Section 58. Liability in other cases

(1) Where a dealer is a firm or an association of persons or a Hindu Undivided Family and such firm, association or family has discontinued business-

(a) the tax payable under this Act, by such firm, association or family up to the date of such discontinuance may be assessed as if no such discontinuance had taken place; and 

(b) every person who was at the time of such discontinuance, a partner of such firm, or a member of such association or family, shall, notwithstanding such discontinuance be liable jointly and severally for the payment of tax assessed and penalty or interest imposed and payable by such firm, association or family, whether such tax, interest or penalty or has been assessed prior to or after such discontinuance, and subject as aforesaid, the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply as if every such person or partner or member were himself a dealer:

(2) Where a change has occurred in the constitution of a firm or an association of persons, the partners of the firm or members of association, as it existed before and as it exists after its reconstitution, shall, without prejudice to the provisions of section 54, jointly and severally be liable to pay tax, interest and penalty due from such firm or association for any period before its reconstitution.

(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, so far as may be, apply where the dealer, being a firm or association of persons is dissolved or where the dealer, being a Hindu Undivided Family, has effected partition with respect to the business carried on by it and accordingly references in that sub-section to discontinuance shall be construed as reference to dissolution or, as the case may be, to partition.