Hindustan Polymers Vs. Collector of Central
Excise [1989] INSC 251 (23
August 1989)
Rangnathan,
S. Rangnathan, S.
Saikia, K.N.
(J)
CITATION:
1990 AIR 731 1990 SCC (1) 59 JT 1989 Supl. 283 1989 SCALE (2)838
ACT:
Central
Excises and Salt Act, 1944: Sections 2(f),3, 4(4)(d), 35(L)(b) & First
Schedule Tariff Item No. 68---Fusel oil/Styrene Monomer--Drums supplied by
buyer--Value of drums--Whether to be excluded from 'assessable value'.
HEAD NOTE:
The
appellant company/assessee manufactures and sells fusel oil/ styrene Monomer
falling under Tariff Item No. 68 of the 1st Schedule to the Central Excises and
Salt Act, 1944. The said fusel oil/styrene Monomer is sold in bulk and
generally delivered to the customers at the appellant's factory in road
tankers. Some times it is supplied in drums brought by the customers who are
not charged anything for those drums. In the case of Styrene Monomer, the
finding is that the supply was in tankers to the extent of 90% and only 10% of
the sales were made in drums.
Two notices
were issued to the appellant to show cause as to why the value of the drums
should not be included in the assessable value of the goods. In reply, the
appellant contended that as the drums were supplied by the buyer the value
thereof could not be included in the assessable value.
The
Assistant Collector however included the value of the drums in the assessable
value of the said fusel oil/Styrene Monomer. The Collector (Appeals) allowed
the appellant's appeal and held that it was not open to the Assistant Collector
to inflate the assessable value without establishing the receipt of the
additional consideration by the appellant apart from what had been shown in the
invoice. The Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal allowed the
further appeal filed by the Revenue and held that at the time of removal the
goods were delivered from the factory in packed condition and the containers
were not returnable by the buyer, therefore, the value had to be included in
the assessable value.
Before
this Court it was contended on behalf of the appellant that it was not all
packing that was liable to be included under s. 4(4)(d)(i) of the Customs and
Central Excises Act, it was only that degree of secon975 dary packing which was
necessary for the assessable article to be placed in the condition in which it
was sold in the wholesale market at the factory. gate which could be included
in the assessable value of the article; fusel oil/Styrene Monomer was sold in
bulk and was capable of being so sold, hence it was not necessary for the said
fusel oil/Styrene Monomer to be supplied to the customer in drums; the duty of
excise was payable on manufactured goods and no duty of excise could be
collected from the appellant on such drums which were neither manufactured nor
purchased by the appellant; the duty being on the activity of manufacture
whatever was necessary to bring the goods into existence alone could be taken
into account for duty purposes; and the sub-section did not contemplate the
inclusion of the cost of packing in the value of goods when the packing was
supplied by a customer to a manufacturer on its own cost.
On
behalf of the Revenue the learned Attorney General contended that the value of
drums/containers would also have to be included on a correct interpretation of
charging sections, namely, sections 3 and 4 of the Act; the terms of section
4(4)(d)(i) were very clear and specific; it was a well settled principle of
construction that in taxing statutes one had only to look at what was clearly
stated, and there was no room for any intendment; percentages of sales did not
in any manner affect determination of the assessable value of the excisable
goods; though "manufacture" was the taxable event, the measure of the
levy need not be and was not to be restricted to the cost of manufacture; it is
open to Parliament to prescribe any measure by reference to which the charge
was to be levied and this is what was done under section 4; and in construing
s. 4(4)(d)(i). all that had to be seen was whether the goods were delivered in
packed conditions and if this question was answerable in the affirmative, then,
in respect of the goods so sold, the cost of packing, whether incurred by the
manufacturer or by the supplier, had to be automatically included in the assessable
value, if necessary, by addition to the sale price, except only where the
packing was of durable nature and returnable to the manufacturer.
Allowing
the appeals, this Court,
HELD:
(1) The correct position must be found out bearing in mind the essential nature
of excise duty. Excise duty is a duty on the act of manufacture. Manufacture
under the excise law is the process of activity which brings into being
articles which are known in the market as goods and to be goods these must be
different, identifiable and distinct articles known to the market as such. It
is then and then only that 976 manufacture takes place attracting duty. [986B]
(2) Section 2(f) of the Central Excises & Salt Act provides the definition
of the term "manufacture". It states, inter alia, that manufacture
includes any process incidental or ancillary to the completion of manufactured
product. In the instant case, the drums even though these were ancillary or
incidental to the supply of fusel oil and styrene monomer, these were not necessary
to complete the manufacture of fusel oil or styrene monomer. [983B-C, 987D] (3)
In order to be 'manufacture', there must be activity which brings
transformation to the article in such a manner that different and distinct
article comes into being which is known as such in the market. 'If in order to
be able to put it on the market, a certain amount of packing or user of
containers or wrappers or putting them either in drums or containers, are
required, then the value or the cost of such wrapper or container or drum must
be included in the assessable value and if the price at which the goods are
sold does not include that value then it must be so included by the very force
of the terms of the section. [986C-E] (4) The clear implication of the use of the
word "cost" in relation to packing in the clause (i) of section
4(4)(d) of the Act is that only packing cost of which is incurred by the assessee,
i.e. the seller, is to be included. The use of the expression "cost"
could not obviously be by way of reference to packing for which the cost is
incurred by the buyer. [988B] Union of India
& Ors. v. Bombay Tyre International Ltd., [1984] 1 SCR 347; Collector of
Central Excise v. Indian Oxygen Ltd., [1986] 36 ELT 730; K. Radha Krishaiah v.
Inspector of Central Excise, Gooty & Ors., [1987] 27 ELT 598; Govind Pay
Oxygen Ltd. v. Asstt. Collector of Central Excise, Panaji & Ors., [1986] 23
ELT 394; Alembic Glass Industries Ltd. v. Union of India & Ors., [1986] 24
ELT 23; Gur Sahai Sehgal v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Punjab, [1963] 3 SCR
893; A.K. Roy v. Voltas Ltd., [1973] 2 SCR 1088; Atic Industries Ltd. v. H.H.
Dave Assistant Collector of Central Excise, [1975] 3 SCR 583; Union of India v.
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd., [1985] Supp. 3 SCR 123; Union of India v. Delhi
Cloth & General Mills Ltd., [1963] Supp. 1 SCR 586; South Bihar Sugar Mills
Ltd., etc. v. Union of India & Ors., [1968] 3 SCR 21; Bhor Industries Ltd.,
Bombay v. Collector of Central Excise, Bombay, [1989] 1 SCC 602 and Union of
India v. Godfrey Phillips Ltd., [1985] 3 SCC 369, referred to.
977
(5) On the facts of this case, it is clear that the goods were not sold in
drums generally in the course of the wholesale trade. There was no evidence
that there was any necessity of packing or putting these in drums prior to
their sale, or to be able to generally to enter the stream of wholesale trade
or to be marketable. On the other hand, there was evidence that in the
wholesale trade, these goods were delivered directly in tankers and deliverable
as such.
But as
a matter of fact, delivery in drums was only to facilitate their transport in
small quantities. The manufacture of the goods was complete before these were
placed in drums. The completely manufactured product was stored in tanks. From
these tanks the goods were removed directly and placed in vehicles for their
movement for 90% of the sales, the vehicle of removal was tankers and for 10%
of the sales, the vehicle or removal was drums. In the premises, the value of
the drums with regard to the fusel oil/ styrene monomer irrespective of whether
these were supplied by the assessee or not. are not includible in the
assessable value of the Styrene Monomer. [992A-D] Per S. Ranganathan, J.
(agreeing with the conclusion but resting it entirely on the language of section
4(4)(d)(i) of the Central Excises & Salt Act) (1) There is ample internal
indication in the statute to show that the cost of packing referred to in s.
4(4)(d)(i) of the Central Excises & Salt Act, 1944 is the cost of packing
incurred by the manufacturer and recovered by him from the purchaser whether as
part of the said price or separately. [994D] (2) While generally the normal
price for which the goods are sold at the factory gate is to be taken as
assessable value, an addition thereto has to be made where, in addition to the
price, the manufacturer levies a charge for the packing which is intrinsically
and inevitably incidental to placing the manufactured goods on the market.
[994F] (3) The answer to the question whether the cost of the container should
be included in the assessable value or not would depend upon whether the goods
in question are supplied in a packed condition or not. If the answer is yes,
three kinds of situation may arise. Where the manufacturer supplies his own
container or drum but does not charge the customer therefore, then the price of
the goods will also include the cost of the' container. There will be no
question of separate addition to the sale price nor can the assessee claim a
deduction of the cost of packing from the sale price except where the container
is a durable one 978 and is returnable to the manufacturer. If the manufacturer
supplies the drums and charges the customer separately therefore, then, under
section 4(4)(d)(i), the cost of the drums to the buyer has to be added to the
price except where the packing is of durable nature and is to be returned to
the manufacturer. If on the other hand, the manufacturer asks the customer to
bring his own container and does not charge anything therefore then the cost
(or value) of the packing cannot be "notionally" added to, or
subtracted from, the price at which the goods have been sold by the
manufacturer. [995B-D] Per J.S. Verma, J. (agreeing with Ranganathan, J. that
the conclusion reached on the language of section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act is
sufficient to allow these appeals).
(1)
The cost of packing envisaged in section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act for determining
the "value" in relation to any excisable goods is only the "cost
of such packing" incurred by the manufacturer and recovered from the buyer
except where the packing is of a durable nature and is returnable by the buyer
to the manufacturer. [995G] (2) The "cost of such packing" referred
to in section 4(4)(d)(i) does not include within its ambit the cost of packing
not incurred by the manufacturer when the packing is supplied by the buyer and
not the manufacturer. [995H]
CIVIL
APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 433941/86 & 4176-77 of 1984.
From
the Judgment and Order dated 4.7.85 & 21.6.84 of the Customs Excise and Gold
(Control) Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in
Appeal Nos. ED(SB)(T) A. Nos. 513-514, & 544 of 1985(A) & ED(SB) 329
& 324/84-A in Order Nos. 450-452/85-A, 473 & 474/84-A.
Harish
Salve, Ravinder Narain, P.K. Ram and D.N. Mishra for the Appellant.
K. Parasaran,
Attorney General, A.K. Ganguli, and P. Parmeshwaran for the Respondents.
The
Judgment of the Court was delivered by SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, J. These appeals
under Section 35L(b) of the Central Excises & Salt Act, 1944 (hereinafter
called 'the 979 Act') are against the order Nos. 450-452 of 1985A dated 4th
July, 1985, 473/184A and 474/84A both dated 21st June, 1984 passed by the
Customs, Excise & Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter referred
to as 'the Tribunal').
The
appellant is a division of McDowell & Co. Ltd. It has its factory at, inter
alia, Visakhapatnam. There it manufactures and sells
fusel oil/Styrene Monomer falling under Tariff Item No. 68 of the Ist Schedule
to the Act. The case of the appellant is that the said fusel oil is a completely
manufactured article and after completion of its manufacture, it is stored in
storage tanks duly approved for this purpose. It is at this stage that the
quantity of fusel oil/Styrene Monomer manufactured, according to the appellant,
is entered in the RG1 Register maintained for goods manufactured by the
appellant. It is also the case of the appellant that the said fusel oil/Styrene
Monomer manufactured by it is sold in bulk and delivered to the customers at
the appellant's factory. The fusel oil/Styrene Monomer is also capable of being
supplied in road-tankers to customers.
The
appellant had filed its price-lists in respect of the same. In the said
price-lists, which were duly approved by the Asstt. Collector, the appellant
had shown the value of fusel oil/Styrene Monomer at the rate at which those
were sold in wholesale as "naked Ex-Works and in bulk". According to
the appellant, the manufacture of fusel oil is complete and it is the fully
manufactured fusel oil/Styrene Monomer which is stored in the storage tank.
On 2nd July, 1983, a notice in respect of a
consignment was issued to show cause as to why value of the drums should not be
included in the value of the goods. There the drums had been supplied by the
buyer. Another show cause notice as to why value of the drums should not be
included in the assessable value of the goods, was issued to the appellant on the 5th April, 1983 pertaining to Gate Pass No. 773
where under the appellant had cleared 2.4 KI of fusel oil in drums supplied by
the buyer. Replies were duly filed to the said show cause notices by the
appellant contending, inter alia, that as the drums were supplied by the buyer,
value thereof could not be included in the assessable value. On the 11th August, 1983, two orders were passed by the
Assistant Collector--one in relation to each of the aforesaid show cause
notices. The Assistant Collector included the value of the drums in the
assessable value of the said fusel oil/Styrene Monomer. Appeals were filed by
the assessee. The same were allowed by the Collector (Appeals). He held that
the appellant had not collected any amount in excess of the amount indicated in
the price-lists. Therefore, in addition 980 to this amount, according to the
Collector (Appeals), it was not open to the Asstt. Collector to inflate the
assessable value without establishing the receipt of the additional
consideration by the appellant apart from what had been shown in the invoice.
There was a further appeal to the Tribunal. The Tribunal held that at the time
of removal the goods were delivered from the factory in packed condition and
the containers were not returnable by the buyer, therefore, the value had to be
included in the assessable value.
The
Tribunal, therefore, accepted the revenue's contention and restored the order
of the Asst. Collector. Aggrieved therefrom, the appellant has come up in these
appeals to this Court.
On
behalf of the appellant, Shri Salve contended that the Tribunal had failed to
appreciate the admitted factual position that the fusel oil/Styrene Monomer
manufactured by the appellant is sold in bulk and is capable of being so sold.
Hence, according to the appellant, it is not necessary for the said fusel
oil/Styrene Monomer to be supplied to the customers in drums in the aforesaid
situation. The Tribunal, therefore, it was urged, ought to have held that the
value could not be included in the assessable value of the fusel oil/Styrene
Monomer. It was contended that in any event under the Act and the Rules, the
duty of excise is payable by the manufacturer on the manufactured goods. The
appellant was not a manufacturer of drums. The said drums were supplied by the
customers for the purpose of filling the fusel oil/Styrene Monomer. No duty of
excise, therefore, could be collected from the appellant on such drums which
were neither manufactured nor purchased by the appellant. It was further urged
that on a correct and true interpretation of Section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act, the
cost of packing could be included in the assessable value only when the packing
is either manufactured by the assessee or is purchased by the assessee. The
said sub-section does not contemplate, according to the appellant, the
inclusion of the cost of packing in the value of goods when the packing is
supplied by a customer to a manufacturer on its own cost.
It was
contended by Shri Salve, appearing on behalf of the appellant, that on a
correct analysis of section 4(4)(d), the duty being on the activity of
manufacture whatever is necessary to bring the goods into existence alone can
be taken into account for duty purposes. Reliance was placed by Shri Salve as
well as by the learned Attorney General, appearing on behalf of the revenue, on
the relevant provisions of the Act and the position as explained by this Court
in Union of India & Ors. v. Bombay Tyre International Ltd., [1984] 1 SCR
347.
981 Shri
Salve has, however, contended that so far as this Court is concerned, this
question is concluded by the decision of this Court in Collector of Central
Excise v. Indian Oxygen Ltd., [1986] 36 ELT 730. Learned Attorney General,
however, contended that this decision did not deal with the present
controversy. The said decision, according to learned Attorney General, was
concerned with the rentals of certain oxygen gas cylinders supplied by the assessee.
Reference was made to the decision of this Court in K. Radha Krishaiah v.
Inspector of Central Excise, Gooty & Ors., [1987] 27 ELT 598. Shri Salve
referred to and relied on the decision of tile High Court of Bombay in the case
of Govind Pay Oxygen Ltd. v. Asstt. Collector of Central Excise, Panaji &
Ors., [1986] 23 ELT 394 as also the decision of the Karnataka High Court in
Alembic Glass Industries Ltd. v. Union of India & Ors., [1986] 24 ELT 23.
Learned Attorney General urged before us that the question whether for
determining the assessable value of the excisable goods sold by the assessee in
drums or containers provided by its customers (the assessee itself provided
such drums/containers on payment of price in Civil Appeals Nos. 4339-41 of
1986) the value of such drums/containers would also have to be included on a
correct interpretation of charging sections, namely, sections 3 and 4 of the
Act. It was submitted that while determining the scope and nature of levy, as
contemplated under section 3 of the Act, of central excise and the measure of
such levy as provided in section 4 of the Act the principles laid .down in
Union of India v. Bombay Tyre International Ltd., (supra), should be followed
and reliance was placed on the several decisions of this Court which we will
refer to later. Learned Attorney General emphasised that it is a well settled
principle of construction that in taxing statutes one has only to look merely
at what is clearly stated. There is no room, he contended, for any intendment.
There is no equity about a tax, it was submitted. There is no presumption as to
tax. Reliance was placed for this proposition by the learned Attorney General
on the observations of this Court in Gur Sahai Sehgal v. Commissioner of Income
Tax, Punjab, [1963] 3 SCR 893 at 898.
Learned
Attorney General also drew attention to the decision of this Court in A.K. Roy
v. Voltas Ltd., [1973] 2 SCR 1088 and also to Atic Industries Ltd. v. H.H.
Dave, Assistant Collector of Central Excise, [1975] 3 SCR 563 at 568 to emphasise
the point that percentages of sales do not in any manner affect determination
of the assessable value of the excisable goods. In this connection, it may be
relevant to mention that in C.A. 4339-41/86, in respect of which show notice
was issued as to why value of drums should not be included in the assessable
value of fusel oil and Styrene Monomer, 90% of Styrene Mono982 mer had been
sold directly in tanks and only 10% of Styrene Monomer had been sold in drums
and the show cause notice on 20th October, 1983 had been issued relating to
clearance of fusel oil in 45 drums but the said drums had been supplied by the
buyer. The Asstt. Collector in those appeals had included the costs of such
drums in the value of styrene monomer. Relying on the two decisions referred to
hereinbefore, learned Attorney General emphasised that percentages of sales
would not in any manner affect determination of the assessable value of the
excisable goods. In A.K. Roy's case (supra), it was held by this Court that though
in that case that the fact that the assessee had effected sales to wholesale
dealers only to the extent of 5 to 10% of its production and that 90-95% of its
production were only retail sales would not affect the question of
determination of the assessable value of the excisable goods with reference to
its value in the wholesale market. Therefore, the learned Attorney General
submitted, the mere fact that the assessee in C.A. No. 4339 of 1986 sold only
10% of the excisable goods to its buyer where drums were supplied by the buyers
themselves and that 90% of the sales were through tankers belonging to the
customers would not in any manner affect the question or determination of the
assessable value of the excisable goods inasmuch as the 10% of its sales to
wholesale buyers were in drums supplied by the buyers at the time of removal.
According to the learned Attorney General, the fact that 90% of the goods were
supplied in tankers and not in containers had no relevance at all and the 10%
represented the entire quantity of excisable goods delivered in packed
condition. Learned Attorney General contended that the decision of Indian
Oxygen Ltd.'s case (supra) cannot be relied on in view of the facts of this
case. In that case, the learned Attorney General contended the only question
which arose was whether the rental charges received by the assessee for the gas
cylinders lent by it to its customers could be included in the assessable value
and whether interest earned on deposits made by the customers for the security
of the cylinders supplied by the assessee could also be included in the
assessable value of the excisable goods.
This
Court clarified in the said decision that the said charges could not be
included in the value of the goods since these were only ancillary and not
incidental to the activities for the manufacture of gases. Learned Attorney
General submitted that this Court had no occasion in that decision to consider
the question which arises in the present case, namely whether the cost of
packing materials would have to be included in the assessable value of the
goods when goods are delivered in packed conditions. Learned Attorney General
submitted that the decisions of the Bombay and Karnataka High Courts were wrong
as they are contrary to the decision of this 983 Court in Bombay Tyre
International's case (supra). Reference was made both by the learned Attorney
General and Shri Salve to the observations of this Court in Union of India v.
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd., [1985] Supp. 3 SCR 123.
In
order to appreciate the controversy in this case, it is necessary to refer to
the relevant provisions.
Section
2(f) of the Act provides the definition of the term "manufacture". It
states, inter alia, that manufacture includes any process incidental or
ancillary to the completion of manufactured product. It is, therefore,
necessary to bear in mind that a process which is ancillary or incidental to
the completion of the manufactured product, that is to say, to make the
manufacture complete would be "manufacture". It is relevant and
important to bear this aspect in mind. Section 3 of the Act provides that there
shall be levied and collected in such manner as maybe prescribed duties of
excise on all excisable goods other than salt which are produced or
manufactured in India. "Excisable goods", under section 2(d) of the
Act, means goods specified in the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act,
1985 as being subject to duty of excise and includes salt. Section 4 of the Act
provides for the valuation of excisable goods for purposes of charging of duty
of excise. The relevant provision of section 4 of the Act deals with the manner
as to how the value is to be computed and section 4(4)(d) stipulates as
follows:
""value"
in relation to any excisable goods, (i) where the goods are delivered at the
time of removal in a packed condition, includes the cost of such packing except
the cost of the packing which is of a durable nature and is returnable by the
buyer to the assessee.
Explanation.--In
this sub-clause "packing" means the wrapper, container, bobbin, pirn,
spool, reel or warp beam or any other thing in which or on which the excisable
goods are wrapped, contained or wound;
(ii)
does not include the amount of the duty of excise, sales tax and other taxes,
if any, payable on such goods and, subject t9 such rules as may be made, the
trade discount (such discount not being refundable on any account whatsoever)
allowed in accordance with the normal practice of 984 the wholesale trade at
the time of removal in respect of such goods sold or contracted for sale;
(Explanation.--For
the purposes of this subclause, the amount of the duty of excise payable on any
excisable goods shall be the sum total of-(a) the effective duty of excise
payable on such goods under this Act; and (b) the aggregate of the effective
duties of excise payable under other Central Acts, if any, providing for the
levy of duties of excise on such goods ,-and the effective duty of excise on
such goods under each Act referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) shall be, (i)
in a case where a notification or order providing for any exemption (not being
an exemption for giving credit with respect to, for reduction or duty of excise
under such Act on such goods equal to, any duty of excise under such Act, or
the additional duty under Section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of
1975), already paid] on the raw material or component parts used in the
production or manufacture of such goods) from the duty of excise under such Act
is for the time being in force, the duty of excise computed with reference to
the rate specified in such Act in respect of such goods as reduced so as to
give full and complete effect to such exemption;
and
(ii) in any other case, the duty of excise computed with reference to the rate
specified in such Act in respect of such goods." The expression
"place of removal" has been defined under section 4(4)(b) of the Act
to mean a factory or any other place or premises of production or manufacture
of the excisable goods; or a warehouse or any other place or premises wherein
the excisable goods have been permitted to be deposited without payment of
duty, from where such goods are removed. It is in relation to Section 4(4)(d)
that it is contended that except the cost of packing which is of a durable nature
and is returnable by the buyer to the assessee to the buyer, in respect of all
other costs of packing, the costs should be included in the value of the 985
excisable goods. The explanation to the said sub-section defines the expression
"packing" as the wrapper, container, bobbin, pirn, spool, reel or
warp beam or any other thing in which or on which the excisable goods are
wrapped, contained or wound. The provisions of these two sections must be
judged in the light of the principles laid down by this Court in Union of India
v. Bombay Tyre International, (supra). In that decision, it has been recognized
that the measure employed for assessing a tax must not be confused with the
nature of the tax, while the measure of the tax may be assessed by its own standard
to serve as a standard for assessing the levy the Legislature need not contonour
it along lines which spell out the character of the levy itself. Reliance may
be placed to the observations of this Court at pp. 365-367 of the Report. This
Court rejected the contention of the assessee in that case that because the
levy of excise is a levy on goods manufactured or produced, the value of an
excisable article must be limited to the manufacturing cost plus manufacturing
profit. This Court reiterated that section 4 of the Act provides the measure by
reference to which the charge is to be levied. Therefore, the charge is to be
determined by the terms of section 4 of the Act. But it has to be borne in mind
that the duty of excise is chargeable with reference to the value of the
excisable goods and the value is defined in express terms in that section.
Though the learned Attorney General referred to the fact that in taxing
statutes, one must look merely at what is clearly stated, yet such a
construction must be made in the context of the entire scheme of the Act.
Learned Attorney General emphasised that the language of clause (d) of
sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Act made it clear beyond doubt that in
cases where the Act provides for excise duty with reference to value of the
excisable goods, while determining the value of such goods, the cost of packing
where the excisable goods are delivered at the time of removal in packed
condition, would have to be included in the assessable value of the excisable
goods. According to the learned Attorney General, since the Act provides for
only one exception to this measure, namely, non-inclusion of the cost of such
packing where the packing is durable in nature and is returnable by the buyer
to the assessee, in all other cases the cost of the packing would have to be
included in the assessable value of the excisable goods where such goods are
delivered at the time of removal in packed condition. According to him, the
plain language of the Statute does not permit of any further exceptions being
read into the Act. To hold otherwise, it was contended, would make the
provision of the measure of the levy unworkable inasmuch as in every case the
measure would have to differ in the light of the contentions as may be raised
by the assessees depending upon the business arrangement of each assessee.
986 It
was contended that it is not correct to equate the measure of tax with the levy
itself which is the basis of the contentions of the appellant.
In my
opinion, however, the correct position must be found out bearing in mind the
essential nature of excise duty. Excise duty, as has been reiterated and
explained, is a duty on the act of manufacture. Manufacture under the excise
law, is the process or activity which brings into being articles which are
known in the market as goods and to be goods these must be different,
identifiable and distinct articles known to the market as such. It is then and
then only that manufacture takes place attracting duty. In order to be goods,
it was essential that as a result of the activity, goods must come into
existence. For articles to be goods, these must be known in the market as such
and these must be capable of being sold or being sold in the market as such.
See the observations of this Court in Union of India v. Delhi Cloth &
General Mills Ltd., [1963] Supp. 1 SCR 586; South Bihar Sugar Mills Ltd., etc.
v. Union of India & Ors., [1968] 3 SCR
21 and Bhor Industries Ltd., Bombay v.
Collector of Central Excise, Bombay, [1989]
1 SCC 602. In order, therefore, to be manufacture, there must be activity which
brings transformation to the article in such a manner that different and
distinct article comes into being which is known as such in the market. If in
order to be able to put it on the market, a certain amount of packing or user
of containers or wrappers or putting them either in drums or containers, are
required, then the value or the cost of such wrapper or container or drum must
be included in the assessable value and if the price at which the goods are
sold does not include that value then it must be so included by the very force
of the terms of the Section. The question, therefore, that has to be examined
in this case is whether these drums, containers or packing, by whatever name
they are called, are necessary to make fusel oil or styrene monomer marketable
as such or can these goods be sold without the containers or drums or packing?
In my opinion, the facts established that these could be. The fact that 90% of
the goods in C.A. No. 4339 of 1986 were delivered in tankers belonging to the assessee
and only 10% of the goods were in packed condition at the time of removal
clearly establish that the goods were marketable without being packed or
contained in drums or containers. These were in the storage tanks of the assessee
and were as such marketable. In this connection, it is necessary to refer to
the observations of this Court in Collector of Central Excise v. Indian Oxygen
Ltd., (supra). In that case, as mentioned hereinbefore, the respondent Indian Oxygen
Ltd. was manufacturer of dissolved acetylene gas and compressed oxygen gas,
called therein 'the gases'. The respondent supplied these gases in cylinders at
their factory gate.
987
For taking delivery of these gases, some consumers/customers used to bring
their own cylinders and take the delivery, while others used to have the
delivery in the cylinders supplied by the respondent. For the purpose of such
supply of cylinders, certain rentals were charged by the respondent and also to
ensure that these cylinders were returned properly, certain amounts of deposit
used to be taken from the customers. On these deposits, notional interest @ 18%
p.a. was calculated. The two amounts with which this Court was concerned were
rentals of the cylinders and the notional interest earned on the deposit of
cylinders--whether these two amounts were includible in the value under s. 4 of
the Act was the question. The revenue's case was that the notional value of
deposit was rental and hence should be included in computing the assessable
value. The respondent, however, disputed this. Analysing the scope of s. 4 of
the Act, it was held by this Court that supply of gas cylinders might be
ancillary activity to the supply of gases but this was not ancillary or
incidental to the manufacture of gases.
The
goods were manufactured without these cylinders. Therefore, the rental of the
same though income of ancillary activity, was not the value incidental to the
manufacture and could not be included in the assessable value. Similarly, in my
opinion, drums even though these were ancillary or incidental to the supply of
fusel oil and styrene monomer, these were not necessary to complete the
manufacture of fusel oil or styrene monomer; the cost of such drums cannot,
therefore, be included in the assessable value thereof.
Furthermore,
no cost was, in fact, incurred by the assessee.
Drums
had been supplied by the buyers.
This
position, in my opinion, was correctly approached in the decision of the Bombay
High Court in Govind Pay Oxygen Ltd. v. Assistant Collector of Central Excise, Panaji
& Ors., (supra), where it was held that section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act does
not make any provision for including the cost of packing which was supplied by
the buyer to the assessee for the obvious reason that the assessee did not
spend for such packing. It was for this simple reason that the legislature had
not thought it fit to exempt such packing from the value of excisable goods. In
my opinion, that is the correct approach to the problem. Similarly, Karnataka
High Court in Alembic Glass Industries v. Union of India & Ors., (supra)
held that the term "value" defined in section 4(4)(d)(i) provides for
exclusion of cost of packing material which was of durable nature and was
returnable by the buyer to the assessee. Hence, there was no logic or reason
for not excluding the value of packing material supplied by the buyer himself
which is of durable nature and is returnable by the assessee to the buyer.
Furthermore, in my opinion, in 988 terms of section, it is not includible. The
contention that the value of packing materials including those supplied by the
buyer, has to be included in the value of the goods, is repugnant to the very
scheme of section 4. It overlooks the use of the expression "cost" in
relation to packing in the clause (i) of section 4(4)(d) of the Act. The word
"cost" has a definite connotation, and is used generally in
contradistinction of the expression "value". Thus, the clear
implication of the use of the word "cost" is that only packing cost
of which is incurred by the assessee, i.e., the seller, is to be included. The
use of the expression "cost" could not obviously be by way of
reference to packing for which the cost is incurred by the buyer. It has to be
borne in mind that such a provision would make the provision really unworkable,
since in making the assessment of the seller, there is no machinery for
ascertaining the "cost" of the packing which might be supplied by the
buyer. Such a contention further overlooks the scheme of clause (i) whereunder
durable packing returnable by the buyer has to be excluded. It would create an
absurd situation if durable packing supplied by the assessee and returnable to
the assessee is not to be included in the assessable value but a durable
packing supplied by the buyer to the assessee and returnable to the buyer is
made a part of the assessable value. One has to bear in mind the scheme of
clause (d) of section 4(4) of the Act. The two sub-clauses of this clause deal
with abatements or deductions in respect of actual burdens, either by way of an
expenditure or discount, borne by the assessee. Clause (ii) deals with duties
of excise, sales tax and other taxes, if any, payable on such goods.
Here
also obviously, the reference is not generally to the taxes payable on such
goods by either the assessee or the buyer but is obviously to the taxes payable
by the assessee.
The
trade discount is referable to that allowed by the assessee. Therefore, in the
same sense, clause (i) would only be referable to the packing in respect to
which "cost" is incurred by the assessee. It has to be borne in mind
that the scheme of old section 4 of the Act and new section 4 is the same as
was held by this Court in the case of Bombay Tyre International, (supra) at
pages 376 E-F, 377-H and 378 A-B, H of the Report. The scheme of the old
section 4 is indisputedly to determine the assessable value of the goods on the
basis of the price charged by the assessee, less certain abatements. There was
no question of making any additions to the price charged by the assessee. The
essential basis of the "assessable value" of old section 4 was the
wholesale cash price charged by the assessee. To construe new section 4 as now
suggested would amount to departing from this concept and replacing it with the
concept of a notional value comprising of the wholesale cash price plus certain
notional charges. This would be a radical departure from old section 4 and
cannot be said to be on the 989 same basis. It has to be borne in mind that the
measure of excise duty is price and not value. It has been so held by this
Court in Bombay Tyre International's case (supra). See in this connection, the
observations of this Court in Bombay Tyre's case at pages 368,377,379,382 and
383, where this Court emphasised that in both the old s. 4 and the new s. 4,
the price charged by the manufacturer on a sale by him represents the measure.
Price and sale are related concepts and price has a definite connotation.
Therefore, it was held that the "value" of the excisable article has
to be computed with reference to the price charged by the manufacturer, the
computation being made in accordance with the terms of s. 4.
This
Court rejected the contention on behalf of the assessee in that case, that s. 4
also levied excise on the basis of a conceptual value which must exclude
post-manufacturing expenses and post manufacturing profit by observing that the
contention proceeded on the assumption that a conceptual value governed the
assessment of the levy. It was reiterated that the old s. 4 and new s. 4
determine the value on the basis of price charged or chargeable by the
particular assessee. See in this connection, the observations of this Court at
p. 388 F & G of the report.
It has
also to be borne in mind that in any event in so far as Styrene Monomer Oil is
concerned, the value of the drums in which it is packed is not includible in
the assessable value of the goods. It is not all packing which is liable to be
included under clause 4(4)(d)(i) in the assessable value of the goods. It is
only that degree of secondary packing which is necessary for assessable
articles to be in the condition in which it is generally sold in the wholesale
market which can be included at the factory gate which should be included in
the value of the article. See the observations of this Court in Bombay Tyre
International's case (supra) at page 393 D & E. In the case of Union of
India v. Godfrey Phillips Ltd., [1985] 3 SCC 369, this position was clarified
by the majority judgment. In that case, the respondent therein manufactured
cigarettes in their factories. The cigarettes so manufactured were packed
initially in paper/cardboard packets of 10 and 20 and these packets were then
packed together in paper/cardboard cartons/outers. These cartons/outers were
then placed in corrugated fibreboard containers and delivered by the
respondents to the wholesale dealers at the factory gate. There was no dispute
that the cost of primary packing into packets of 10 and 20 and the cost of
secondary packing in cartons/ outers must be included in determining the value
of the cigarettes for the purpose of assessment of excise duty, since such
packing would fall under section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act. The question that arose
was whether the cost of final packing in corrugated fibreboard containers 990
would be liable to be included in the value of the cigarettes for the purpose
of assessment to excise duty. The question was answered in negative by a
majority of 2:1 of this Court. Chief Justice Bhagwati dissented. It was held by
Pathak, J. (as the learned Chief Justice then was) that such cost of corrugated
fibre board containers could not be included in the determination of
"value" in section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act for the purposes of excise
duty. For the purpose of measure of levy on cigarettes, the statute has given
an extended meaning to the expression "value in section 4(4)(d) of the
Act. Plainly, the extension must be strictly construed, for what is being
included in the value now is something beyond the value of the manufactured
commodity itself. The corrugated fibreboard containers could be regarded as
secondary packing. These were not necessary, it was emphasised by the majority
of the Judges, for selling the cigarettes in the wholesale market at the
factory gate.
These
were only employed, it was emphasised by the majority of the Judges, for the
purpose of avoiding damage or injury during transit. It was perfectly
conceivable that the wholesale dealer who took delivery might have his depot at
a very short distance only from the factory gate or might have such transport
arrangements available that damage or injury to the cigarettes could be
avoided. A.N. Sen, J., who agreed with Pathak, J., observed that on a proper
construction of section 4(4)(d)(i), it was clear that any secondary packing
done for the purpose of facilitating transport and smooth transit of the goods
to be delivered to the buyer in the wholesale trade could not be included in
the value for the purpose of assessment of excise duty. Chief Justice Bhagwati,
on the other hand, held that corrugated fibreboard containers in which the
cigarettes were contained fell within the definition of 'packing' in the
Explanation to section 4(4)(d)(i) and if these formed part of the packing in
which the goods were packed when delivered at the time of removal, then under
section 4(4)(d)(i) read with the Explanation, the cost of such corrugated fibreboard
containers would be liable to be included in the value of cigarettes.
It is
apparent from the wide language, according to the learned Chief Justice, of
Explanation to section 4(4)(d)(i) that every kind of container in which it can
be said that the excisable goods are contained would be 'packing' within the
meaning of the Explanation. Even secondary packing would be within the terms of
the Explanation, because such secondary packing would also constitute a wrapper
or a container in which the excisable goods are wrapped or contained. But the
test to determine whether the cost of any particular kind of secondary packing
is liable to be included in the value of the article is whether a particular
kind of packing is done in order to put the goods in the condition in which
they are generally sold in the wholesale 991 market at the factory gate. If
they are generally sold in the wholesale market at the factory gate in a
certain packed condition, whatever may be the reason for such packing, the cost
of such packing would be includible in the value of the goods for assessment to
excise duty. According to learned Chief Justice, it makes no difference to the
applicability of the definition in section 4(4)(d)(i) read with Explanation
that the packing of the goods ordinarily sold by the manufacturer in the
wholesale trade is packing for the purpose of protecting the goods against
damage during transportation or in the warehouse. However, if any special
secondary packing is provided by the assessee at the instance of a wholesale
buyer which is not generally provided as a normal feature of the wholesale
trade, the cost of such special packing would not be includible in the value of
the goods. It may be necessary in this connection to refer to the observations
of this Court in Union of India & Ors. v. Bombay Tyre International Ltd.,
(supra) dealing with the aspect of secondary packing, where this Court
reiterated that the degree of secondary packing which is necessary for putting
the excisable article in which it is sold in the wholesale market at the
factory was the degree of packing where the cost would be included in the value
of the goods for the purpose of excise duty. Pathak, J., as the Hon'ble Chief
Justice was then, observed whether it is necessary for putting the cigarettes
in the conditions in which they were sold in the wholesale market or at the
factory gate. He answered that it is not. It was found that these corrugated fibreboard
containers are employed for the purpose of avoiding damage or injury during the
transit. It was conceivable that the wholesale dealer who takes delivery might
have its depot at a very short distance only from the factory gate or may have
such transport arrangements available that damage or injury to the cigarettes
could be avoided. In those cases, the corrugated fibreboard containers,
according to Pathak, J., were not necessary for selling the cigarettes in the
wholesale market.
I am
of the opinion that the views expressed by the majority of the learned Judges
were correct and it appears, with respect, that the observations of Chief
Justice Bhagwati were not consistent with the judgment of this Court in Bombay Tyre
International (supra) at p. 379. The learned Attorney General sought to suggest
that the decision of this Court in Union of India v. Godfrey Phillips Ltd.
(supra) perhaps might require reconsideration. I am unable to accept this
suggestion. The ratio of the decision in Godfrey Phillips' case (supra) is in
consonance with the decision of Union of India v. Bombay Tyre International
(supra) and further in consonance with the true basis of excise as explained in
several decisions mentioned before. In the premises, on 992 the facts of this
case, it is clear that the goods were not sold in drums generally in the course
of the wholesale trade. There was evidence that 90% of the goods were delivered
at the time of removal without being put in drums.
There
was no evidence that there was any necessity of packing or putting these in
drums prior to their sale. It was not necessary that the articles were to be
placed in drums for these to be able to generally to enter the stream of
wholesale trade or to be marketable. On the other hand, there was evidence that
in the wholesale trade, these goods were delivered directly in tankers and
deliverable as such.
But as
a matter of fact, delivery in drums was only to facilitate their transport in
small quantities. The manufacture of the goods was complete before these were
placed in drums. The completely manufactured product was stored in tanks. From
these tanks the goods were removed directly and placed in vehicles for their
movement--for 90% of the sales, the vehicle of removal was tankers and 10% of
the sales, the vehicle of removals was drums. In the premises, the value of the
drums with regard to the fusel oil/styrene monomer irrespective of whether
these were supplied by the assessee or not, are not includible in the
assessable value of the Styrene Monomer.
In the
aforesaid view of the matter, I am of the opinion that these appeals have to be
allowed and the orders of the Tribunal set aside. The Tribunal was in error in
holding that as at the time of removal, goods were delivered from the factory
in packed condition and the containers were not returnable to by the buyer, the
value of the drums is to be included. It is reiterated that in order to be
deliverable, it is not necessary that the goods should be delivered in packed
condition and that the containers were not necessary to make the goods
marketable.
In the
aforesaid view of the matter, the appeals are allowed and the orders of the
Tribunal are set aside. The value of the aforesaid drums should, therefore, be
excluded from the assessable value for the purpose of excise duty. In the facts
and the circumstances, however, there will be no order as to costs.
RANGANATHAN,
JI have perused the judgment proposed to be delivered by my learned brother Sabyasachi
Mukharji, J. I agree with the conclusion arrived at by him but I would like to
rest it entirely on the language of S. 4(4)(d)(i) of the Central Excises &
Salt Act, 1944, without going into the larger questions raised by counsel and
dealt with by my learned brother.
2. The
assessee company is manufacturing and selling fusel oil.
993 It
also manufactures and sells another liquid known as styrene monomer. The fusel
oil and monomer are supplied generally in tankers brought by the customers Sometimes
it is supplied in drums provided by the customers who are not charged anything
for those drums. In the case of styrene monomer, the finding is that the supply
is in tankers to the extent of 90% and only 10% of the sales were made in
drums.
The
issue before us is whether the costoat of the drums supplied by the customer
for which he is not charged should be included in the assessable value of the
goods in question: in other words, whether a notional amount representing the
cost of the drums should be added to the sale price charged by the assessee to
its constituents.
3. Shri
Harish Salve, arguing for the appellants, contended that the cost of packing
referred to in S. 4(4)(d)(i) is such cost incurred by a manufacturer and not
the cost of packing borne by the buyer. In the alternative, he contended that atleast
so far as styrene monomer sales are concerned, the cost of drums cannot enter
into the picture. Citing several previous authorities of this Court he
contended on the following lines:
"It
is not all packing that is liable to be included under s. 4(4)(d)(i). It is
only that degree of secondary packing which is necessary for the assessable
article to be placed in the condition in which it is sold in the wholesale
market at the factory gate which can be included in the assessable value of the
article.
On the
facts of this case, there is evidence that 90% of the monomer was delivered at
the time of removal without being put in drums.
There
was no evidence that there was any necessity of packing or putting them in
drums prior to their sale. Delivery in drums was only to facilitate their
transport in small quantities. The manufacture of the monomer was complete when
it was stored in tanks. From these tanks, the goods were, to the extent of 90%,
removed directly and placed in tankers. In 10% of the sales, the
"vehicle" of removal was drums. In the premises, the value of the
drums irrespective of whether these where supplied by the assessee or not, is
not includible in the assessable value of the goods."
3. The
learned Attorney General, on the other hand, contended that the terms of
section 4(4)(d)(i) are very clear and specific. He pointed out though
"manufacture" is the taxable event, the measure of the levy need not
be and is not to be restricted to the cost of 994 manufacture. So it is open to
Parliament to prescribe any measure by reference to which the charge is to be
levied and this is what is done under s. 4. In construing S. 4(4)(d)(i), all
that has to be seen is whether the goods are delivered in packed condition. If
this question is answered in the affirmative, then, in respect of the goods so
sold, the cost of packing, whether incurred by the manufacturer or by the
supplier, has to be automatically included in the assessable value if
necessary, by addition to the sale price, except only where the packing is of
durable nature and returnable to the manufacturer. He reminded us of the
oft-quoted truism that, in tax matters, one has to look at what is said and
that there is no question of any intendment, implication, equity or liberality
in construing the taxing provision. I agree with Mukharji, J. that this
contention cannot be accepted. The principle referred to by the learned
Attorney General is unexceptionable but the words of a statute have to be read
in the context and setting in which they occur. The proper interpretation to be
placed on the words of S. 4(4)(d)(i) has been explained in the judgment of my
learned brother and I am in full agreement with him on this point. There is
ample internal indication in the statute to show that the cost of packing
referred to in the above clause is the cost of packing incurred by the
manufacturer and recovered by him from the purchaser whether as part of the
sale price or separately. The object and purpose of the levy, the meaning of
the expression 'assessable value' as interpreted in section before its
amendment coupled with the now well established position that the amendment
intended to make no change in this position, the use of the word
"cost" rather than "value", the nature of the other
payments referred to in sub clause (ii)--all these show beyond doubt that,
while generally the normal price for which the goods are sold at the factory
gate is to be taken as the assessable value, an addition thereto has to be made
where, in addition to the price, the manufacturer levies a charge for the
packing which is intrinsically and inevitably incidental to placing the
manufactured goods on the market.
It
will indeed be anomalous if the cost of an item of packing charged for from the
customer is to be excluded from the assessable value where the packing, though
durable, is returnable to the manufacturer but the cost of an item of durable
packing supplied by the customer and taken back by him is liable to be included
in the assessable value. This conclusion, in my opinion, is sufficient to
dispose of the present appeals.
4. In
this view of the matter, I consider it unnecessary to discuss wider questions
as to the circumstances in which the cost of packing (primary or secondary) can
at all enter into the determination of the 995 assessable value under S. 4(4)(d)(i)--canvassed
by the counsel for the assessee--or as to the correctness or otherwise of the
decision of this Court in Union of India v. Godfrey Phillips, [1985] 3 SCC
369-canvassed by the learned Attorney General. My conclusion is that the answer
to the question whether the cost of the container should be included in the
assessable value or not would depend upon whether the goods in question are
supplied in a packed condition or not. If the answer is yes, three kinds of
situation may arise. Where the manufacturer supplies his own container or drum
but does not charge the customer therefore, then the price of the goods will
also include the cost of the container. There will be no question of separate
addition to the sale price nor can the assessee claim a deduction of the cost
of packing from the sale price except where the container is a durable one and
is returnable to the manufacturer. If the manufacturer supplies the drums and
charges the customers separately therefore, then, under section 4(4)(d)(i), the
cost of the drums to the buyer has to be added to the price except where the
packing is of durable nature and is to be returned to the manufacturer. If on
the other hand, the manufacturer asks the customer to bring his own container
and does not charge anything therefore then the cost (or value) of the packing
cannot be "notionally" added to, or subtracted from, the price at
which the goods have been sold by the manufacturer.
VERMA,
J. I have the benefit of perusing the judgments prepared separately by my
learned Brothers Mukharji, J. and Ranganathan, J. both of whom have arrived at
the same conclusion. My conclusion also is the same. However, I append this
short note only to emphasize that in my opinion also the view taken by all of
us on the construction of section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Central Excises and Salt
Act, 1944 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") is alone sufficient,
in the present matters, to support the conclusion we have reached and it does
not appear necessary to consider the wider propositions canvassed by the two
sides.
I
agree that the cost of packing envisaged in section 4(4)(d)(i) of the Act for
determining the "value" in relation to any excisable goods is only
the "cost of such packing" incurred by the manufacturer and recovered
from the buyer except where the packing is of a durable nature and is
returnable by the buyer to the manufacturer. The "cost of such
packing" referred in section 4(4)(d)(i) does not include within its ambit
the cost of packing not incurred by the manufacturer when the packing is
supplied by the buyer and not the manufacturer. This construction of the
expression "cost of such packing" in section 996 4(4)(d)(i) of the
Act clearly excludes in these matters the question of its addition to the price
of goods recovered by the manufacturer from the buyer for determining the
"value" in relation to the excisable goods for computing the duty
payable on it.
In my
opinion also, the above conclusion reached on the language of section 4(4)(d)(i)
of the Act is sufficient to allow these appeals. For this reason, I agree with Ranganathan,
J. that the wider propositions canvassed by the two sides including the
question of correctness of the view relating to secondary packing taken in Union
of India v. Godfrey Phillips India Ltd., [1985] 3 SCC 369 raised by the learned
Attorney General need not be considered and decided in these matters.
I
agree with my learned Brothers that both these appeals be allowed.
R.S.S.
Appeals allowed.
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