Whether assembly and packing of different parts of decorative lamp shades amounts to manufacture?

PJ/CASE LAW/2016-17/3209

Case:- COMMISSIONER OF C. EX., FARIDABAD-ll VERSUS KAPOOR LAMP SHAPE CO.

Citation:-2016 (337) E.L.T. 14 (P & H)

Brief Facts:- The revenue has preferred the appeal before the Tribunal. The brief facts of the case are that assessee is engaged in procuring of various components of chandeliers lamp shades and light fittings of a particular design and packing the same in card boxes and putting logo, code no. on the same. The question is whether the process of packing and labeling amounts to manufacture.
The High Court has framed following questions of law:-
(1) Whether the Hon’ble CESTAT is correct in setting aside the Order-in-appeal dated 18-1-2006 passed by the Commissioner (Appeals) by completely ignoring the statements of Shri Rishi Ram Supervisor/Manager of the firm as well as of other suppliers, wherein it had been submitted that items procured by the party were components and items made out of these components were finished goods (made with the help of skilled labours)?

(2) Whether the Hon’ble CESTAT is correct in setting aside the Order-in-appeal dated 18-1-2006 by observing that there was no suppression of facts, without considering that the party had suppressed information from the Department, of the activities namely assembling, putting logos and packing in individual containers in their premises with intention to evade payment of Central Excise duty?

(3) Whether the Hon’ble CESTAT is correct in setting aside the Order-in-appeal dated 18-1-2006 without considering finding of facts made in Para No. 6 of order of Commissioner (Appeals) that :-
(i)     the appellant never cleared any metal parts, glass or plastic tube, etc., and a new item with name, purpose, brand and logo, code name had emerged and the same was packed in a unit container for sale and were marketed. The identity of the original part was not visible in the market in the present case. Such activity amounts to manufacture under Section 2(f) of the Central Excise Act.
(ii)    the quantity & value of clearances made by the party during 1-1-1998 to 31-3-2000 were much higher than the value of lamps purchased by them from its manufacturing unit or acquired from other sources, for trading purpose which prove the clandestine removal of goods by the party from their shop?

(4)    Whether the Hon’ble CESTAT is correct in setting aside the Order-in-appeal dated 18-1-2006 without considering findings made in Para No. 5 of order of Commissioner (Appeals) that the party had purchased various individual parts from suppliers and made clearances of complete items of lamps/lights, etc.?

Appellant’s Contention:-The revenue raised the duty demand and penalty on the premise that the assembly of various components of lamp shades and chandeliers amounts to ‘manufacture of the lamps and light fittings’ covered by the Central Excise Act, 1944. The Tribunal has found, as a matter of fact, that M/s. Kapoor Lamp Shade Company (Manufacturing Unit) manufactures various components of lamp shades and chandeliers and supplies to various customers. M/s. Kapoor Lamp Shade Company (Factory Shop) is, on the other hand, engaged in fitting of various lamp shades and chandeliers procured from different sources which are re-assembled and thereafter sealed with its own logo and code number.

Respondent’s Contention:- None appeared for respondent.

Reasoning of Judgement:- The Tribunal has answered the question against the Revenue on the strength of the case law, laying down that assembling of different manufacturing items does not amount to a new manufacturing process and thus, M/s. Kapoor Lamp Shade Company (Factory Shop) does not manufacture any lamp shades or chandeliers. The Tribunal has held and rightly so that procuring the manufacturing items and packing them with its own brand name by the assessee, does not amount to creation of a new product which may invite the duty.
The question, “whether assembly of different parts of decorative lamp shades and chandeliers amounts to manufacturing?” indeed is no longer res integra and stands answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue by the authoritative pronouncement of the Apex Court in 2001 (130) E.L.T. A259 (S.C.), which has been earlier followed by different High Courts and the Tribunal in the instant case.

The Tribunal has further held that the demand raised by the Revenue was otherwise also barred by limitation and that the appellant cannot take shelter behind proviso to Section 11A(1) of the Central Excise Act, 1944, for it was fully aware of the existence of the assessee’s unit and its activities.

In the light of the finding of the Tribunal, High Court do not find any question involved in this appeal requiring adjudication by this Court.

Decision:-Appeal dismissed.

Comment:-The essence of this case is that assembly of different parts of decorative lamp shades and chandeliers does not amount to manufacture as the same is not specified as ‘deemed manufacture’. Moreover, the issue is also settled and concluded in favour of the assessee by the Apex Court. Hence, the appeal filed by the revenue department was rejected.

Prepared by:- Akshit Bhandari

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PJ/CASE LAW/2016-17/3209

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