Tax exemption notifications must be read liberally; absent a stated duration, the benefit continues until validly withdrawn.

Sales tax exemption under an industrial policy and related notification was construed as continuing until valid withdrawal because the notification prescribed the scope of the benefit but fixed no duration. The Court read the policy and notification together, noting that where the State intended a time limit it said so expressly in other entries. Operational guidelines and eligibility-form stipulations could not curtail the exemption when they were inconsistent with the notification. The exemption notification was therefore to be interpreted liberally, and the benefit was not confined to a five-year period.

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Issues: Whether the sales tax exemption granted under the industrial policy and the corresponding notification was subject to a fixed period of five years or seven years, or whether it continued until withdrawn.

Analysis: The policy and the notification were read together. The relevant notification prescribed the extent of the exemption but did not fix any period for its operation. Where the State intended to impose a time limit, it did so expressly in other entries, but no such limitation was attached to the relevant entry. An exemption notification is to be construed liberally, and in the absence of a stated period, the benefit could not be curtailed by operational guidelines or eligibility-form stipulations inconsistent with the notification.

Conclusion: The exemption was not confined to a five-year period and remained operative until withdrawn in accordance with law.

Ratio Decidendi: Where an exemption notification grants tax incentive without specifying a duration, the benefit cannot be restricted by subordinate guidelines and must be construed liberally as continuing until validly withdrawn.

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