of India Act, 1935, did not embrace within its scope a tax on capital gains. This contention was rejected. This Court after referring to the following observations of the judicial committee in _Kamakshya Narain Singh_ v. _CIT,_ 1 ITR 513 (PC) "income it is true, is a word difficult and perhaps impossi- E ble to define in any precise general formula. It is a word of the broadest connotation." proceeded to observe: "What, then, is the ordinary, natural and grammatical F meaning of the word "income"? According to the dictionary it means "a thing that comes in". (See Oxford Dictionary, Vol. V, page 162; Stroud, Vol. II, pages 14-16). In the United States of America and in. Australia both of which also are English speaking countries the word **''income'' is understood** **in** **a wide sense so as** **to include a G** capital gain; Reference may be, made to _Eisner_ v. _Macomber,_ Merchants' Loan & Trust Co. v. _Smietunka,_ and United States v. _Stewart,_ and _Resch_ v. _Federal_ _Commissioner_ _of Taxation.._ In each of these cases very **wide meaning was ascribed to the word "income"** **as** **its** natural meaning. The relevant observations of learned **H** A B c D 890 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] 2 S.C.R. Judges deciding those cases which have been quoted in the -~ judgment of Tendolkar J. quite clearly indicate that _such_ _wide meaning was put upon the word "income" not because_ _of any particular legislative practice either_ _in_ _the United_ _States or_ _in_ _the Commonwealth_ _of Australia but because_ _such_ _was_ _the normal concept and connotation_ _of the ordi-_ _nary English word "income''._ Its natural meaning embraces any profit or gain which is actually received. This is in _><-_ _.._ consonance with the observations of Lord Wright to which·•· reference has already been made." (Emphasis Supplied) Indeed, _Navneet Lal's_ case, relied upon by Shri Palkhiwala, would itself conclude the point: "In dealing with this point, it is necessary to consider what exactly is the denotation of the word "income" used in the relevant Entry. It is hardly necessary to emphasise that the entries in the Lists cannot be read in a narrow or restricted **sense."** "But in considering the question as to whether a particular item in the hands of a citizen can be regarded as his income ~ or not, it would be inappropriate to apply the tests tradi• E tionally prescribed by the Income-tax Act as such." In _Bhagwandas Jain_ v. _Union of India,_ AIR 1981 SC 907 the question of includibility, for purposes of income-tax, of the assessee's notional income from a house property in the personal residential occupation of the assessee was assailed on the ground that it did not constitute F 'income' for the purposes and within the meaning of Entry 82 of List L -\ The amplitude of the expression 'income' in Entry 82 of List I came in for consideration. In that context, this Court said: _I"_ **"Even** **in** **its** **ordinary** **economic sense,** **the** **expression** 'income' includes not merely what is received or what G comes in by exploiting the use of a property but also what ... H one saves bf using it oneself. That which can be converted,.. into income can be reasonably regarded as giving rise to income. The tax levied under the Act is on the income (though computed in an artificial way) from house property in the above sense and not on house property." ELELHOTELSANDINVESTMENTS _v._ U.0.1. [VENKATACHALIAH,J.] 891 ~ The expression 'income' in Entry 82, List I cannot, therefore~e A subjected, by implication, to any restriction by th-. way in which that term might have been deplayed in a fiseal statute. A particular statute_ enacted under the Entry, might, as a matter of fiscal policy, seek to tax some species of income alone. The definitions would, therefore, be limited by the consideration of fiscal policy of a particular statute. But B ~ [expression 'income' in the legislative entry has always been under-] 4 stood in a wide and comprehensive connotation to embrace within it - . every kind of receipt or gain either of a ca,pital nature or of a revenue nature. The 'taxable-receipts' as defined in the statute cannot be held ~ - to fall outside such a 'wider connotation' of 'income' in the wider constitutional meaning and sense of the .term as understood in Entry 82, List I. c ) Contention (a), therefore,, fails. 7. _Re: Contention (b) and (c):_ We had an occasion to deal with a siniilar argument in the other D batch of cases dealing with the constitutionality of the Expenditure Tax Act, 1987, where the 'chargeable-expenditure' incurred in a particular class of hotels alone was brought to tax, leaving the other ~ hotels out. We have rejected the challenge to the constitutionality of the provisions of that Act based on Article 14 and 19(1)(g). There, ·hotels in which room charges were Rs.400 or more per day per person E were alone brought under the Act. The differentia was held to be both intelligible and endowed with a rational nexus to the objects of the legislation viz., bringing to tax certain class of expenditure incurred at hotels which were legislatively presumed to. attract an economically _i-_ superior class of clientale. Having regard to the wide latitude available to the Legislature in fiscal adjustments, the classification was F found not violative of Article 14. -. ~ found not violative of Article 14. 8. Similar contentions as to the unreasonableness of the restrictions which the imposition of the impugned tax was said to bring about on the petitioners' freedom of trade and business and the adverse affect of this tax on a significant area of national economy generally ~ G and the Tourisim Industry in particular have been considered in the petitions assailing the vires of the Expenditure Tax.Act, 1987. It is now well settled that a very wide latitude is availabfo to the legislature in the matter of classification of objects, persons and things for purposes of taxation. It must needs to be so, having regard to the complexities involved in the formulation of a taxation policy. Taxation is not now a . .H 892 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] 2 S.C.R. A mere source of raising money to defray expenses of Government. It is [~ ] 8 a recognised fiscal-tool to £hieve fiscal and social objectives. The defferentia of classification presupposes and proceeds on the premise that it distinguishes and keeps apart as a distinct class hotels, with higher economic status reflected in one of the indicia of such economic superiority. The presumption of constitutionality has not been dislodged by the petitioners by demonstrating how even hotels, not brought into the class, have also equal or higher chargeable-receipts~ and how the assumption of economic superiority of hotels to which the Act is applied is erroneous or irrelevant. 9. For the reasons stated in and following our Judgment in the C said W.P. 1395/87 and connected cases contentions (b) and (c) are also held and answered against the petitioners. D 10. In the result, for the foregoing reasons these petitions are dismissed. There will, however, be no order as to costs in these petitions. G.N. Petitions dismissed.