Case: Commissioner Of Cental Excise,Chandigarh Vs. M/S. Khanna Industries

2. The background facts in a nutshell are as follows:Respondents manufacture Brass Sanitary Bathroom fittings falling under Sub-heading 8481.80 and 8481.99 of the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (in short Tariff Act). The goods were packed in cardboard boxes on which stylised brand name "ARK" was printed and labels affixed on cardboard boxes also showed the brand name "ARK" in the stylised script; name and address of M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd., Chandigarh was also printed on the label; in addition "ARK" was put on the Sanitary fittings by pasting stickers and also by affixing tickli on the body of the fittings. All the respondents were availing exemption under Notification No.175/86-CE. Proceedings were started against them for demand of duty as brand name "ARK" in stylised script was brand name of M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. Initially the matter was decided by the Collector, Central Excise who denied the exemption under Notification No.175/86-CE holding that the respondents were affixing specified goods with the brand name of another person not eligible for the grant of exemption and also there was suppression on the part of the respondents. On appeal filed by the Assessees, the CEGAT remanded the matter for de novo decision after arriving at a finding in regard to the eligibility to exemption of M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. under Notification No.175/86-CE and to arrive at a definite finding in regard to other pleas of use of trade mark w.e.f. April, l992 and other related matters concerning time bar. The CEGAT, however, gave specific finding that stylised "ARK" is a trade name of M/s. Arkson within the meaning of relevant para of Notification No.175/86-CE.3. On remand the matter has been decided by the Additional Commissioner who confirmed the demand of duty and imposed penalty on all the respondents holding that since M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. was not eligible for the benefit of Notification No.l75/86-CE since it was not holding any L-4 licence; the casting of pig iron manufactured in their proprietary concern M/s. Arkson Engg. Co. was exempted from payment of duty under Notification No.208/83 dated 1.8.1983 and no declaration as required to be filed under Rule 174 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944 (in short the Rules), was filed by it; castings falling under Sub-heading 7325.10 of the Tariff were specified in the Annexure to the Notification. In addition the Additional Commissioner, relying upon decision in the case of Mentha & Allied Products vs. Union of India (1995 (77) ELT A-133(SC), concluded that aggregate sale figure of M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. was more than Rs.2 crores during 1990-91 and 1991-92 and accordingly the benefit of Notification was also not available to it. The Additional Commissioner gave findings to the effect that the respondents had started affixing stylised brand name "ARK" w.e.f. September, 1991 and not from April, 1992 as contended and extended period of limitation was invokable as the fact regarding manufacture of the goods affixed with brand name another person was never brought to the knowledge the Department.4. Respondents questioned correctness of the view expressed by the adjudicating authority before the before the Commissioner (Appeals). The said authority set aside the adjudication orders holding that eligibility of M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. has to be considered in the light of the fact that Brass sanitary bathroom fittings are classified under sub-headings 8481.80 and 8481.99 which are specified in Annexure to Notification no.175/86-CE, Para 3 of Notification does not stipulate that value of the trading goods is to be taken into consideration for computing the aggregate value of clearance and M/s. Arkson Pvt. Ltd. being registered as SSI unit have made substantial compliance of conditions laid down in Notification no.175/86-CE. It was further held that non-fulfilment of requirement of Rule 174 was on account of the fact "ARK" in simple form was regarded as brand name of M/s. Khanna Industries who had complied with Rule 174 and it was the Tribunals decision that separate identity of "ARK" and stylized "ARK" was established and, therefore, extended period of limitation was not applicable.5. Revenue preferred appeals before the CEGAT which endorsed view of the Commissioner (Appeals), but did not record any finding on the question of extended period of limitation.

Court's reasoning:
10. Clause 7 of the notification after amendment deals with exemption of specified goods and circumstances where the exemption is not available. Stand of the respondent is that if manufacturer need not be a manufacturer of specified goods, and brand name as used is entitled to exemption contained in the notification, it is really of no consequence whether he is manufacturer of goods. The stand is clearly untenable. The notification is goods specific. What is required is that a person, who may be a manufacturer, must be eligible for exemption under the notification in respect of the specified goods. Any other interpretation would render the purpose for which the notification has been issued redundant.11. As noted above, the notification is goods specific. The emphasis is on specified goods. That being so, the impugned judgment of the CEGAT is indefensible.Undisputedly, M/s Arkson Pvt. Ltd. is different from M/s Arkson Engg. Co. In the present case, the issue relates to manufacture of "brass sanitary bathroom fittings". M/s Arkson Engg. Co. manufactures C.I. castings while M/s Arkson Pvt. Ltd. are the owners of the stylized brand name "ARK". However, the said company is engaged in trading of "brass sanitary fittings". Thus, they are traders. Assessees cannot take the benefit of the registration certificate of M/s Arkson Engg. Co. as both are separate legal entities. Therefore, when M/s Khanna Industries and others i.e. the assesses use the brand name/trade name of "ARK" in the context of "brass sanitary fittings" the assessees are not entitled to claim the benefit as the stylized brand name "ARK" belongs to M/s Arkson Pvt. Ltd. and not to M/s Arkson Engg. Co. However, as noted above, M/s Arkson Pvt. Ltd. is a trader and not the manufacturer of "sanitary bath fittings". This is clearly accepted by Ms. Aarti Khanna, Executive Director of M/s Arkson Pvt. Ltd. in her statements on 22.1.1993 and 18.3.1993.13. In the case of Namtech Systems Ltd. v. Commissioner of Central Excise, New Delhi (2000 (115) E.L.T. 238 (Tribunal), the larger Bench of CEGAT has held that affixation of specified good with a brand name of ineligible Indian manufacturer will entail disqualification from exemption. It is further held that the benefit of small scale exemption under Notification No.175/86-CE, as amended, is not available to the specified goods if they are affixed with the brand name or trade name of a trader who is not a manufacturer. The judgment of the larger Bench in Namtech Systems Ltd. (supra) has not been considered by the CEGAT in the present case. The intention is crystal clear that at the relevant time, the unit should be eligible for exemption under the Notification in respect of the specified goods.14. However, as rightly contended by learned counsel for the respondents, the plea relating to non-applicability of extended period of limitation has not been considered by the CEGAT.