Case: UNION OF INDIA Vs. COASTAL CONTAINER TRANSPORTERS ASSOCIATION

companies and in turn respondents issue debit note to their customers to the extent of charges payable to the shipping agencies, as such their service falls in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. While it is the case of the respondents that, show cause notices issued run contrary to circulars dated 06.08.2008 and 05.10.2015 issued by the CBEC, it is the case of the appellants that such circulars are not applicable to the respondents, and the circulars are applicable only when transportation is only by road. In the writ petition filed before the High Court, appellants have filed civil application by raising preliminary objection with regard to the maintainability of the petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India at the stage of show cause notices. Such objection is also rejected by the High Court by recording a finding that there are no factual disputes and also in view of the judgment of this Court in the case of Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise & Anr. v. Sushil and Company (supra). 18. As we are not in agreement with the view taken by the High Court, in entertaining the writ petition against show cause notices, we refrain from recording any finding on contentious issues which arise for consideration. If any finding is recorded by this Court at this stage, same will prejudice either of the parties. Having regard to the contentions raised, it cannot be said that there are no factual disputes. Applicability of the circulars dated 06.08.2008 and 05.10.2015 is also in serious dispute. Further the classifiability of service rendered by a particular assessee is to be considered with reference to facts of each case depending upon nature of service rendered and the contract entered into. There cannot be any general declaration, as prayed for. The judgment of this Court in the case of Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise & Anr. v. Sushil and Company (supra) also cannot be applied to the facts of the case on hand to come to the conclusion that the services rendered by the respondents will fall in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. In the aforesaid judgment, the contract was only for supply of labour and it was the specific case of the assessee that such labour was not doing any work of packing, unpacking, loading, unloading of any cargo. In view of such written contract for limited services referred above, this Court has held that such service cannot be held to be cargo handling service. The said judgment is distinguishable on facts and same cannot be applied to the case on hand, so as to accept the case of the respondents that their service is to be classified in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. Further, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondents, Dr. Singhvi, also placed reliance on a judgment of this Court in the case of Paper Products Ltd. (supra) in support of his argument that circulars issued by the CBEC are binding on departmental authorities and they cannot take a contrary stand. It is true that circulars issued by the CBEC are binding on the authorities, but at the same time, such circulars are applicable or not, is a matter which is to be considered with reference to facts of each case. When it is the case of the appellants that such circulars referred above would apply only in case of road transportation but not otherwise, then it is a case for consideration by competent authority on receipt of the explanation but same is no ground to quash the show cause notices. In that view of the matter, we are of the view that the judgment of this Court relied on by learned senior counsel in the case of Paper Products Ltd. (supra) also would not render any support. 19. On the other hand, we find force in the contention of the learned senior counsel, Sri Radhakrishnan, appearing for the appellants that the High Court has committed error in entertaining the writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India at the stage of show cause notices. Though there is no bar as such for entertaining the writ petitions at the stage of show cause notice, but it is settled by number of decisions of this Court, where writ petitions can be entertained at the show cause notice stage. Neither it is a case of lack of jurisdiction nor any violation of principles of natural justice is alleged so as to entertain the writ petition at the stage of notice. High Court ought not to have entertained the writ petition, more so, when against the final orders appeal lies to this Court. The judgment of this Court in the case of Union of India & Anr. v. Guwahati Carbon Ltd. (supra) relied on by the learned senior counsel for the appellants also supports their case. In the aforesaid judgment, arising out of Central Excise Act, 1944, this Court has held that excise law is a complete code in order to seek redress in excise matters and held that entertaining writ petition is not proper where alternative remedy under statute is available. When there is a serious dispute with regard to classification of service, the respondents ought to have responded to the show cause notices by placing material in support of their stand but at the same time, there is no reason to approach the High Court questioning the very show cause notices. Further, as held by the High Court, it cannot be said that even from the contents of show cause notices there are no factual disputes. Further, the judgment of this Court in the case of Malladi Drugs & Pharma Ltd. v. Union of India 2004 (166) ELT 153 (S.C.) , relied on by the learned senior counsel for the appellants also supports their case where this Court has upheld the judgment of the High Court which refused to interfere at show cause notice stage.

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

Explanation:
1[ds]17. It is the case of the appellants that if service as a whole, is taken into consideration, it falls within the classifiable category of cargo handling service but not goods transport agency. On the other hand, it is the case of the respondents that they only undertake road transportation, and so far as cargo handled by shipping agencies is concerned, they prepare bills in the name of the respondent companies and in turn respondents issue debit note to their customers to the extent of charges payable to the shipping agencies, as such their service falls in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. While it is the case of the respondents that, show cause notices issued run contrary to circulars dated 06.08.2008 and 05.10.2015 issued by the CBEC, it is the case of the appellants that such circulars are not applicable to the respondents, and the circulars are applicable only when transportation is only by road. In the writ petition filed before the High Court, appellants have filed civil application by raising preliminary objection with regard to the maintainability of the petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India at the stage of show cause notices. Such objection is also rejected by the High Court by recording a finding that there are no factual disputes and also in view of the judgment of this Court in the case of Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise & Anr. v. Sushil and Company (supra)18. As we are not in agreement with the view taken by the High Court, in entertaining the writ petition against show cause notices, we refrain from recording any finding on contentious issues which arise for consideration. If any finding is recorded by this Court at this stage, same will prejudice either of the parties. Having regard to the contentions raised, it cannot be said that there are no factual disputes. Applicability of the circulars dated 06.08.2008 and 05.10.2015 is also in serious dispute. Further the classifiability of service rendered by a particular assessee is to be considered with reference to facts of each case depending upon nature of service rendered and the contract entered into. Therecannot be any general declaration, as prayed for. The judgment of this Court in the case of Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise & Anr. v. Sushil and Company (supra) also cannot be applied to the facts of the case on hand to come to the conclusion that the services rendered by the respondents will fall in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. In the aforesaid judgment, the contract was only for supply of labour and it was the specific case of the assessee that such labour was not doing any work of packing, unpacking, loading, unloading of any cargo. In view of such written contract for limited services referred above, this Court has held that such service cannot be held to be cargo handling service. The said judgment is distinguishable on facts and same cannot be applied to the case on hand, so as to accept the case of the respondents that their service is to be classified in the category of goods transport agency but not cargo handling service. Further, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondents, Dr. Singhvi, also placed reliance on a judgment of this Court in the case of Paper Products Ltd. (supra) in support of his argument that circulars issued by the CBEC are binding on departmentalauthorities and they cannot take a contrary stand. It is true that circulars issued by the CBEC are binding on the authorities, but at the same time, such circulars are applicable or not, is a matter which is to be considered with reference to facts of each case. When it is the case of the appellants that such circulars referred above would apply only in case of road transportation but not otherwise, then it is a case for consideration by competent authority on receipt of the explanation but same is no ground to quash the show cause notices. In that view of the matter, we are of the view that the judgment of this Court relied on by learned senior counsel in the case of Paper Products Ltd. (supra) also would not render any support19. On the other hand, we find force in the contention of the learned senior counsel, Sri Radhakrishnan, appearing for the appellants that the High Court has committed error in entertaining the writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India at the stage of show cause notices. Though there is no bar as such for entertaining the writ petitions at the stage of show cause notice, but it is settled by number of decisions of this Court, where writ petitions can be entertained atthe show cause notice stage. Neither it is a case of lack of jurisdiction nor any violation of principles of natural justice is alleged so as to entertain the writ petition at the stage of notice. High Court ought not to have entertained the writ petition, more so, when against the final orders appeal lies to this Court. The judgment of this Court in the case of Union of India & Anr. v. Guwahati Carbon Ltd. (supra) relied on by the learned senior counsel for the appellants also supports their case. In the aforesaid judgment, arising out of Central Excise Act, 1944, this Court has held that excise law is a complete code in order to seek redress in excise matters and held that entertaining writ petition is not proper where alternative remedy under statute is available. When there is a serious dispute with regard to classification of service, the respondents ought to have responded to the show cause notices by placing material in support of their stand but at the same time, there is no reason to approach the High Court questioning the very show cause notices. Further, as held by the High Court, it cannot be said that even from the contents of show cause notices there are no factual disputes. Further, the judgment of this Court in the case ofMalladi Drugs & Pharma Ltd. v. Union of India 2004 (166) ELT 153 (S.C.) , relied on by the learned senior counsel for the appellants also supports their case where this Court has upheld the judgment of the High Court which refused to interfere at show cause notice stage.