Case: The Additional Commnr.Of C.Taxes,Bangalo Vs. Ayili Stone Industries Etc.Etc

One of the most important reasons for saying so is that in all such cases, particularly under the excise law, the Court has to go by the facts of each case. In each case one has to examine the nature of the activity undertaken by an assessee. Mere extraction of stones may not constitute manufacture. Similarly, after extraction, if marble blocks are cut into slabs per se will not amount to the activity of manufacture."25. Thereafter, the Court proceeded to deal with the process undertaken by the assessee and in that context stated:-"In the present case, we are not concerned only with cutting of marble blocks into slabs. In the present case we are also concerned with the activity of polishing and ultimate conversion of blocks into polished slabs and tiles. What we find from the process indicated hereinabove is that there are various stages through which the blocks have to go through before they become polished slabs and tiles. In the circumstances, we are of the view that on the facts of the cases in hand, there is certainly an activity which will come in the category of "manufacture" or "production" under Section 80-IA of the Income Tax Act."26. The Court referred to the decision in CIT v. N.C. Budharaja & Co., 1994 Supp (1) SCC 280 and ruled thus:-"25. Applying the above tests laid down by this Court in Budharaja case to the facts of the present cases, we are of the view that blocks converted into polished slabs and tiles after undergoing the process indicated above certainly results in emergence of a new and distinct commodity. The original block does not remain the marble block, it becomes a slab or tile. In the circumstances, not only is there manufacture but also an activity which is something beyond manufacture and which brings a new product into existence and therefore, on the facts of these cases, we are of the view that the High Court was right in coming to the conclusion that the activity undertaken by the respondent assessees did constitute manufacture or production in terms of Section 80-IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 26. Before concluding, we would like to make one observation. If the contention of the Department is to be accepted, namely, that the activity undertaken by the respondents herein is not manufacture, then, it would have serious revenue consequences. As stated above, each of the respondents is paying excise duty, some of the respondents are job-workers and the activity undertaken by them has been recognised by various government authorities as manufacture. To say that the activity will not amount to manufacture or production under Section 80-IA will have disastrous consequences, particularly in view of the fact that the assessees in all the cases would plead that they were not liable to pay excise duty, sales tax, etc. because the activity did not constitute manufacture."27. We have reproduced in extenso from the aforesaid authority, though the exposition of law arose under a different enactment. The three-Judge Bench has explained the principle stated in Rajasthan SEBs case as well as in Aman Marble (supra). In the case at hand, though the High Court in the impugned order posed the question correctly and placed reliance on Aman Marble (supra), yet it has not correctly applied the principle in the correct perspective. In Aman Marble (supra) the Court has held that it was not possible to accept that excavation of stones and thereafter cutting and polishing them into slabs resulted in a manufacture of goods. The decision in Foredge Granite (supra) had been restricted to the concept of polished granite block. The revisional authority, as we perceive, has applied the test of separate and distinct commercial product that comes into existence from granite stones and for the said purpose, it has relied on the pronouncement in Goa Granites (supra). We have copiously referred to Goa Granites (supra). It has drawn a distinction between the slabs and tiles. Entry 17(i) of Part S of the Act deals with polished granites, unpolished granites and chips. The tiles come under Entry 8 in part T of the second schedule to the Act. At Entry 8(iv), the tiles are covered. It is noticeable that in Entry 8, certain tiles have been classified under Entry 8(i) (ii) and (iii) of Part T. Under Entry 8(iv) further tiles are classified. It is as under:-"(iv) Other tiles not covered by items 1-4-88 to 31-3-96 Fifteen percent (i), (ii) and (iii) above 1-4-96 to 31-3-98 1-4-98 to 31-3-01 1-4-01 to 31-03-02 1-4-02 to 31-5-03 From 1-6-2003Twelve percent Ten percent Twelve percent Fifteen percent (Sixteen percent) "28. There is a distinction between polished granite stone or slabs and tiles. If a polished granite stone is used in a building for any purpose, it will come under Entry 17(i) of Part S of the second schedule, but if it is a tile, which comes into existence by different process, a new and distinct commodity emerges and it has a different commercial identity in the market. The process involved is extremely relevant. That aspect has not been gone into. The Assessing Officer while framing the assessment order has referred to Entry 17(i) of Part S but without any elaboration on Entry 8. Entry 8 carves out tiles as a different commodity. It uses the words "other titles". A granite tile would come within the said Entry if involvement of certain activities is established. To elaborate, if a polished granite which is a slab and used on the floor, it cannot be called a tile for the purpose of coming within the ambit and sweep of Entry 8. Some other process has to be undertaken. If tiles are manufactured or produced after undertaking some other activities, the position would be different. A finding has to be arrived at by carrying out due enquiry and for that purpose appropriate exercise has to be undertaken. In the absence of that, a final conclusion cannot be reached.29. In view of the aforesaid,

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 1

Explanation:
1[ds]28. There is a distinction between polished granite stone or slabs and tiles. If a polished granite stone is used in a building for any purpose, it will come under Entry 17(i) of Part S of the second schedule, but if it is a tile, which comes into existence by different process, a new and distinct commodity emerges and it has a different commercial identity in the market. The process involved is extremely relevant. That aspect has not been gone into. The Assessing Officer while framing the assessment order has referred to Entry 17(i) of Part S but without any elaboration on Entry 8. Entry 8 carves out tiles as a different commodity. It uses the words "other titles". A granite tile would come within the said Entry if involvement of certain activities is established. To elaborate, if a polished granite which is a slab and used on the floor, it cannot be called a tile for the purpose of coming within the ambit and sweep of Entry 8. Some other process has to be undertaken. If tiles are manufactured or produced after undertaking some other activities, the position would be different. A finding has to be arrived at by carrying out due enquiry and for that purpose appropriate exercise has to be undertaken. In the absence of that, a final conclusion cannot be reached.