C.C.E. vs Oxygen Equipment And Engg. Co. (P) Ltd. on 10 November, 1995
It was, therefore, not correct according to appellants to allege (as has been done in the SCN) that the activity of testing the strength of manufactured product enriched the value of the product. The additional charges viz. costs of testing 'model' transmission towers are not therefore includible in the assessable value. He drew attention to the fact that appellants have fully equipped drawing, designing and quality control sections in their factory where regular testing from different angles are carried out in the normal course before they are put to use in the erection of transmission towers. The cost incurred in testing is already included in the assessable value in all cases and therefore, the additional charges incurred in the testing of 'model' transmission towers at the instance of customers could not be included in the assessable value. Since the condition of destruction test is an optional one carried out at the instance of a particular customer, such additional charges cannot form part of their assessable value., Reliance was placed on the Supreme Court decisions in C.C.E. v. Kelvinator of India Ltd. 1988 (36) E.L.T. 517 holding that optional charges cannot be included in the assessable value and C.C.E. v. Indian Oxygen Ltd. 1987 (31) E.L.T. 730 (T) holding that incidence of duty on manufacture and supply of cylinder was ancillary to and not incidental to the manufacture of gases and as such rental charges and interest thereon would not includible in the assessable value.