HINDON RIVER MILLS Vs. COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The issue involved in this appeal, filed by M/s. Hindon River Mills, is whether the Yarn captively consumed by them for the manufacture of fabrics is capable of being marketed.

(2.) Shri S.C. Kamra, learned Advocate, submitted that the Appellants, a composite textile mill, are engaged in spinning, weaving, and processing of different types of yarns and fabrics; that after the decision of the Delhi High Court in the case of J.K. Cotton Spg. and Wvg. Mills Co. Ltd. v. UOI [1981 (8) E.L.T. 887 (Del.)] to the effect that yarn obtained and further processed within the factory for manufacture of fabrics would not be subjected to Excise duty the Appellants also claimed that the Central Excise duty is not payable on yarn as the same was not removed from their factory premises; that as the department was not allowing them the benefit of the decision of Delhi High Court in J.K. Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Co. Ltd. they also filed a writ petition and obtained an interim order for payment of nil rate of duty on yarn manufactured and used inside their factory premises in the manufacture of fabrics; that the interim order was subsequently vacated by an order dated 14 -5 -85; that the High Court vide Final Order dated 25 -5 -99 has disposed of their writ petition by remanding the matter to the assessing authority to finally adjudicate if the goods are exigible to excise duty, particularly keeping in view the question of marketability. He, further, mentioned that both Dy. Commissioner and the Commissioner (Appeals) have decided the matter against them and hence the present appeal. He submitted that the yam manufactured by them is not marketable as such without winding it on a package called as paper cone which is taper in size, through roto coning process; that marketable yarn on bobbins at ring frame stage is taken to cone winding machine, where the yarn is wound on paper cone; that the yarn is marketed in the form of cones only; that Northern Indian Textile Research Association has opined in their letter dated 26 -5 -2003 that single yarn on cheese is meant only for internal consumption which is not ordinarily bought and hold in the market and the yarn sold in the market is generally wound on cone/hanks. The learned Advocate, therefore, submitted that yarn used by them is thus not marketable and as such no duty is leviable.

(3.) Countering the arguments Shri Kumar Santosh, learned SDR, submitted that the basis for treating the yarn as non -marketable by the Appellants is that it is not wound on cones as for captive consumption it is wound only on cheese; that it means as far as quality, body, texture, appearance and other properties are concerned both types of the yarn are the same; that the difference is only of packing otherwise both the yarns could be used for weaving; that the packing does not make the yarn non -marketable as in the case of captive consumption it is not required to wound the yarn on paper cones. He relied upon the decision in the case of A.P. State Electricity Board v. CCE, Hyderabad, 1994 (70) E.L.T. 3 (S.C.) wherein it has been held that "the marketability is thus essentially a question of fact to be decided in the facts of each case. There can be no generalization. The fact that the goods are, in fact, not marketed is of no relevance. So long as the goods are marketable they are goods for the purpose of Section 3. It is also not necessary that the goods in question should be generally available in the market". Reliance has also been placed on the decision in the case of Bhilwara Spinners Ltd. v. CCE, 1996 (82) E.L.T. 442 (S.C.) wherein it has been held that single yarn is a completely manufactured product and it cannot be disputed that it attracts duty.