Commnr. Of Central Excise, Delhi vs M/S. Ishaan Research Lab. (P) Ltd.& Ors on 8 September, 2008
After referring to the decisions referred to above and
other decisions like CCE v. Richardson Hindustan Ltd. [(2004) 9 SCC
156; CCE v. Pandit D.P. Sharma[(2003) 5 SCC 288; Naturalle Health
Products (P) Ltd. v. CCE [(2004) 9 SCC 136], Amrutanjan Ltd. v. CCE
[(1996) 9 SCC 413], BPL Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. CCE [1995 Supp (3)
SCC 1], Muller & Phipps (India) Ltd v. CCE [(2004) 4 SCC 787]; Dabur
India Ltd. v. CCE [(2004) 4 SCC 9], Manish Pharma Plasto (P) Ltd. v.
Union of India [(1999) 112 ELT 22 (Del)], the court came to the
conclusion that the word "medicament" was not defined anywhere while
the word "cosmetic" is defined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The
court specifically held that the extent of the quantity of medicament used in
a particular product and the fact that the use of the medicinal element in
the product was minimal does not detract from it being classified as a
medicament. It also held in para 22 that it was not necessary that the item
must be sold under a doctor's prescription. Similarly, availability of the
product across the counter in shops is not relevant as it makes no
difference either way. As regards the Chapter Notes, the court found that
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the use of the word "subsidiary" in the said note, i.e., Note No.2 of Chapter
22 was overlooked by the Revenue. It was also held that Revenue had
failed to make any case in support of its stand that all the products fell
under Chapter 33. However, the court rejected the claim of the assessee
in respect of some of the products like herbal massage for women and
Puma scalp tonic powder.