Commissioner of
Customs (Prev.), Gujarat Vs. M/S. Atam Manohar Ship Breakers Ltd. [2008] INSC
1924 (11 November 2008)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 146 OF 2004 Commissioner of Customs (Prev.),
Gujarat ...Appellant(s) Versus M/s. Atam Manohar Ship Breakers Ltd.
...Respondent(s) ORDER The issue for consideration in this Civil Appeal
concerns determination of the value of a ship imported by M/s. Atam Manohar
Ship Breakers Ltd. (respondent herein).
On 13th April, 1999,
a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was entered into between the respondent and the
seller for importing the vessel for ship breaking. In the said MOA, the value
indicated was USD 9,70,906.23. The ship arrived at Bhavnagar on 19th April,
1999. The Customs Officer boarded the ship for inspection on 20th April, 1999.
On the same day, a Survey Report was prepared stating that the vessel was
suitable to stay afloat at Alang anchorage. On 20th April, 1999, Entry Inward
was given to the vessel. On 21st April, 1999, physical delivery was given by
the Master to the respondent. The respondent filed its Bill of Entry on 29th
April, 1999 in which there was a reference to the MOA dated 13th April, 1999.
At this stage, it may be mentioned that, according to the respondent, on 29th
April, 1999, an Addendum ...2/- CA 146/04No.II came to be inserted in the MoA
dated 13th April, 1999 which addendum existed on 29th April, 1999 when the Bill
of Entry stood filed. By virtue of the said addendum, the price stood reduced
from US$ 9,70,960.23 to US$ 8,70,960.23. To complete the chronology of events,
it may be stated that on 28th May, 1999, a provisional assessment was made
which was finalized by the Assessing Officer (AO) on 11th January, 2001 on the
basis of the value of the vessel fixed at US$ 9,70,960.23.
The matter was
carried in appeal by the respondent to the Commissioner who came to the
conclusion, on the facts of the case, that since the price stood reduced prior
to the filing of the Bill of Entry, that price constituted the value of the
vessel.
Accordingly, the
Commissioner reversed the order of the AO holding that the value of the vessel
was not US$ 9,70,960.23 but US$ 8,70,960.23. This decision was confirmed by the
Tribunal. Hence, this Civil Appeal.
At the outset, we may
state that we are concerned with the facts of the present case alone. We do not
intend to lay down the law in this case. We have not examined the said
question.
We may also point out
that in this case we are basically concerned with the genuineness of the
addendum to the MOA dated 13th April, 1999. If one looks at the said ...3/- CA
146/04 addendum, we find that the date on which the said addendum stood
executed is not given. Further, when did the addendum stand incorporated in the
MOA. We do not find the date on which the clause stood inserted in the MOA.
Further, the said addendum does not give any reason for reduction in the price
from US$ 9,70,960.to US$ 8,70,960.23. Further, the most clinching factor to be
seen is that the said addendum appears to have been executed at the request of
the buyer. In our view, this is a self-serving document. In this connection, it
may also be noted that the MOA dated 13th April, 1999 states that the vessel is
bought on "as is where is" basis. If that be the case, we do not know
on what basis the value of the vessel stood reduced from US$ 9,70,960.23 to US$
8,70,960.23. Lastly, it is stated on record that one of the items was not in a
working condition and by way of damages, the price stood reduced. It is not so
stated in the addendum. If it is the case of damages, then, surely it would
have been so stated in the addendum.
For the afore-stated
reasons, we set aside the impugned judgment and we allow this Civil Appeal of
the Department with no order as to costs.
...................J.
(S.H. KAPADIA)
...................J.
(B. SUDERSHAN REDDY)
New
Delhi,
November
11, 2008.
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