Supreme Court of India
Superintendent Of Central Excise, ... vs Vac Met Corpn. (P) Ltd., Etc. Etc. on 6 August, 1985
Equivalent citations: AIR1986SC1167, 1986(9)ECC1, 1985(5)ECR1745(SC), 1985(22)ELT330(SC), (1986)2GLR1351, AIR 1986 SUPREME COURT 1167, (1986) 2 GUJ LR 1351, (1985) 22 ELT 330, (1985) ECR 1745, (1986) 9 ECC 1
Author: A.P. Sen
Bench: A.P. Sen, D.P. Madon
JUDGMENT A.P. Sen, J.
1. We have no doubt in our mind agreeing with the Judgment and order passed by the Gujarat High Court that metallic yarn (also known as metallized yarn) manufactured by the respondent in the form of silvery white or golden thin flat, narrow and continuous strip made of metallized polyester from metallized laminated plastic sheets or foils which are slatted by them by electrically operated machines fall within the purview of Tariff Entry 15-A(2) of the First Schedule to the Central Excises & Salt Act, 1944 which is a specific entry relating to articles made of plastics of all kinds as contended by the respondents and therefore are dutiable at a lower rate and that the goods in question do not come within the ambit of the general Tariff Entry 18 and were therefore not liable to higher rate of duty. The relevant Entry 15A(2) reads as follows:
15A(2). Articles made of plastics, all sorts, including tubes, rods, sheets, foils, sticks, other rectangular or profile shapes whether laminated or not, and whether rigid or flexible, including layout and polyvinyl chloride sheets.
The contention of Shri B. Datta, learned Additional Solicitor General that the article manufactured comes within the ambit of the general Tariff Entry 18 relating to rayon and synthetic fibres and yarn can hardly be accepted. Where an article falls within a specific entry like Entry 15A(2) which covers plastic articles of all sorts, in different shapes or even of strips, whether laminated or not, they must necessarily be excluded from the general Entry 18 which relates to rayon and synthetic fibres and yarn i.e. man-made fibres. We agree with the reasoning and conclusion reached by the High Court.
2. The appeals therefore fail and are dismissed with costs. We quantify the costs at Rs. 500/- in each of these appeals. The bank guarantees furnished by the respondents shall stand discharged.