M/S Printo India Graphics (P) Limited vs Cce, Delhi-I on 28 April, 2011
In Tarpaulin International case, the issue before the Apex Court was whether the tarpaulin made-ups which were prepared after cutting and stitching the tarpaulin fabric and fixing the eyelets involved process of manufacture and would fall within the definition of the said term, it was held that the process did not change the basic characteristic of the raw material and the end product. The process did not bring into existence new and distinct product with total transformation in original commodity. The original material used i.e. tarpaulin still remained and was called tarpaulin made-ups even after undergoing the process. Hence, it cannot be said that the process is a manufacturing process. The process of stitching and fixing eyelets would not amounting to manufacture process since tarpaulin after stitching and fixing eyeleting continues to be only cotton fabric. The purpose of fixing eyelets is not to change the fabric. Therefore, even though there is value addition, the same is minimum.