M/S. Chheda
Industries Vs. Collector of Customs, Madras [1997] INSC 343 (25 March 1997)
S.C.
SEN, SUJATA V. MANOHAR
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
Mrs. Sujata
V.Manohar, J.
The
appellants in Civil Appeal Nos. 1744-45 of 1988 are importers of stainless
steel circles. The appellants have filed the present appeals against an order
of the Customs, Excise, and Gold (control) Appellate Tribunal holding that
stainless steel circles imported by the appellants are classifiable under
Customs Tariff Entry 73.15(2) instead under Tariff Entry 73.15(1) as contended
by the importers.
The
appellants in Civil Appeal Nos.10334-36 of 1995 are Union of India. They have
challenged a decision of the Madras High Court holding that the stainless steel
circles imported by the respondents therein are classifiable under Customs
Tariff Entry 73.15(1) an not under Customs Tariff Entry 73.15(2) as contended
by the appellants therein. The Madras High court has followed an earlier
decision of the Division Bench of that court in Venkateshwara Stainless Steel
& Wire Industries V. Union of India [1991 (53) E.L.T 312 (Mad.)] in so
holding.
All
these appeals raise a common question regarding the classification of stainless
steel circles imported by the assessees. For the sake of convenience, we are
referring to the facts in Civil Appeal Nos. 1744-45 of 1988.
In or
about October 1980 the appellants imported stainless steel circles. The Customs
authorities levied and collected duty on stainless steel circles so imported
under Customs Tariff Heading 73.15(2). The standard duty of customs under that
Heading was 300% which was reduced by notification dated 15.7.1977 and the
effective duty was 220% which was levied and collected. The importers contended
that the correct classification of the goods so imported was under Customs
Tariff Heading 73.15(1) and the rate of duty was 60% which, by reason of a
notification dated 18.6.1978 was reduced to 35%. The appellant has lost in the
departmental proceedings and hence the present appeals .
The
relevant Tariff Entry , at material time was as follows:-
------------------------------------------------------------ Heading
sub-heading Rate of duty other Duration No. No. & descrip- stan- UK prefer-when rate tion of ard ential of duty are
articles. areas. protected.
------------------------------------------------------------
73.15 Alloy steel and high carbon steel in the forms mentioned in heading
Nos.73.06/07 to 73.14 (1) Not elsewhere specified. 60% ... ... ...
(2)
Coils for re-rolling, bars (including bright bars) rods, wire rods, strips,
sheets and plates of stainless steel. 300% .... ... ...
------------------------------------------------------------
Entry 73.15 sets out that it will cover, inter alia, stainless steel in the
forms mentioned in Heading Nos.73.06/07 to 73.14. These earlier Headings
73.06/07 to 73.14 deal with iron and steel products. The forms of iron and
steel items which are mentioned in these entries, inter alia , are puddled
bars, pilings, ingots, blocks, lumps, coils for re-rolling, bars and rods,
angles, shapes and sections, hoops and strips, sheets and plates and so on.
Heading
73.13 deals with sheets and plates of iron or steel, hot-rolled or cold-rolled.
it is divided into two parts :
(1)
Not elsewhere specified and (2) Tinned sheets and plates. Circles are not
expressly mentioned in any of these entries. Entry 73.15 which deals, inter alia,
with stainless steel. is also divided into two parts: (1) Not elsewhere
specified and (2) Coils for re-rolling, bars, rods, wire rods, strips, sheets
and plates of stainless steel. Sub- heading (2) clearly refers too certain
specific forms of stainless steel which are mentioned therein, namely, coils,
bars, rods, wire rods, strips , sheets and plates. From which are not expressly
dealt with in the second sub-heading will fall under the first sub-heading
covering all types and forms of stainless steel material which does not fall
under sub-heading.(2) It is the contention of the department that sheets which
are expressly covered by sub-heading (2) of Heading 73.15 would cover circles
will not fall in the residuary sub-heading(1) of Heading 73.15. The department
relies upon Note 1(n) of the chapter Notes of Chapter 73 dealing with iron and
steel and articles thereof . Entry 73.15 forms a part of this chapter. Note
1(n) which relates to sheets and plates in an earlier Heading 73.13, is as
follows:
"(n):
`sheets and plates' (Heading No.73.13):
rolled
products [other than coils for re-rolling as defined in paragraph (k) above] of
any thickness and, if in rectangles, of a width exceeding 500 milimetres.
Heading
No.73.13 is to be taken to apply, inter alia, to sheets or plates which have
been cut to non- rectangular shape, perforated, corrugated, channelled, ribbed
polished or coated, provided that they do not thereby assume the character of
articles or of products falling within other Headings;" The second part of
Note 1(n) states that Heading 73.13 will apply, inter alia, to sheets or plates
which have been cut to non-rectangular shapes. The department, therefore,
contends that a circle is nothing but a sheet which is cut to a non-rectangular
shape. It will, therefore, be covered by the term "sheet". Hence in
Heading 73.15 also "sheet" in sub-heading 73.15(2) will cover a
circle.
Webster's
Comprehensive Dictionary defines a "sheet" as: (1) a very thin and
broad piece of any substance; that which is or can be spread, as upon a
surface, or can be laid in broad folds; anything having a considerable expanse
with very little thickness. (2) A large rectangular piece of linen or cotton cloth,
used in making up a bed. (3) A piece of paper, especially one of regular size;
hence, a newspaper, or leaf of a book. (4) A piece of metal or other substance
hammered, rolled, fused or cut very thin: a sheet of glass. (5) A broad flat
surface; superficial expanse: a sheet of water;, a sheet of flame etc. A sheet,
therefore, is basically a very thin and broad piece of any substance normally
of a regular shape. Hence Note 1(n) expressly includes a sheet cut into a
non-rectangular shape. A stainless steel circle has a distinct shape and form
of its own quite different from a sheet. In the case of Venkateshwara Stainless
Steel & Wire Industries case (supra), after referring to the Indian
standard pecifications for stainless steel sheets, coils and circles for
utensils and hospital ware, the Madras High Court has pointed out that in
commercial parlance stainless steel sheets. Their pricing is also on a
different basis (diameter length). The High Court has also referred to atleast
two notifications under the Central Excise Tariff where a distinction is made
between sheets and circles. The first notification is in respect of partial
exemption to plates, sheets, circles, strips and foils produced from old or
duty paid scrap. While the second notification is in respect of aluminiun. It
grants exemption to aluminium manufactures containing more than 97% of aluminium.
The notification refers to plates, sheets, circles, strips and foils. of course
these are notifications under a completely different tariff. We are referring
to them only for the purpose of showing that sheets and circles have been
considered as two different forms in which a metal can be manufactured or sold.
Since
forms which are not specifically set out in Tariff Heading 73.15(2) will have
to be classified under 73.15(1), circles of stainless steel will have to be
classified under Heading 73.15(1). Note 1(n) does not provide much assistance
in this connection. In respect of Heading 73.13 which deals with sheets and
plates, the note says that sheets or plates which have been cut to non-
rectangular shapes will also be classified as sheets or plates. But when
stainless steel in the form and it cannot be treated merely as a stainless
steel sheet which has been cut to a non-rectangular shape. It has a specific
form of its own.
Tariff
Heading 73.15 has been subsequently amended by Customs Tariff Amendment Act of
1982 by which Tariff Entry 73.15(2) has been amended to include circles,
angles, sheets and sections in addition to sheets and plates of stainless steel.
The statement of objects and Reasons sets out, "Stainless steel articles
not elsewhere specified other than those falling under sub-heading (2) fall
under sub- heading (1) of Heading 73.15 ...... The difference in duty under the
two Sub-headings is so large that attempts have been made by some importers to
manipulate to description or form of the articles in such a way as to claim a
lower rate of duty as has recently happened in the case of stainless steel
sheets imported in the guise of folded angles and circles......" The
amendment whereby angles, shapes, sections and circles of stainless steel are
added to Tariff Heading 73.15(2) is given retrospective effect from 1st of January
,1981. Therefore, prior to 1st of January ,1981 angles, shapes section and
circles of stainless steel were not covered under sub-heading (2) of Heading
73.15. They have been so included with effect from 1.1.1981. It is a
well-established principle of interpretation of taking statutes that the
benefit of any doubt relating to interpretation must go to the tax-payer.
The
contention of the department that prior to the amendment, sheets included
angles, shapes, sections or circles is difficult to accept for reasons we have
set out.
We
are, therefore, inclined to agree with the view taken by the Madras High Court
in Venkateshwara Stainless Steel & Wire Industries's case(supra). The Delhi
High Court has, however, in the case of Super Traders and Anr. V. Union of India and Ors. [1983 E.L.T. 258 (Del.)]
taken an contrary view holding that stainless steel circles are nothing but
stainless steel sheets and are classifiable under Heading 73.15(2). It has
relied upon Chapter Note 1(n) and has held that stainless steel circles are
stainless steel sheets cut to non rectangular shape. In our view, this is not a
correct reading of Note 1(n) . A circle is a very specific from in which
stainless steel is marketed. It cannot be treated as a sheet cut to a non-
rectangular shape. Its pricing is also different from that of a sheet. It has a
separate form and a commercial identity of its own. It would, therefore, not be
covered by the term`sheet' in Tariff Heading 73.15(2) prior to 1.1.1981.
All
these appeals deal with Tariff Entry 73.15 as it stood prior to its amendment
with effect from 1.1.1981.
Therefore,
stainless steel circles imported by the importers in all these appeals are
classifiable under Tariff Heading 73.15(1) and not under Tariff Heading
73.15(2).
Civil
Appeal Nos. 1744-5 of 1988 are , therefore, allowed while Civil Appeal Nos.
10334-10336 of 1995 are dismissed. Refund applications by the assessees will
have to be processed in accordance with the ratio of the judgment of this Court
in Mafatlal Industries Ltd..V. Union of India [1996 (9) SCALE 457]. There will, however, be no order as to costs.
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