BY AD v. P.SATHISAN
Case Details
BY ADV SRI.P.SATHISAN RESPONDENTS: 1 2 3 UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGYREPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001. SECRETARY LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 4 4 5 6 DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES SWARAJ BUILDING, NANDANKODE, KAWADIAR POST,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BHARANANGANAM GRAMA PANCHAYAT BHARANANGANAM P.O, KOTTAYAM - 686 578, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADVS. SRI.DINESH R.SHENOY, CGC SRI.J.PRAKASH C.VADAKKAN SMT.K.R.DEEPA,SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).14018/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN MONDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 13TH JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 12180 OF 2018 PETITIONER: ATC TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT. LTD. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ATC TELECOM TOWER CORPORATION AND ESSAR TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT.LTD., VIOM NETWORK LTD AND WIRELESS TT INFO SERVICES LTD.),ATC HOUSE, 65/1826-28, CHERAMNAGALATH, SHENOY ROAD, KALOOR, KOCHI-17, REP. BY HEAD LEGAL, BABU PATTATHANAM, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O.CHANDRAN. BY ADV SRI.P.SATHISAN RESPONDENTS: 1 2 3 UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY, NEW DELHI-110001, REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. SECRETARY LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 6 4 5 6 DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES SWARAJ BUILDING, NANDANKODE, KAWADIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. POKOTTOOR GRAMA PANCHAYAT POOKOTTOR P.O., MALAPPURAM-676517, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADVS SRI.K.RAKESH SMT.K.R.DEEPA,SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER BY SENIOR PANEL COUNSEL SRI. T.C.KRISHNA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).14018/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 7 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN MONDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 13TH JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 12762 OF 2018 PETITIONER: ATC TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT LTD (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ATC TELECOM TOWER CORPORATION AND ESSAR TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT.LTD, VIOM NETWORKS LTD AND WIRELESS TT INFO SERVICES LTD.),ATC HOUSE, 65/1826-28, CHERAMNAGALATH, SHENOY ROAD,KALOOR, KOCHI - 17, REP. BY HEAD LEGAL, BABU 40 YEARS,S/O.CHANDRAN. PATTATHANAM, AGED BY ADV SRI.P.SATHISAN RESPONDENTS: 1 2 3 UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY,NEW DELHI – 110001 REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695001. SECRECTARY LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695001. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 8 4 5 6 DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695001. DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES SWARAJ BUILDING, NANDANKODE, KAWADIAR POST,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695001. OLAVANNA GRAMA PANCHAYAT OLAVANNA, KOZHIKODE-673 019,REP. BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADVS. SRI.ABDUL JALEEL ONATH SRI.M.G.SREEJITH SMT.K.R.DEEPA,SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER. BY SENIOR PANEL COUNSEL SRI. T.C. KRISHNA. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).14018/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN MONDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 13TH JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 12198 OF 2018 PETITIONER: ATC TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT. LTD (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ATC TELECOM TOWER CORPORATION AND ESSAR TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT.LTD,VIOM NETWORKS LTD AND WIRELESS TT INFO SERVICES,LTD.),ATC HOUSE,65/1826-28,CHERAMNAGALATH,SHENOY ROAD,KALOOR,KOCHI-17,REP.BY HEAD LEGAL,BABU PATTATHANAM,AGED 40 YEARS,S/O CHANDRAN. BY ADV SRI.P.SATHISAN RESPONDENTS: 1 2 3 UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY,NEW DELHI-110001 REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY,GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. SECRETARY LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT,SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPUR WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 10 4 5 6 AM-695001. DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES SWARAJ BUILDINGS,NANDANKODE,KAWADIAR POST,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. CHAKKUPALLAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH ANAKKARA.P.O,IDUKKI-679551,REP.BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADVS. P.VANDANA SRI.C.J.JOY SMT.K.R.DEEPA,SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).14018/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 11 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN MONDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2024 / 13TH JYAISHTA, 1946 WP(C) NO. 25550 OF 2018 PETITIONER: ATC TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT. LTD. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ATC TELECOM TOWER CORPORATION AND ESSAR TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE PVT.LTD., VIOM NETWORKS LTD AND WIRELESS TT INFO SERVICES LTD.), ATC HOUSE, 65/1826-28, CHERMNAGALATH, SHENOY ROAD, KALOOR, KOCHI-17.REP. BY HEAD LEGAL, BABU PATTATHANAM, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O.CHANDRAN. BY ADV SRI.P.SATHISAN RESPONDENTS: 1 2 3 4 5 UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION, MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS, SANCHAR BHAWAN,20 ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI- 110 001. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY,GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001. SECRETARY LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT,SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001. DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001. DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 12 6 SWARAJ BUILDING, NANDANKODE,KAWADIAR POST,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001. THIRUVARPPU GRAMA PANCHAYAT KILIROOR NORTH P.O. KOTTAYAM - 686 020, REP BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADVS. ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL GEORGE SEBASTIAN SRI.JAISHANKAR V.NAIR, CGC SMT.DEEPA,SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).14018/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 13 J U D G M E N T Since common issues arise for consideration in these writ petitions, they are heard and disposed of by this common judgment.
2. M/s ATC Telecom Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., the petitioner in these writ petitions, is an infrastructure service provider, providing passive telecom infrastructure for telecom service providers. For the purpose of establishing the passive telecom infrastructure, mobile telecommunication towers are constructed after obtaining permission from the respective Local Self-Government Institutions under the provisions of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, and the Building Rules WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 14 framed thereunder.
3. The mobile telecom towers were not subjected to property tax previously. However, for the first time, mobile towers were brought within the property tax bracket in 2009 as per amendments to the respective Acts. In the year 2011, the State Government issued notifications bearing numbers 17/2011 and 19/2011, fixing upper and lower limits for imposing property taxes covering Panchayats and Municipalities w.e.f
14.01.2011.
4. Demand notices were issued by the Panchayats for payment of property tax for the telecom towers installed within their jurisdiction. The petitioner took the stand that the demands WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 15 made were barred by limitation. However, the Panchayats took steps to recover the property tax from the petitioner. Accordingly, the petitioner has filed these writ petitions challenging the demand notices for property tax issued by the respective Panchayats in respect of the telecom towers installed within their limits, inter alia, on the ground that the demands are made beyond the period of limitation for recovery of dues.
5. According to the petitioner, in view of Section 243 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, no recovery of property tax can be effected from a person three years after the tax is assessed.
6. Heard Sri. P. Sathisan, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Smt. K.R. Deepa, learned WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 16 Special Government Pleader and the learned standing counsel for the respective Panchayats.
7. Smt. K.R Deepa, the learned Special Government Pleader (LSGD) submits that if a tax is assessed, then no recovery can be effected beyond three years preceding the date of demand notice and if it is the case of escaped assessment, no tax can be assessed and demanded for a period earlier than four years from the date of notice of demand. Sri. Sathisan submits that the issue raised in these writ petitions is considered and decided by this Court in W.P (C) No. 13782/2022 and connected cases.
8. Section 210 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 reads as follows: WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 17 “210. Any arrear of cess, rate, surcharge or tax imposed or fees levied under this Act shall be recoverable as an arrear of public revenue under the law relating to the recovery of arrears of public revenue for the time being in force: Provided that the Secretary of a Village Panchayat may directly recover by distraint, under his warrant, and sale of movable properties of the defaulter subject to such rules as may be prescribed: Provided further that, if for any reason the distraint or a sufficient distraint of a defaulter's property is impracticable, the Secretary may prosecute the defaulter before a Magistrate.” Section 243 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 reads as follows: “243. Limitation for recovery of dues. - (1) No distraint shall be made, no suit shall be instituted and no prosecution shall be commenced in respect of any tax or other sum due to a Panchayat under this Act or any rule or bye-law, or order made under it after the expiration of a period of three years from the date on which the distraint might first have been made, a suit might first have been instituted or the prosecution might WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 18 first have been commenced, as the case may be, in respect or such tax or sum: Provided that in the case of assessment under sub-section (2) the above said period of three years shall be computed from the date on which distraint, suit or prosecution might first have been made, instituted or commenced, as the case may be, after making such assessment. (2) Notwithstanding anything contrary to this contained in this Act or the rules made thereunder, where for any reason, a person liable to pay any tax or fees leviable under this Act has escaped assessment, the Secretary may at any time within four years from the date on which such tax should have been assessed, serve on him a notice assessing the tax or fee due and demand the payment within fifteen days from the date of serving such notice and thereupon the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall apply as if the assessment of such tax or fee was made in time. (3) Where any tax or other amount due to a panchayat has been barred by limitation under sub-section (1), due to the default of taking steps at the appropriate time and it is found in a lawful enquiry that it was lost due to the default of any officer or offices, the amount so lost to WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 19 the panchayat shall be realised with twelve percent interest thereon from such officer or officers.
9. Section 243 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act provides that the assessment could be done within four years from the date on which such person should have been assessed however, the tax prior to three years cannot be collected by putting a distraint order. Therefore, going by the above provisions, the assessment of tax for a period could be done within 4 years from the last date of that Assessment Year. The demand notice could have been issued within 3 years of making the assessment. In these cases, admittedly, no demand of the property tax in respect of the mobile towers erected by the petitioner was made within 3 years of making the assessment. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 20 Therefore, the impugned demand notices are set aside. The matter is remitted to the respective Panchayats, to issue fresh notice in respect of the property tax for the last 3 years from the date of the impugned notices and finalize the assessment in accordance with the law, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. Writ petitions are disposed of. All other issues raised in the writ petitions are left open. Sd/- MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE al/- WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 21 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 14018/2022 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE PETITIONER COMPANY. Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF PRINT OUT OF NOTIFICATION DATED 14.1.2011. Exhibit P2(a) TRUE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF EXT.P2 NOTIFICATION. Exhibit P3 Exhibit P4 Exhibit P5 Exhibit P6 Exhibit P7 Exhibit P8 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.22723/2011 DATED 20.8.2011. TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF PIRAYIRI GRAMAM PANCHAYATH FOR BUILDING NO.5/569 DATED 19.3.2022. TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER PERTAINING TO DOOR NO.24/235/1 (OLD NO.96A) BEFORE THE 5TH RESPONDENT DATED 4.4.2022. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.12762/2018 DATED 11.4.2018. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C)NO.12729/2018 DATED 10.4.2018. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.35145 OF 2019 DATED 19.12.2019. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 22 Exhibit P9 Exhibit P10 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.28114 OF 2020 DATED 16.12.2020. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.28401 OF 2021 DATED 10.12.2021. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 23 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12729/2018 PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN W.P(C) NO.22723/2011 DATED 20.08.2011. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF BHARANANGANAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH 07.03.2018. EXHIBIT P4(A) TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXHIBIT P4 DEMAND NOTICE. EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O(MS) NO.14/2014/ITD DATED 15.03.2014. EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 20.03.2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 24 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12180/2018 PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 14-01-2011. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 14-01-2011. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C)NO.22723/2011 DATED 20-08-2011. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF POOKOTTOR GRAMA PANCHAYAT DATED 12-03-2018. EXHIBIT P4(A) TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXHIBIT P4 DEMAND NOTICE. EXHIBIT P5 EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O. (MS)NO.14/2014/ITD DATED 15-03- 2014. TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 20-03-2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 25 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12762/2018 PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT-P1: TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011. EXHIBIT-P2: TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011. EXHIBIT-P3: TRUE COPY OF THE INERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN W.P.(C) NO.22723/2011 DATED 20.08.2011. EXHIBIT-P4: TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF OLAVANNA GRAMA PANCHAYAT DATED 10.02.2018. EXHIBIT-P4(A): TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXHIBIT-P4 DEMAND NOTICE. EXHIBIT-P5: TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(MS) NO.14/2014/ITD DATED 15.03.2014. EXHIBIT-P6: TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 20.03.2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 26 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12198/2018 PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011 NO.19/2011 EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 14.01.2011NO.17/2011 EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN W.P.(C)NO.22723/2011 DATED 20.08.2011. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF CHAKKUPALAM GRAMA PANCHAYAT DATED 15.03.2018. EXHIBIT P4(A) TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXHIBIT P4 DEMAND NOTICE EXHIBIT P5 EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O. (MS)NO.14/2014/ITD DATED 15.03.2014. TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 20.03.2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. WP(c) No.14018/2022 & con. cases 27 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 25550/2018 PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXT P1 EXT P2 EXT P3 EXT P4 EXT P4(A) EXT P5 EXT P6 EXT P7 EXT P8 EXT P9 TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION NO.19/2011 DATED 14/01/2011. TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION NO.17/2011 DATED 14/01/2011. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA IN WP(C) NO.22723/2011 DATED 20/08/2011. TRUE COPY OF DEMAND NOTICE OF THIRUVARPPU GRAMA PANCHAYAT DATED 26/06/2017. TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER THROUGH E-MAIL TO EXHIBIT P4 DEMAND NOTICE DATED 22/06/2018. TRUE COPY OF THE G.O(MS) NO.14/2014/ITD DATED 15/03/2014. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER IN DATED WP(C) 06/04/2018. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER IN DATED WP(C) 10/04/2018. TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER IN DATED WP(C) 06/04/2018. TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 20/03/2018 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. NO.12198/2018 NO.12729/2018 NO.12180/2018