Pre-deposit of penalty upheld, with time extended and instalment relief granted on account of financial hardship.

Writ jurisdiction was not used to interfere with the Tribunal's direction requiring pre-deposit of 50% of the penalty, as no basis for interference was found. Financial hardship was nevertheless considered for limited relief, and the petitioner was granted additional time to comply. The deposit period was extended to three months, with permission to make payment in instalments. The direction on pre-deposit therefore remained intact, while the compliance timeline was relaxed on equitable grounds.

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Issues: Whether interference was warranted in writ jurisdiction with the Tribunal's order requiring deposit of 50% of the penalty, and whether the time for deposit could be extended on account of financial hardship.

Analysis: The Tribunal's order directing pre-deposit was found not to call for interference. At the same time, the petitioner's financial hardship was taken into account for grant of further time to make the deposit, with liberty to pay in installments.

Outcome: The writ petition was disposed of with no interference in the Tribunal's pre-deposit direction, but with enlargement of time to deposit the amount of penalty within three months and permission to pay in installments.

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