Income Tax Appellate Tribunal - Ahmedabad
Dcit, Circle-2(1)(2),, Baroda vs M/S. Welsuit Glass & Ceramics Pvt. Ltd., ... on 4 June, 2019
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09
Page 1 of 21
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
AHMEDABAD "D" BENCH, AHMEDABAD
[Coram: Justice P P Bhatt, President and Pramod Kumar, Vice President]
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09
Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax,
Circle - 2(1)(2), Baroda. ........................Appellant
Vs.
Welsuit Glass & Ceramics Pvt. Ltd., ...................Respondent
At & Post Gavasad,
Near DGS Gas Station,
Opp. Haldyan Glass
Tal: Padra, Dist. Vadodara.
[PAN: AAACW 1720 G]
Appearances by
Vinod Tanwani for the appellant
K.C.Thaker for the respondent
Date of concluding the hearing : 04.06.2019
Date of pronouncing the order : 04.06.2019
O R D E R
Per Pramod Kumar, Vice President:
1. By way of this appeal, the Assessing Officer has challenged correctness of the order
dated 08.05.2017 passed by the ld. CIT(A) in the matter of assessment under section 143(3)
r.w.s. 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for the assessment years 2008-2009.
2. Grievances raised by the Assessing Officer are as follows :-
"1. On the facts of the case and on the circumstances and in law, the
CIT(A)-2, Vadodara erred in holding that "once demand cum show cause notice
and the order of Commissioner of Central Excise on the basis of which the
assessment order u/s.143(3) r.w.s. 147 had been passed are quashed, the
addition made in the assessment order by relying upon the demand cum show
cause and the order of the Excise Commissioner has to be automatically
deleted" without appreciating that the AO had not only relied on the demand
cum show cause notice and order of Commissioner of Central Excise and
Custom, Vadodara, but had also independently corroborated the facts for
determining the profit earned from suppressed sales, as is evident from the
findings recorded in para No.14 and 15 of the assessment order.
2. On the facts of the case and on the circumstances and in law, the
CIT(A)-2, Vadodara erred in holding that "once demand cum show cause
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Assessment Year: 2008-09
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Notice and the order of Commissioner of Central Excise on the basis of which
the assessment order u/s.143(3) r.w.s. 147 had been passed are quashed, the
addition made in the assessment order by relying upon the demand cum show
cause and the order of the Excise Commissioner has to be automatically
deleted" without calling for remand report from the AO, and without giving an
opportunity to the AO to inquire from the Commissioner of Central Excise &
Custom, Vadodara about the acceptance of order of Hon'ble CESAT
Ahmedabad and filing of appeal against order of Hon'ble CESAT, Ahmedabad
to Hon'ble Gujarat High Court."
3. When this appeal was called out for hearing, learned representatives fairly agree that
the issue in the appeal is now covered, in favour of the assessee, by a co-ordinate bench's
decision dated 12.02.2019, in ITA Nos.23, 24, 25 & 26/Ahd/2016, in assessee's own case
filed by the Revenue, for the assessment years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 & 2010-11,
wherein the Tribunal has observed as follows :-
"3. When these appeals were called out for hearing, learned representatives
fairly agree that the issue in the appeals is now covered, in favour of the assessee,
by a co-ordinate bench's decision dated 11.07.2018 in ITA Nos.2783 to
2787/Ahd/2015 in the case of DCIT, Vadodara vs. Belgium Glass & Ceramics Pvt.
Ltd., Vadodara for the assessment years 2005-06 to 2009-10 wherein the Tribunal
after following the decision of M/s. Zirconia Cera Tech Glazes & M/s. Growmore
Ceramics vs. DCIT (ITA Nos. 376 & 377/Ahd/2016 for AYs 2007-08 & 2008-09 and
ITA Nos.988, 989 & 990/Ahd/2016 for AYs 2006-07 to 2008-09; order dated
30.11.2017), has observed as follows :-
6. We see no reasons to take any other view of the matter than the view
so taken by the co-ordinate bench in the case of M/s. Zirconia Cera Tech
Glazes & M/s. Growmore Ceramics (supra). In the said decision, the co-
ordinate bench has, inter alia, observed as follows:-
"10. Now assessee has filed appeal before us on the ground raised by assessee
as already reproduced in Para 2. The stand of the ld. Authorized Representative on
behalf of assessee is that additions havebeen solely made on the basis of show-
cause notice issued by the DGCEI wherein, it was observed that assessee is
engaged in under valuation of sales and clandestine removal of goods. Thus,
Assessing Officer has reopened assessment solely on the basis of SCN issued by
DGCEI and ultimately made additions of estimated Gross Profit, on under valuation of
sales and clandestine removal of goods without independent application of mind. Ld.
Authorised Representative further submitted that under excise proceedings,
adjudicating authority passed the order, which was ultimately carried in appeal upto
Hon'ble CESTAT. Hon'ble CESTAT vide order dated 12.02.2015 has decided the
issue in favour of the assessee by holding that department cannot estimate value of
alleged suppression of sales as well as clandestine removal of goods merely on the
basis of assumption and surmises. The operative portion of CESTAT order is
reproduced here as under:
"6. In these proceedings the following issues are required to be
deliberated upon:-
(i) Whether the appellants mentioned in Para 5.1 above have indulged
in clandestine manufacture and clearance of Ceramic Glazed Mixture
(Frit), in view of the adjudication orders passed the adjudicating
authorities on the basis of natural gas consumption norms per metric
ton?
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Assessment Year: 2008-09
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(ii) Whether the appellants mentioned in Para 5.1 and 5.2 have indulged
in undervaluation of frit and also clandestinely cleared frit as per a
personal ledgers retrieved from a pen-drive recovered from SANYO
and other personal records and pen-drives from the ceramic tile
manufacturers read with their statements ?
(iii) Whether the adjudicating authorities were justified in denying cross-
examination of witness under the provisions of Section 9D of the
Central Excise Act, 1944 read with the judicial pronouncements on
the issue?
7. For the purpose of point No. 6(i) above and clandestine removal of
frit by the frit manufacturers adjudicating authorities have mainly relied upon
average consumption of natural gas for manufacturers one MT of frit by
taking data either from the appellants or by conducting some gas
consumption studies. Besides certain studies/ data with respect to average
packing time taking for filling of finished goods (Frit) in the plastic bags and
consumption of electricity units per MT of Frit on the basis of appellants
records, have also been used to support that clandestine manufacture and
clearances have been effected by the concerned appellants.
8. As per Para 3.5 above, clandestine manufacture and clearance of
frits by the appellants have been estimated by taking different gas
consumption norms which either got suggested by the appellant or worked
out by the investigation. Average gas consumption from 263 SCMs to 484
SCMs were fixed for different appellants and were considered by the
Adjudicating authorities for calculating/ confirming the demands and imposing
penalties. Following observations have been made by the Adjudicating
authority in the case of Belgium Glass & Ceramics Pvt. Limited (Appeal Nos.
796 to 798/2011) in paras 24.4.4, 24.5.4 and 24.5.5 while passing OIO No.
05/VRC-1/MP/2011 dated 23.03.2011 and justifying the calculations/
estimations made by Revenue:-
"24.4.4. Thus, even by considering that 5 nos. of kiln operated by
M/s. Belgium during the entire past period, were of lowest size, viz.
146x6, each one of which is having 4000 SCMs of natural gas
consumption per day of 24 hours, the net output of ceramic frit per
kiln per day by consuming 450 SCMs of gas would not be less than
8.888 MTs. In other words, the minimum monthly production of frit
per kiln would be at least 266.640 NTs, and the total minimum
monthly production for all the 5 kilns would not be less than 1333.200
MTs.
24.4.5. The above production of M/s. Belgium is fully substantiated
from the Annexure F referred supra, wherein it is observed that
during a period of 18 months out of the total 65 months covered
therein, they have reported production of frit exceeding the quantity
of 1300 MTs. In fact, during the month of July 2005, the recorded
production quantity was 2574.500 MTs with a total gas consumption
rate of 370.557 SCM per MT, which clearly reveals that the aforesaid
calculated capacity of 1333 MTs is the barest minimum. Scrutiny of
the chart, however reveals that during 15 months, they have declared
production quantity less than 1000 MTs per month even with much
higher rate of gas consumption. During 32 months, the total quantity
declared by them in their statutory records was less than 1275MTs
wherein also the gas consumption was exceeding the average
requirement of 450SCM per MT.
24.5.4. Thus the above Panchnama proceedings, unambiguously
revealed that the normal time required for manufacturing 50 Kgs of
frit was 8 minutes, i.e. 100 Kgs in 16 minutes and 1 MT in 2 hours 40
minutes. This reveals that one Kiln can manufacture 10 MT of frit per
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09
Page 4 of 21
day of 24 hours, which means that the total quantity of frit produced
by M/s. Belgium with their 5 Kilns is 50MTs per day. Thus, it is
observed that normal quantity of frit which could be produced in the
factory of M/s. Belgium by using 5 Kilns at a time, would be 1500MT
per month.
24.5.5 Comparison of the monthly production of frit accounted for by
M/s. Belgium in their statutory records as appearing in Col. No. 2 of
the Annexure-F vis-a-vis the actual quantity which would have
produced by them in their factory as discussed above, fully
substantiates large scale suppression of production by them. The
fact that the quantity recorded in their statutory records during some
months, exceeds the aforesaid average quantity of 1500MT per
month, indicates that the physical verification conducted at the
factory and inference drawn in respect of their production capacity is
factual. In order to have an idea on the quantum of the suppression
of production by M/s. Belgium Col. No. 7 has been added to the
Annexure-F which indicates the difference of quantity accounted for
in the official records as against the average production of 1500MT
per month. The chart indicates that except during a period of 7
months, the monthly average production noticed during the aforesaid
Panchnama dated 26.09.2009 exceeded the quantity accounted for
by M/s. Belgium in their statutory records."
8.1 From the above findings of the adjudicating authority gas
consumption of 450 SCM per MT of frit manufacture has been arrived at for
M/s. Belgium Glass & Ceramics Pvt. Limited which according to Revenue will
gave a capacity of 1333.2 MTs per month to that appellant. In Para 24.5.4
and 24.5.5, the adjudicating authority observed that the normal quantity of frit
that could be manufactured by this appellant will be 1500MTs per month. It
has also been fairly mentioned by the adjudicating authority that in certain
months the production of this appellant was also more than 1500MT.
Adjudicating authority has only seen one side of the coin that a production of
more than 1500MT is possible, therefore a capacity of around 1300MTs is
justified. The other side of coin will be that appellant has also reflected a
quantity of more than 1500MTs of Frit manufactured per month in the
records. Such a depiction in the books of accounts gives a certification to the
correctness of the data maintained by the appellant. The very fact that using
gas consumption method and time taken for packing finished goods adopted
by the lower authorities gives different estimations of manufacture and
clearances by this appellant, the same cannot be taken as a correct/
dependable method for calculating clearances and is also not prescribed. In
the case of Belgium Glass & Ceramic Pvt. Limited, as per Annexure-F to the
show cause notice dated 08.10.2009, gas consumptions of 383.715SCM and
321.959 SCM for manufacturing one MT have also been indicated in the
records of the appellants alongwith higher consumption of gas. It is not
understood as to why an arbitrary figure of 450SCM per MT is required to be
taken for estimating the production/ clearance of finished goods Frits. In the
same Annexure-F the units of electricity consumed in certain months is less
than 55 units and is even as low as 40.153 units. The above data of the
appellant contained in Annexure-F to the show cause notice dated
08.10.2009 reflects that records maintained by this appellant are genuine and
correct. There is no corroborating evidence of excess/ short raw materials of
frit procured clandestinely by this appellant or any of the other appellants.
There is no seizure of clandestinely removed goods from any of the
appellants or any excess stock of finished goods. No cash has been seized
from any of the premises searched by the Revenue when crores of cash has
been alleged to have been transferred to the appellants across the country.
There is also no evidence of excess procurement of raw materials. It is also
claimed by the appellants that calorific value of the gas supplied by GAIL vary
in GCV (Gross Calorific Value) and NCV (Net Calorific Value) which also
effect consumption of gas alongwith the type of frit grade manufactured. It is
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09
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observed from the ground (d), of the grounds of appeal filed by M/s. Belgium
Glass & Ceramic Pvt. Limited, in the case of Belgium that such documentary
evidences of gas having different GCV and HCV exist on records. This
argument has been brushed aside by the adjudicating authority that Shri
Piyush Makadia, Director of the appellant has agreed to consumption of
450SCM/PMT (plus/minus) 10% gas consumption. The above calculations
are thus based on statement of Shri Piyush Makadia, Director reproduced in
OIO dated 23.03.2011 at Paras 53 & 54. However, such statements can not
be relied upon unless the cross-examination of the witnesses is extended to
the appellants.
8.2 In the remaining cases also where clandestine clearances have been
estimated on the basis of natural gas consumption, there is no evidence of
excess raw material purchased by the appellants. No shortages/ excess of
raw materials or finished goods have been detected any where during the
investigations. In none of the cases there is any seized cash or seizure of
clandestinely removed finished goods during transportation from the factory
premises of the appellants. In this regard appellants have relied upon the
case laws of Arya Fibers Pvt. Limited vs. CCE, Ahmedabad-II [2014 (311)
ELT 529 (Tri. Ahmd.)]and Gupta Synthetics Limited vs. CCE, Ahmedabad II
[2014 (312) ELT 225 (Tri. Ahmd.)]. Para 38 and 40 of the case law of Arya
Fibers Pvt. Limited vs. CCE Ahmedabad-II is relevant and is reproduced
below:-
"38. It was, therefore, the submission of the ld. Senior Advocate
that, in three cases cited by the ld. Special Counsel for the Revenue,
this Tribunal and Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat had taken a view that
there was no need to prove such clandestine clearance with
mathematical precision. These were cases where evidence was
available regarding unaccounted duty paid goods being found,
shortage of finished goods found and evidence regarding supply of
raw materials and receipt of commission by brokers, which were all
tangible evidence of clandestine clearances. It was further submitted
by the ld. Senior Advocate that the cases cited by him were cases
where no such evidence was available at all and the law laid down as
applicable to such cases, to which category the present case
belongs.
40. After having very carefully considered the law laid down by
this Tribunal in the matter of clandestine manufacture and clearance,
and the submissions made before us, it is clear that the law is well-
settled that, in cases of clandestine manufacture and clearances,
certain fundamental criteria have to be established by Revenue
which mainly are the following :
(i) There should be tangible evidence of clandestine
manufacture and clearance and not merely inferences or
unwarranted assumptions;
(ii) Evidence in support thereof should be of :
(a) Raw materials, in excess of that contained as per the
statutory records;
(b) Instances of actual removal of unaccounted finished
goods (not inferential or assumed) from the factory
without payment of duty;
(c) Discovery of such finished goods outside the factory;
(d) Instances of sale of such goods to identified parties;
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Assessment Year: 2008-09
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(e) Receipt of sale proceeds, whether by cheque or by
cash, of such goods by the manufacturers or
persons authorized by him;
(f) Use of electricity far in excess of what is necessary
for manufacture of goods otherwise manufactured
and validly cleared on payment of duty;
(g) Statements of buyers with some details of illicit
manufacture and clearance;
(h) Proof of actual transportation of goods, cleared
without payment of duty;
(i) Links between the documents recovered during the
search and activities being carried on in the factory
of production; etc.
Needless to say, a precise enumeration of all situations in
which one could hold with activity that there have been clandestine
manufacture and clearances, would not be possible. As held by this
Tribunal and Superior Courts, it would depend on the facts of each
case. What one could, however, say with some certainty is that
inferences cannot be drawn about such clearances merely on the
basis of note books or diaries privately maintained or on mere
statements of some persons, may even be responsible officials of the
manufacturer or even of its Directors/partners who are not even
permitted to be cross-examined, as in the present case, without one
or more of the evidences referred to above being present. In fact, this
Bench has considered some of the case-law on the subject in
Centurian Laboratories v. CCE, Vadodara [2013 (293) E.L.T. 689]. It
would appear that the decision, though rendered on 3-5-2013, was
reported in the issue of the E.L.T., dated 29-7-2013, when the
present case was being argued before us, perhaps, not available to
the parties. However, we have, in that decision, applied the law, as
laid down in the earlier cases, some of which now have been placed
before us. The crux of the decision is that reliance on private/internal
records maintained for internal control cannot be the sole basis for
demand. There should be corroborative evidence by way of
statements of purchasers, distributors or dealers, record of
unaccounted raw material purchased or consumed and not merely
the recording of confessional statements. A co-ordinate Bench of this
Tribunal has, in another decision, reported in the E.L.T. issue of 5-8-
2013 (after hearings in the present appeals were concluded), once
again reiterated the same principles, after considering the entire
case-law on the subject [Hindustan Machines v. CCE [2013 (294)
E.L.T. 43]. Members of Bench having hearing initially differed, the
matter was referred to a third Member, who held that clandestine
manufacture and clearances were not established by the Revenue.
We are not going into it in detail, since the learned Counsels on
either side may not have had the opportunity of examining the
decision in the light of the facts of the present case. Suffice it to say
that the said decision has also tabulated the entire case-law,
including most of the decisions cited before us now, considered
them, and come to the above conclusion. In yet another decision of a
co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal [Pan Parag India v. CCE, 2013
(291) E.L.T. 81], it has been held that the theory of preponderance of
probability would be applicable only when there are strong evidences
heading only to one and only one conclusion of clandestine activities.
The said theory, cannot be adopted in cases of weak evidences of a
doubtful nature. Where to manufacture huge quantities of final
products the assessee require all the raw materials, there should be
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
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some evidence of huge quantities of raw materials being purchased.
The demand was set aside in that case by this Tribunal.
8.3 Appellants have also relied, inter-alia, on the judgment of Allahabad
High Court in the case of CCE, Meerut-I vs. RA Castings Pvt. Limited [2012
(26) STR 262 (All.)], which is upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court as
reported in 2011 (269 ELT A108. The facts of this case and the orders of the
Allahabad High Court is as follows:-
"[Order]- These appeals under Section 35-G of the Central Excise
Act, 1944 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) are against the order of
the Tribunal dated 19-6-2008 [2009 (237) E.L.T. 674 (Tri. - Del.)], by
which the Tribunal has allowed the appeals of the respondents and
quashed the order passed by the adjudicating authority.
2. The Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 were involved in the manufacturing of
MS ingots and in respect thereof had maintained the books of
account as provided under the Central Excise Rules and were
furnishing the returns and paying the central excise duties. The
Superintendent issued the show cause notices dated 1-12-2006
asking the respondent to show cause why the demand towards
central excise duty may not be confirmed for the period from 2001-02
to 2004-05 by invoking the proviso to Section 11A(1) of the Act and
why the penalty should not be imposed under Rule 25(1) of the
Central Excise Rules, 2002 read with Section 11AC of the Act.
Various allegations have been made in the show cause notices and
from the perusal of the show cause notices it appears that the excess
production has been estimated on the basis of the higher electricity
consumption. The respondents filed their reply. The Commissioner of
Central Excise, Meerut-I, vide its order dated 30-7-2007 has
confirmed the demand against the respondent nos. 1 and 2 and also
imposed the penalty on the respondent nos. 1 and 2 and on other
respondents alleged to have been involved in the clandestine
removal of the goods.
3. Being aggrieved by the impugned orders, the respondents filed
appeals before the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate
Tribunal, New Delhi. The Tribunal observed that it is settled principle
of law that the electricity consumption can not be the only factor or
basis for determining the duty liability, that too on imaginary basis,
especially when Rules 173E mandatorily requires the Commissioner
to prescribe/fix norm for electricity consumption first and notify the
same to the manufacturers and thereafter ascertain the reasons for
deviations, if any, taking also into account the consumption of various
inputs, requirements of labour, material, power supply and the
conditions for running the plant together with the attendant facts and
circumstances. The Tribunal further observed that no experiment
have been conducted in the factories of the appellants for devising
the consumption norms of electricity for producing on MT of steel
ingots. Tribunal also observed that the electricity consumption varies
from one heat to another and from one date to another and even
from one heat to another within the same date. Therefore, no
universal and uniformly acceptable standard of electricity
consumption can be adopted for determining the excise duty liability
that too on the basis of imaginary production assumed by the
Revenue with no other supporting record, evidence or document to
justify its allegations. The Tribunal has also considered the report of
Dr. Batra, which has been relied upon for making the allegations that
there was higher electricity consumption. It appears that Dr. Batra in
his report has observed that for the production of 1 MT of steel
ingots, 1046 units electricity required.
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8.4 In view of the settled proposition of law laid down above, estimation
of quantity of goods manufactured and clandestine removal of goods by the
appellants cannot be slapped on the basis of averages arrived and calculated
based on norms of gas consumption in manufacture of 1 MT of frit. It is
rightly contested by the appellants that frit manufactured is not covered by
any notification issued under Section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944
where Compounded Levy has been prescribed and capacity of the unit is
required to be fixed on gas consumption basis, as done by the Revenue. It is
observed that Revenue has attempted to adopt an estimation method for
demanding duty and proving clandestine removal which is not prescribed by
law.
8.5 In the case of appellant M/s. Wellsuit Glass & Ceramics Pvt. Limited -
[2014 (304) ELT 618 (Tri. Ahmd.)], this Bench remanded the case to the
Adjudicating authority to get, inter-alia, some more studies done on the gas
consumption per metric tonne of different grades. It has been argued by the
Revenue that the studies suggested by the Bench are not possible now and
such studies are also not possible with respect to the other appellants. Para
3.2 and 6 of the order passed by this Bench in the case of M/s. Wellsuit
Glass & Ceramics Limited (supra) are reproduced below:-
"3.2 With regard to consumption of gas, learned Advocate relied
upon the statements of Shri Balkrishna M. Thakkar, Managing
Director, that the consumption of gas would vary on the quality of frit,
raw material used, condition of Kiln, gas pressure, fluxes used, etc. It
was thus argued that there are various factors which affect the
consumption of gas and there cannot be a fixed ratio of consumption
of gas for a specific frit output. He also argued that in October, 2007,
there was a change in the management and the new management
took a series of steps to improve quality of frit and made the gas
consumption efficient. They also installed three new Refractory Kiln
with greater production capacity and used superior refractories which
were better maintained from time to time. He drew attention of the
Bench to the fact that services of a Ceramic consultant was engaged
to get better yield. He relied upon the submissions and records to
show the purchase of new Kiln and generating set. It was due to
these efforts that the ratio of gas consumption from 2008-09 onwards
went down from 844 SCM/MT to 286 SCM/MT as indicated in Para
13.2 of order-in-original dated 10-5-2011. That before 2008 there
was no generator available with appellant and every time there was a
power failure, large quantities of gas was used in re-firing the Kiln.
He produced documents relating to installation of DG Set. He
referred to the purchase bills to show superior quality of refractories
replaced in the Kilns after 2008-09. He argued that as per the
statement of Shri Balkrishna Thakkar himself, which is recorded by
the department, there cannot be any fixed ratio of gas consumption
and that after the new management took over, they have improved
the efficiency of the unit and that mere gas consumption cannot be
used as a factor for clandestine manufacture and removal. He
explained that frit consists of two components i.e. glass and silicone
dioxide. That the melting point of glass is very high and other
materials called fluxes are added, as per expert consultations, to
lower melting point such as borax, boric acid and zinc oxide, etc.
That when fluxes are used, the melting point required for
manufacture of frit is reduced. Learned advocate referred to extracts
from the book, Industrial Ceramics by Felix Singer and the book
Glassing and Decoration of Ceramics Tiles by Autorivari and extracts
from the journal. Ceramic Industry, January, 2000 as well as various
extracts downloaded from internet to support his case. He referred to
the following decisions to submit that gas consumption alone cannot
be the sole basis of clandestine manufacture and removal of the
finished product :-
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(i) Vishwa Traders Pvt. Limited v. CCE- [2012 (278) E.L.T. 362]
(ii) CCE v. Vishwa Traders Pvt. Limited - [2013 (287) E.L.T. 243]
(iii) Mukesh Dye Work v. CCE - [2006 (196) E.L.T. 237]
(iv) Southern Ispat Limited v. CCE - [2009 (248) E.L.T. 270]
(v) SVM Cera Tea Limited v. CCE - [2013 (292) E.L.T. 580]
4 ..
5 ..
6. On the issue of clandestine removal of frit, based on the gas
consumption of the main appellant, it is observed from Para 13.2 of
the order-in-original dated 10-5-2011 that records maintained by
main appellant show the gas consumption for making 1 MT of frit
from 844 SCM to 286 SCM. It has been contested by the appellant
that gas consumption varied from season to season, from one quality
of frit to other quality of frit, use of better technology, etc. It has also
been brought on record that after change in the management in Oct.,
2007 and installation of new furnaces and new refractories, the gas
consumption has reduced. Further appellant has also brought on
record that due to expert consultations and use of certain fluxes also
the gas consumptions per MT of frit have come down. Evidences
were also brought on record during the course of hearing regarding
installation of an Electricity Generator and replacement of better
quality refractories in the kilns by the main appellant. Under the
above factual matrix, the method used by the investigation cannot be
a sound method to demand duty on assuming 318 SCM of gas
required for manufacturing one MT of any quality of frit. The improper
method adopted by the Revenue for calculating duty was agitated by
the appellants before the adjudicating authority as per Para 4(xi) to
(xxxiii) of the order-in-original dated 10-5-2011. It is observed that
during conducting of gas consumption studies on 23/24-2-2010 by
investigation only frit product code OP 202was being manufactured.
It has been contested by the appellant that different frit product codes
may consume different quantities of gas. As the appellant is not
undertaking the manufacture of one standard product, in the interest
of justice, it will be appropriate to conduct a few more representative
studies of different frit product codes in order to arrive at a more
realistic gas consumption PMT of frit manufactured."
8.6 In view of the above observations made by this Bench it has already
been held that method adopted by the investigation to estimate clandestine
removal of finished goods is not sound and has to be discarded. However,
Revenue was given an opportunity to strengthen their case by corroborating
evidence with some more factual data from additional studies. No appeal
has been filed by the Revenue against the above order passed by this
Bench. It is also observed from 3.2 of the remand order that appellant has
made certain changes in the plant and machinery and other methodologies to
reduce gas consumption. Even in the remand proceedings also adjudicating
authority has not countered the arguments taken by the appellant as to why
the steps taken by them from time to time, does not effect gas consumption.
On a specific query from the Bench, the learned Senior Advocate also argued
that similar modernization in processes of manufacture, as undertaken by
M/s. Wellsuit Glass in the manufacture of frit, have also been undertaken by
other appellants. No findings have been given by the Adjudicating authorities
in countering the claims of the appellants, justifying the modernization done
to reduce consumption of gas from time to time. No expert opinion has been
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Page 10 of 21
obtained by the Revenue to challenge the gas consumption pattern adopted
by the appellants to indicate that claim of the appellants was wrong.
8. In view of the above observations and judicial pronouncements,
methodology adopted by the Adjudicating authorities in estimating and
demanding duty from the appellants; based on consumption of natural gas,
electricity consumed and packing time taken; is not acceptable and is
required to be rejected.
9. So far as points mentioned at Para 6(ii) and 6(iii) are concerned, it
has been held by the adjudicating authorities that undervaluation and
clandestine removal stand provided in view of the pen-drives, AJTAK XYZ of
SANYO, personal ledger of Comet, private diaries/ writing pads and the
statements of ceramic tile manufacturers. Appellants have argued that the
print-out taken from the pen-drive AJTAK XYZ are not admissible as a piece
of evidence as the same are not the documents admissible as evidence
under the relevant Section of the Central Excise Act, 1944. It was also
argued by the appellants that the number of Panchnamas recorded and the
opening of the said pen-drive clearly suggest that the data recovered from
the pen-drive is highly objectionable, suspicious and not acceptable. It is
observed from the case records of Wellsuit Glass & Ceramic Pvt. Limited
[E/13720/2014] that seizure of the said pen-drive was effected on 17.7.2008
under a Panchnama and it was not stated in this Panchnama that the pen-
drive was put inside a sealed cover. It has been admitted by Shri V.N.
Thakkar (Superintendent) DGCEI in the cross-examination before the
Adjudicating authority that when an article is seized, the same is placed in a
sealed cover and mention of the same is made in the Panchnama. It is also
admitted by Shri Thakkar that as he remembers the seized pen-drive was
placed in a paper cover and sealed with adhesive tapes. It is the claim of the
appellants that the way the said pen-drive was handled, it is possible that the
same could be tempered with as the same was kept in the paper cover
sealed with adhesive tapes. A second Panchnama was made on 30.8.2008
where the said pen-drive was mentioned to have been taken out of a sealed
cover when the first Panchnama never mentioned keeping the said pen-drive
in a sealed cover. It is also observed that on 30.8.2008 the sealed cover was
opened but contents of the silver pen-drive were not opened on 30.8.3008
but instead another black colour pen-drive was opened. On 06.9.2008 under
a Panchnama the said silver pen-drive taken out of the sealed cover and on
opening this pen drive in the Tally Folder, no data was found to be available.
However, under another Panchnama dated 12.09.2008, when the said silver
pen-drive was opened data was found in Tally Folder which is the relied upon
as Aajtak XYZ. There is a strong force in the arguments made by the
appellants that when no data was found in Tally folder on 06.9.2008, how the
relied upon documents got generated on 12.09.2008. Shri V.N. Thakkar,
Superintendent in his cross-examination explained the reason for non
retrieval of data on 06.9.2008 to be due to operational lack, but he admitted
that no mention of any operational lack is made in the Panchnama dated
06.9.2008. Further, it is observed that in Panchnama dated 12.09.2008, the
print out of account AJTAK taken contained 52 pages and account of
appellant Wellsuit appeared at page 30 out of 52 pages. Another
Panchnama dated 24.09.2008 indicate in Annexure A3 that the number of
pages of Account Aajtakwere 94 and the name of appellant existed at page
43 as against page 30 mentioned in Panchnama dated 12.09.2008.
Appellants have also raised the issue regarding discrepancies in the name of
the panch witnesses. It is also contended that Revenue had not followed the
procedure as stipulated in Section 36B of the Central Excise Act, 1944. In
view of the above discrepancies the authenticity and veracity of data
retrieved by investigation from the silver pen-drive is not reliable and can not
be accepted as a piece of evidence in deciding the case of undervaluation
and clandestine removal against the present appellants with respect to point
mentioned in Para 6 (ii).
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
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Page 11 of 21
10. So far as the question mentioned at Para 6(iii) regarding denying
cross-examination of witnesses whose statements were used for establishing
undervaluation/ clandestine removal of frit based on the private records, the
statements of tile manufacturers and Shroff/ Angadias is concerned; it is
argued by the appellants that the entire exercise of such quantification has
been made as per the statements of the witnesses whose cross-examination
has not been allowed by the adjudicating authority as per Section 9D of the
Central Excise Act, 1944. Appellants relied upon the following case laws:-
(i) J.K. Cigarettes Limited vs. CCE [2009 (242) ELT 189 (Del.)]
(ii) CCE, Allahabad vs. Govind Mills Limited - [2013 (294) ELT 361
(All.)]
(iii) Basudev Garg vs. CC [2013 (294) ELT 353 (Del.)]
(iv) Swiber Offshore Construction Pvt. Limited vs. Commissioner of
Customs, Kandla [2014 (301) ELT 119 (Tri. Ahmd.)]
10.1 Section 9D of the Central Excise Act, 1944 is reproduced below:-
9-D. Relevancy of statements under certain circumstances -
(1) A statement made and signed by a person before any
Central Excise Officer of a gazetted rank during the course of any
inquiry or proceeding under this Act shall be relevant, for the purpose
of proving, in any prosecution for an offence under this Act, the truth
of the facts which it contains, -
(a) when the person who made the statement is dead or
cannot be found, or is incapable of giving evidence, or is kept
out of the way by the adverse party, or whose presence
cannot be obtained without an amount of delay or expense
which, under the circumstances of the case, the Court
considers unreasonable; or
(b) when the person who made the statement is examined
as a witness in the case before the Court and the Court is of
the opinion that, having regard to the circumstances of the
case, the statement should be admitted in evidence in the
interests of justice.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, so far as may be,
apply in relation to any proceedings under this Act, other than a
proceeding before a Court, as they apply in relation to a proceeding
before a Court."
10.2 In the case of J.K. Cigarettes Limited vs. CCE (supra), following
conclusions were drawn by the Delhi High Court, in Para 32:-
"32. Thus, we summarize our conclusions as under:-
(i) We are of the opinion that the provisions of Section 9D (2) of
the Act are not unconstitutional or ultra vires;
(ii) while invoking Section 9D of the Act, the concerned authority
is to form an opinion on the basis of material on record that a
particular ground, as stipulated in the said Section, exists
and is established;
(iii) such an opinion has to be supported with reasons;
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(iv) before arriving at this opinion, the authority would give
opportunity to the affected party to make submissions on the
available material on the basis of which the authority intends
to arrive at the said opinion; and
(v) it is always open to the affected party to challenge the
invocation of provisions of Section 9D of the Act in a
particular case by filing statutory appeal, which provides for
judicial review."
10.3 In the adjudicating proceedings, a list of witnesses to be relied upon
by the Revenue is disclosed to the appellantsalongwith the show cause
notice. The reasons for relying upon the statements are also available from
the facts narrated in the show cause notice. It is not necessary that all the
witnesses should be called by the Adjudicating authority suo-moto for
examination in a quasi-judicial proceedings for cross-examination. However,
as per the provisions of Section 9D (1)(b) of the Central Excise Act, 1944,
read with the judicial pronouncements relied upon by the appellant every
adjudicating authority should call the witnesses when requested by the party
against whom those statements are to be used. If by making efforts for a few
occasions the witnesses summoned do not appear than automatically the
case could be mature for accepting the statements as admissible evidences
under Section 9(D)(1)(a) of the Central Excise Act, 1944. However, it was
not open to the adjudicating authorities to straightaway reject the request for
cross-examination in view of the law laid down by the judicial
pronouncements relied upon by the appellants. The reasons for rejecting the
appellants request for not allowing are also required to be intimated to the
appellants as per the case law of J.K. Cigarettes Limited (supra) so that
appellant may explore the possibility of filing appeal against such rejections.
The ratio laid down by the J.K. Cigarettes case (supra) has also been
followed in series of other judgments. No such rejection orders were given
by the adjudicating authorities separately. Hon'ble Supreme Court in the
case of UOI &Anr.vs. GTC India and Ors in order dated 03.01.1995 arising
out of SLP (C) No. 218131/1994 has already laid the following ratio:
"Special leave granted.
Heard.
The impugned order dated 05.9.94 has to be read alongwith Section
9D of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944. SO read, there is no
infirmity in the impugned order.
It may, however, be clarified that in case reliance is placed on the
provisions of Section 9D of the Act in respect of any particular
witness, intimation of the same is required to be given to the
respondents and it would be open to the respondents to approach
the High Court against the order made by the authority in that behalf.
That appeal is disposed of in these terms. No costs."
Further in Para 16 and 19 of case law A.Tajudeen vs. UOI[2015
(317) ELT 177 (SC)] Apex court very recently held as follows on admissibility
of statements and cross-examination:-
"16. Having given our thoughtful consideration to the aforesaid
issue, we are of the view that the statements dated 25-10-1989 and
26-10-1989 can under no circumstances constitute the sole basis for
recording the finding of guilt against the appellant. If findings could be
returned by exclusively relying on such oral statements, such
statements could easily be thrust upon the persons who were being
proceeded against on account of their actions in conflict with the
provisions of the 1973 Act. Such statements ought not to be readily
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
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Page 13 of 21
believable, unless there is independent corroboration of certain
material aspects of the said statements, through independent
sources. The nature of the corroboration required, would depend on
the facts of each case. In the present case, it is apparent that the
appellant - A. Tajudeen and his wife T. SahiraBanu at the first
opportunity resiledfrom the statements which are now sought to be
relied upon by the Enforcement Directorate, to substantiate the
charges levelled against the appellant. We shall now endeavour to
examine whether there is any independent corroborative evidence to
support the above statements.
17 &18 .. ..
19. We shall now deal with the other independent evidence
which was sought to be relied upon by the Enforcement Directorate
to establish the charges levelled against the appellant. And based
thereon, we shall determine whether the same is sufficient on its
own, or in conjunction to the retracted statements referred to above,
in deciding the present controversy, one way or the other. First and
foremost, reliance was placed on mahazar executed (at the time of
the recovery, from the residence of the appellant) on 25-10-1989. It
would be pertinent to mention, that the appellant in his response to
the memorandum dated 12-3-1990 had expressly refuted the
authenticity of the mahazar executed on 25-10-1989. Merely
because the mahazar was attested by two independent witnesses,
namely, R.M. Subramanian and HayadBasha, would not led
credibility to the same. Such credibility would attach to the mahazar
only if the said two independent witnesses were produced as
witnesses, and the appellant was afforded an opportunity to cross-
examine them. The aforesaid procedure was unfortunately not
adopted in this case. But then, would the preparation of the
mahazarand the factum of recovery of a sum of Rs. 8,24,900/-
establish the guilt of the appellant, insofar as the violation of Section
9(1)(b) of the 1973 Act is concerned? In our considered view, even if
the mahazaris accepted as valid and genuine, the same is wholly
insufficient to establish, that the amount recovered from the
residence of the appellant was dispatched by Abdul Hameed, a
resident of Singapore, through a person who is not an authorised
dealer in foreign exchange. Even, in response to the memorandum
dated 12-3-1990, the appellant had acknowledged the recovery of
Rs. 8,24,900/- from his residence, but that acknowledgment would
not establish the violation of Section 9(1)(b) of the 1973 Act. In the
above view of the matter, we are of the opinion that the execution of
the mahazaron 25-10-1989, is inconsequential for the determination
of the guilt of the appellant in this case."
In view of the above, by not allowing the cross-examination of the
relied upon witnesses under Section 9D of the Central Excise Act, 1944, the
evidentiary value of such statements does not survive and is required to be
discarded. We accordingly hold so.
11. It is also the case of the appellants that all the transactions are made
by the appellants at the factory gate. That only exact amount of additional
consideration received by each appellant has to be added to the transaction
value and that no such quantification has been done by the Revenue which
could be attributed to each manufacturer. That Revenue can not adopt any
best judgment valuation method as suggested in Central Excise Valuation
Rules even if all the statements/ documents relied upon by the Revenue are
presumed to be correct admissible as evidences.
12. Before giving observations on this argument raised by the appellants,
it will be relevant to glance through the relevant portion of the provisions of
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Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 alongwith definition of transaction
value:-
"4. VALUATION OF EXCISABLE GOODS FOR PURPOSES OF
CHARGING OF DUTY OF EXCISE.
(1) Where under this Act, the duty of excise is chargeable on any
excisable goods with reference to value, then, on each removal of
the goods, such value shall -
(a) in a case where the goods are sold by the assessee, for delivery
at the time and place of the removal, the assessee and the buyer of
the goods are not related and the price is the sole consideration for
the sale, be the transaction value;
(b) in any other case, including the case where the goods are ot
sold, be the value determined in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) .
(3) .
(a) .
(b) .
(d) transaction valuemeans the price actually paid or payable for
the goods, when sold, and includes in addition to the amount
charged as price, any amount that the buyer is liable to pay to , or on
behalf of, the assessee, by reason of, or in connection with the sale,
whether payable at the time of the sale or at any other time,
including, but not limited to, any amount charged for, or to make
provision for, advertise or publicity, marketing and selling
organisation expenses, storage, outward handling, servicing,
warranty, commission or any other matter; but does not include the
amount of duty of excise, sales tax and other taxes, if any, actually
paid or actually payable on such goods."
13. It is not the case of the Revenue that the value of the goods cleared
by the appellants is not determinable at the Factory gate and therefore, some
other method under the Central Excise Valuation Rules is required to be
adopted to arrive at the assessable value. Rather the case of the Revenue
on valuation is that certain additional consideration coming to the appellant
by way of cash flow from the tile manufacturers to the frit manufacturers is
required to be added to the assessable value. In the present circumstances
and factual matrix the exact amount of such additional consideration was
required to be determined for addition to the transaction value even if all the
statements and documents were held to be admissible evidence and satisfied
the test of Section 9D of the Central Excise Act, 1944. In Appeal Nos.
E/11960/2013 and E/12386/2014, the valuation has been enhanced solely
based on the assumption that after booking of the case these appellant
enhanced their prices. In the case of transaction value realm the same
product can be sold at different prices as per Section 4 of the Central Excise
Act, 1944 unless actual additional consideration has been shown to have
flown back to the appellants. Appellants in these appeals and in Appeal Nos.
E/13720/2014 and E/534/2011 have also not admitted during investigation
that they have received any additional consideration. In other appeals on the
issue of undervaluation investigation attempted to show the flow back of such
additional cash flow through the statements of ceramic tile manufacturer and
the statements of Shroffs and Angadias. The amount so worked out has
been worked out to be Rs. 38,95,860/- as per the statement of Shri Jayesh
Patel, Prop. Of M/s. Kevel mentioned in Para 9.3.3 of OIO dated 23.03.2011
in the case of M/s. Belgium Glass & Ceramics. This statement clearly
conveys that amount of Rs. 38,95,860/- was paid to various frit
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Page 15 of 21
manufacturers and at the same time mentions that the names of the frit
manufacturers are not written against each payment in the concerned
documents. Under the above factual matrix appellants had the right to cross-
examination the witnesses especially Shroffs and Angadias as to what
portion of such payment belongs to a particular appellant. As mentioned in
the definition of Transaction Value in Para 11.1 above, only actual price paid
or payable has to be added to the transaction value and not a hypothetical
value based on averaging of prices or standardizing of frit grades. As already
mentioned under the realm of transaction value as per Section 4 even the
same product could be sold at different prices depending upon several
market factors and all these prices will be acceptable as permissible
transaction value. Present Section 4 does not go by the concept of Normal
Price of the old Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944. In the absence of
exact quantification of cash received by individual frit manufacturer,
transaction value cannot be enhanced even if there are half cooked
circumstantial evidences to the proceedings indicating suspected
undervaluation. It is now well understood that suspicion howsoever grave
cannot take the place of an evidence. Therefore, it may not be correct to
hold that preponderance of probability should always be given to the
Revenue, as Hon'ble Apex Court in a particular held it to be so. Each case
has to be decided in view of the facts of that case. In view of the above
observation and the law laid down by the Apex Court in the case of A.
Tajudeen vs. UOI (supra) preponderance of probability cannot always be
allowed in favour of the Revenue when there is no independent corroboration
of the facts and the case is made only on the basis of statements which were
not allowed to be tested under cross-examination as per Section 9D (1)(b) of
the Central Excise Act, 1944.
14. In view of the reasons recorded above, appeals filed by the
appellants mentioned in paras 5.1 and 5.2 of this order, are allowed with
consequential reliefs, if any. Miscellaneous applications are also disposed of
accordingly."
In this background, ld. Authorised Representative submitted that Hon'ble
CESTAT has considered the merit of the case, relevant material i.e Pen drive and
also statements recorded by Excise Authorities. All such three questions as
discussed in its order have been decided in favour of assessee. So far as CIT(A)'s
observation are concerned that relief granted by the CESTAT is highly technical, it
was submitted by the ld. Authorised Representative that such observations are
devoid of merit. CESTAT has passed detailed reasoned order. As regard to CIT(A)'s
observation as to opportunity of cross examination of persons whose statements
have been recorded, ld. Authorised Representative submitted that it is absolutely
illogical on the part of the ld. CIT(A) to seek an opportunity of examination of the
statements recorded by the relevant Excise authorities. Ld. Authorised
Representative further submitted that Excise Department preferred an appeal against
above mentioned order of CESTAT before Apex Court which according to AR was
dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 27/01/2016 and copy of same is placed on
Page 327-328 of Paper Book. Content of the same are reproduced as under:
"IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOs.OF 2016
D No.39019/2015
COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE & ST,
AHMEDABAD - III .....APPELLANT(s)
VERSUS
ZIRCONIA CERA TECH. GLAZES PVT LTD & ANR...RESPONDENT(S)
ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09
Page 16 of 21
ORDER
Learned Additional Solicitor General seeks leave to withdraw the appeals
with a liberty to approach the High Court in view of the statutory requirement.
Leave and liberty granted.
The appeals are dismissed as withdrawn.
......................................J.
(MADAN B. LOKUR)
.......................................J.
(R.K. AGRAWAL)
NEW DELHI
JANUARY 27, 2016
****
ITEM NO. 6
COURT NO.8 SECTION III
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Civil Appeal Diary No(s).39019/2015
COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE &ST, .......Appellant(s)
AHMEDABAD - III
VERSUS
ZIRCONIA CERA TECH. GLAZES PVT LTD & ANR........Respondent (s)
(withappln. (s) for condonation of delay in filing appeal.)
Date : 27/01/2016 This appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN B. LOKUR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.K. AGRAWAL
For Appellant(s) Mr. N.K, Kaul, ASG
Mr. Tara Chandra Sharma, Adv
Mr. NiteshDaryanani, Adv.
Mr. B. Krishna Prasad, AOR
For Respondent (s) Mr. M. Y. Deshmukh AOR
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
ORDER
Learned Additional Solicitor General seeks leave to withdraw the appeals with a
liberty to approach the High Court in view of the statutory requirement.
Leave and liberty granted.
The appeals are dismissed as withdrawn.
(SANJAY KUMAR-I) (JASWINDER
KAUR)
AR-CUM-PS COURT MASTER
(Signed order is placed on the file)"
Ld. Authorised Representative further brought to our notice that even the Tax
Appeal being Tax Appeal Nos.733 & 734 of 2016 preferred by the Excise Department
before the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court was dismissed vide order dated 07.12.2016.
and copy of the same has been annexed as Annexure - 'A' t the Chart filed on behalf
of the assessee and relevant portion of the same is reproduced as under:
"CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH
and
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Page 17 of 21
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.P.DHOLARIA
Date : 13/11/2013
ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) [1.0] By way of this petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioner has prayed for an appropriate writ, direction and order quashing and setting aside the show-cause notice dated 14.03.2012[Annexure C to the petition] as well as the impugned order dated30.03.2013 passed by the Commercial Tax Officer(4), Mehsana by which an order of reassessment has been passed by the Commercial Tax Officer directing the petitioner to pay an amount of Rs.21,52,832/ towards the balance tax under the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act, 2003[hereinafter referred to as "VAT Act"] and also directed to pay 150%penalty i.e. Rs.32,29,248/and in all Rs.73,19,630/.
[2.0] Facts leading to the present special civil application in nutshell are as follows:
[2.1] That the petitioner is a dealer registered under the VAT Act. That the petitioner is excisable to tax on the basis of its turnover under the VAT Act. For the financial year 2006-07,the petitioner filed its return with the authorities under the Act. Such return was processed by the authorities and the order thereon was passed and accordingly the petitioner paid the value added tax of Rs.2,06,448/.
[2.2] A notice came to be issued on 14.03.2012 by the adjudicating authority indicating that for the period from 01.04.2007 to 31.03.2008,he has reason to believe that taxable turnover of the petitioner -
assessee has escaped assessment. That petitioner was required to attend the officer on 31.03.2012. That the petitioner appeared before the Commercial Tax Officer - Assessing Officer and submitted that they have come to know that authority has received certain information from central excise i.e. DGCEI and on the basis of the show-cause notice issued by the Central Excise Department, adjudicating authority has intended to enhance the sales and also intended to reassess under section 35(1) of the VAT Act It was also submitted that except the show-cause notice issued by the Central Excise Department, there is no material to show that the petitioner had suppressed the sales and has evaded the tax liability. That solely on the basis of the show-cause notice issued by the Central Excise Department, the AO came to the conclusion that there was a sale of Rs.17,45,46,653/- and accordingly at the rate of 4%, the tax liability would be Rs.67,13,333/- against which the credit of Rs.43,54,053/- is adjusted. The petitioner is liable to pay the VAT of Rs.23,59,280/- and giving the credit of Rs.2,06,448/- paid by the petitioner towards the tax, the petitioner is liable to pay balance ofRs.21,52,832/- towards VAT. Consequently, by order dated 30.03.2013,the AO has passed the reassessment order directing the petitioner to pay the balance amount of Rs.21,52,832/- along with interest upto31.03.2013 and has also imposed the penalty at the rate of 150% i.e. in all Rs.73,19,630/.Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned order, the petitioner the petitioner has preferred the present special civil application under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
[2.3] At the outset it is required to be noted that we are conscious of the fact that against the impugned order of reassessment the petitioner has a statutory remedy available by way of appeal however, considering the fact in the identical facts and circumstances earlier this Court has entertained the petition and has quashed and set aside the order of reassessment, in the facts and circumstances of the case, we have entertained the present petition.ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09 Page 18 of 21 [2.4] The petitioner has challenged the impugned order passed in reassessment proceedings, which is passed solely on the basis of the show- cause notice issued by the excise department and the additions are made. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners has vehemently submitted that this should be wholly impermissible.
[3.0] Shri Parikh, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner has heavily relied upon the decision of this Court in the case of Futura Ceramics Pvt. Ltd. vs. State of Gujarat rendered in Special Civil Application No.6500/2012 and relying upon the said decision, it is submitted that similar reassessment order passed by the AO solely on the basis of the show cause notice issued by the Excise Department has been set aside by this Court. Therefore, it is requested to quash and set aside the impugned order passed by the AO.
[4.0] Shri Jaimin Gandhi, learned AGP appearing on behalf of the respondent is not in a position to dispute the above. He is also not in a position to dispute that similar reassessment order has been set aside by this Court in the case of Futura Ceramics Pvt. Ltd. (Supra). However, Shri Gandhi, learned AGP appearing on behalf of the respondent has requested to reserve the liberty in favour of the AO and/or appropriate authority to pass reassessment order afresh in accordance with law and on merits.
[4.1] Shri Parikh, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner has submitted that it may be observed that fresh reassessment order can be passed in accordance with law and only if the same is permissible under the law.
[5.0] Having heard Shri Parikh, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Shri Gandhi, learned AGP appearing on behalf of the respondents and having gone through the impugned order passed by the AO, it appears that the reassessment order has been passed by the AO solely on the basis of show cause notice issued by the Excise Department. It can be seen that the assessment which was previously oncluded was reopened on the premise that during the excise raid, it was revealed that the petitioner had clandestinely removed goods without payment of excise duty. The Sales Tax Department, therefore, formed a belief that value of the goods + excise duty evaded and formed part of turnover of the assessee for the purpose of tax under the VAT Act. Identical question came to be considered by this Court in the case of Futura Ceramics Pvt. Ltd. (Supra) and a similar reassessment order which was passed on the basis of the show cause notice issued by the Excise Department has been set aside by the Division Bench of this Court by observing as under:
"It may be that the raid carried out by the Excise duty and the material collected during such proceedings culminating into issuance of a show cause notice for recovery of unpaid excise duty and penalty in a given case sufficient to reopen previously closed assessment. In this case, however, we are not called upon to judge this issue and would therefore not give any definite opinion. The question, however, is whether on a mere show cause issued by the Excise Department, the Sales tax Department can make additions for the purpose of collecting tax under the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act without any further inquiry. If the Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Tax has utilized the material collected by the Excise Department; including the statements of the petitioner and other relevant witnesses and had come to an independent opinion that there was in fact evasion of excise duty by clandestine removal of goods, he would have been justified in making additions for the purpose of VAT Act. In the present case, however, no such exercise was undertaken. All that the Assessing Officer did was to rely on the show cause notice issued by the Excise Department. Nowhere did he ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017 Assessment Year: 2008-09 Page 19 of 21 conclude that there was a case of clandestine removal of goods without payment of tax under the VAT Act. Merely because the Excise Department issued a show cause notice, that cannot be a ground to presume and conclude that there was evasion of excise duty implying thereby that there was also evasion of tax under the VAT Act. It is not even the case of the Department that such show cause notice proceedings has culminated into any final order against the petitioner. We wonder what would happen to the order of reassessment, if ultimately the Excise Department were to drop the proceedings without levying any duty or penalty from the petitioner.
All in all, the Asstt. Commissioner has acted in a mechanical manner and passed final order of assessment merely on the premise that the Excise Department has issued a show cause notice alleging clandestine removal of the goods. Such order, therefore, cannot be sustained and is accordingly quashed. When the order is ex facie illegal and wholly untenable in law, mere availability of alternative remedy would not preclude us from interfering at this stage in a writ petition."
[6.0] In view of the above decision of Division Bench of this Court, the impugned reassessment order deserves to be quashed and set aside. However liberty can be reserved in favour of the department to pass an order afresh in accordance with law and on merits after giving an opportunity to the petitioner and if permissible under the law now.
[6.1] In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, petition succeeds. Impugned order passed by the Commissioner Tax Officer(4), Mehsana [Annexuree] to the petition] dated 30.03.2013 is hereby quashed and set aside. However, it is observed that the same shall not affect the proceedings under the Central Excise Act for which the show cause notice has been issued. A liberty is also reserved in favour of the department to pass reassessment order afresh in accordance with law and on merits and after giving fullest opportunity to the petitioner and if permissible under the law now. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs.
Sd/-
(M.R. SHAH, J.) Sd/-
(R.P. DHOLARIA,J.)"
In this background ld. Authorised Representative submitted that additions be deleted in both the years. On other hand ld. Departmental Representative supported the orders of authorities below and contended that order CESTAT is technical one so same should be ignored and orders of authorities below be upheld in both the years.
11. We find that the basis of addition is contents of show-cause notice issued by the Excise Department. An investigation was carried out by DGCEI at assessee premises on 25/08/2008, wherein it was alleged by the Excise Department that assessee has not declared actual assessable value of goods manufactured and cleared from factory. Based on above DGCEI issued show-cause notice dated 19/04/2010, Excise department concluded that assessee was engaged in under valuation of sales and clandestine removal of goods. Only on the basis of same Assessing officer reopened assessee's income tax assessment for the years under consideration and made addition of estimated Gross Profit on under valuation sales and clandestine removal of goods. The Revenue has brought nothing on record that it has applied it's mind over and above the contents of show-cause notice in question thus there is lack of independent application of mind on behalf of revenue in these matters.ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017
Assessment Year: 2008-09 Page 20 of 21
12. Without prejudice to above, we find that in Excise proceedings, concerned authorities passed order against assessee and matter was carried up to concerned Hon'ble CESTAT. Hon'ble CESTAT vide its order dated 12/02/2015 as discussed above, has decided the issue in favour of the assessee holding that Excise Department could not estimate value of alleged suppression of sales as well as clandestine removal of goods merely on the basis of assumption and surmises. The CESTAT having considered the relevant facts of the case as well as relevant material i.e. Pen drive and statement recorded by the Excise Department has decided the matter in favour of the assessee as discussed above. In these circumstances Ld. CIT(A) was not justified in observing that relief granted by Hon'ble CESTAT was highly technical.
13. We also find that Excise Department carried matter before Hon'ble Apex Court wherein same was dismissed as withdrawn as mentioned above. Nothing contrary was brought to our knowledge on behalf of Revenue in this regard.
14. We also find that Tax Appeal being Tax Appeal No.733 and 734 of 2016 preferred by the Ld. Excise Department before Hon'ble Gujarat High Court came to be dismissed vide order dated 07/12/2016, as mentioned above. Again nothing contrary was brought to our knowledge on behalf of Revenue in this regard as well. In this background, we find that the order passed by Hon'ble CESTAT has achieved the finality against the revenue. As we have observed earlier that only Excise Department action was basis of additions before us in both the years which does not survive for the reasons discussed above, so the basis of additions made by the Revenue does not survive.
15. In view of the above additions made on account as alleged valuation of sales and clandestine removal of goods do not survive and same are directed to be deleted in both the assessment years. In the result both the appeals filed by the assessee are allowed."
4. We see no reasons to take any other view of the matter than the view so taken by the co-ordinate bench.
5. Respectfully following the Tribunal's decision dated 12.02.2019 (supra), we confirm the order of the ld. CIT(A) and dismiss the grounds raised by the Revenue.
6. In the result, appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed. Pronounced in the open Court on this 4th of June, 2019.
Sd/- Sd/- Justice P P Bhatt Pramod Kumar (President) (Vice President) Ahmedabad, the 4th day of June, 2019 PBN/* ITA No.1886/Ahd/2017 Assessment Year: 2008-09 Page 21 of 21 Copies to: (1) The appellant (2) The respondent (3) Commissioner (4) CIT(A) (5) Departmental Representative (6) Guard File By order TRUE COPY Assistant Registrar Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad benches, Ahmedabad