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Showing contexts for: cosmetics in Commissioner Of Central Excise, ... vs Sharma Chemical Works on 30 April, 2003Matching Fragments
Reliance was also placed upon the decision of the Sales Tax Tribunal in the case of Commissioner of Sales Tax, Madhya Pradesh, Indore v. Shri Sadhna Aushadhalaya reported in Sales Tax Cases 1963 Vol. 14 page 813. In this case the question was whether Maha Bhringraj hair oil was a toilet article or a medicinal preparation. The Tribunal held as follows:
"It is a common ground that if the hair-oil manufactured and sold by the assessee does not fall under the above entry, then it is not covered by any other entry in Schedule I or II. The question, therefore, that arises for determination is whether Maha Bhringraj Hair-oil is an article falling under entry No. II. The assessee's argument which prevailed with the Board of Revenue, is that the hair-oil manufactured by them is not a "toilet article" but a "medicinal preparation" inasmuch as the oil is prepared and manufactured according to a certain formula given in Ayurvedic medicinal book, that it has a bad odour, and that it is a specific for headache, burning of eyes, and for preventing falling hair. In our opinion, there can be little doubt that the oil in question is a "toilet article" as well a "cosmetic". The question whether an oil, which is to be applied to the hair, is or is not a "cosmetic" or a "toilet article" does not depend on its fragrance or on the formula according to which it is manufactured. A hair-oil is clearly not a pure and simple perfume, and the question whether it has a sweet fragrance or a disagreeable odour is in no way determinative of its character as a hair-oil. Every hair-oil whether it is manufactured scientifically with ingredients containing some medicinal properties or crudely, is intended and for beautifying ultimately the hair and the appearance of the person using it. A hair oil may cool the brain or improve the system and induce sound sleep, but none the less it does not because of these qualities become a medicial preparation. Now the word "cosmetic" has been defined in Webster's International Dictionary as meaning "any external application intended to beautify and improve the complexion, skin or hair."
Other dictionaries also give the same meaning. The meaning of the word "toliet", as given in Webster's International Dictionary, is "act or process of dressing, especially, formerly of dressing hair, now usually cleansing and grooming of one's person". A "toilet preparation" is any preparation which is intended to affect, and conceivably to improve the bodily appearance. The words "cosmetics" and "toilet", being words of everyday use, must be construed not in any technical or scientific sense, but as understood in common parlance and in commercial language. A hair-oil intended to be applied to the hair and supposed to act as a hair-tonic and to prevent dandruff, failing hair and baldness and to cool the brain does not cease to be a hair-oil merely because it is manufactured and sold by a person dealing in medicines and according to a process more complex than used in the manufacture of ordinary hair-oil. The object of all hair-oils is to tidy the hair, to promote luxuriant growth of hair-and to prevent dandruff and falling hair and it cannot be denied that if a hair-oil produces the effects proclaimed and claimed in regard to it, then the appearance of the person using it is undoubtedly improved. We have no doubt that the hair-oil manufactured by the assessee is a "toliet article" and falls also within the meaning of the term "cosmetics."
25. We do not think we can accept all the contentions of the learned counsel for the respondents except certain obvious admitted positions. The submission that the product in question must be equated to shampoo falling under Chapter 33 is not at all correct.
26. It is true that the learned counsel for the appellants have placed reliance on the definition of the words "cosmetic and drug" as defined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. On a perusal of the definitions, we can broadly distinguish cosmetic and drug as follows:
"A 'cosmetic" means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance and includes any article intended for use as a component of cosmetic."
and "A 'drug' includes all medicines for internal or external use of human beings or animals and all substances intended to be used for or in the diagnosis, treatment mitigation or prevention of any disease or disorder in human beings or including preparation applied on human body for the purpose of repelling insects."