Supreme Court - Daily Orders
Commissioner Of Customs, Chennai vs M/S Toyota Tsusho Pvt. Ltd. on 24 November, 2015
Bench: A.K. Sikri, Rohinton Fali Nariman
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 1642/2008
COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, CHENNAI APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
M/S TOYOTA TSUSHO PVT. LTD. RESPONDENT(S)
O R D E R
The respondent/assessee herein imported “beef leather cut pieces set TFC 235 Set” and mentioned the same at Serial Nos. 1 and 9 of the Bill of Entry dated 05.09.2005 which was filed by the assessee on the aforesaid import. The goods were classified under Customs Tariff Heading 4115 20 90 for which duty free exemption was claimed under Notification No. 21/2002 (Serial No. 149). The Department, after examining the goods, took the view that the aforesaid goods were classifiable under Chapter 42, namely Chapter Heading 4205 00 90 which attracted duty @ BCD 15% + CVD 16% + Education Cess 2% and levied a duty of Rs. 22,86,812/-. The Commissioner, in appeal, upheld the aforesaid classification arrived at by the Deputy Commissioner. However, the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal ('the Tribunal'), in further appeal carried by the assessee, accepted the said appeal and classified the goods under Chapter Heading 4115 20 90 as “beef Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by ASHWANI KUMAR Date: 2015.12.04 leather cut pieces set – TFC 235 set”.
16:46:34 IST Reason:
We have gone through the aforesaid two entries which read as under:2
4115 Composition leather with a basis of - -
leather or leather fiber in slabs, sheets or strip, whether or not in rolls; parings and other waste of leather or of composition leather, not suitable for the manufacture of leather articles; leather dust, powder and flour 4115 10 00 Composition leather with a basis of Kg. 15% leather or leather fiber, in slabs, sheets or strip, whether or not in rolls.
4115 20 Parings and other waste of leather or of - -
composition leather, not suitable for the manufacture of leather articles; leather dust, powder and flour.
4115 20 10 Cuttings of leather Kg. 15%
4115 20 90 Other
4205 Other articles of leather or of - -
composition leather
4205 00 Other articles of leather or of - -
composition leather
Straps other than for machinery or - -
harness
4205 00 11 Welt Kg. 15%
4205 00 19 Other Kg. 15%
4205 00 20 Leather sofa cover Kg. 15%
4205 00 90 Other Kg. 15%
During the course of arguments, we were shown two other
Chapter headings viz. Chapter 87 and Chapter 97. Chapter 87 deals with “vehicles other than Railway or Tramway Rolling-stock and includes other parts and accessories of the motor vehicles”.
Likewise, Chapter 94 have the following nomenclature:
“Seats (other than those of heading 9402) whether or not convertible into beds, and parts thereof”.
Sub-heading 9401.20.00 thereof deals with “seats of a kind used for motor vehicles and sub-heading 9401 90 00 mentions “parts” thereof.3
We, thus, feel that it would have been more appropriate for the Tribunal to look into the aforesaid Chapter entries as a whole and then come to a definite conclusion, in the light of the description of the goods involved as to which the most appropriate entry under which they fall.
Accordingly, we set aside the impugned order, allow the appeal and remit the case back to the Tribunal to decide the aforesaid entries in the manner indicated.
Having regard to the fact that it is an old issue, we would appreciate if the appeal is decided within six months from date of the receipt of the copy of this order.
......................J. [A.K. SIKRI] ......................J. [ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN] NEW DELHI;
NOVEMBER 24, 2015
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ITEM NO.107 COURT NO.14 SECTION III
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Civil Appeal No(s). 1642/2008
COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, CHENNAI Appellant(s)
VERSUS
M/S TOYOTA TSUSHO PVT. LTD. Respondent(s)
Date : 24/11/2015 This appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN For Appellant(s) Mr. Yashank Adhyaru, Sr. Adv.
Ms. Nisha Bagchi, Adv.
Mr. Vikas Singh, Adv.
Ms. Pooja Sharma, Adv.
Mr. B. Krishna Prasad,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. V. Lakshmikumar-an, Adv.
Mr. M. P. Devanath,Adv.
Mr. S. Vasudevan, Adv.
Ms. L. Charanaya, Adv.
Mr. Hemant Bajaj, Adv.
Mr. Anandh K., Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R The civil appeal is allowed in terms of the signed order.
Interlocutory Application(s) pending, if any, shall stand disposed of accordingly.
(Ashwani Thakur) (Rajinder Kaur)
COURT MASTER COURT MASTER
(Signed order is placed on the file)