25% pre-deposit requirement under Punjab VAT appeal provisions upheld, with waiver power recognised in appropriate cases.

Delay of 47 days in refiling and 5 days in filing the appeal was held insignificant and the applications for condonation were allowed. On the substantive challenge, the appellant conceded that the dispute was covered by binding Division Bench precedent interpreting Section 62(5) of the Punjab VAT Act to require deposit of 25% of the tax for entertaining an appeal, while recognising the First Appellate Authority's power to waive that precondition in appropriate cases. In view of that precedent and the concession, the court found no occasion to examine the taxation or reassessment issues and dismissed the appeal.

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Outcome: The appeal was dismissed after the Court noted that the issue of pre-deposit under Section 62(5) of the Punjab VAT Act, 2005 stood settled and no further adjudication was required.

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