Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise vs U.P. State Sugar Corporation Ltd.

This is an appeal under Section 35G of Central Excise Tax Act, 1944 (hereinafter referred to as "Act, 1944") at the instance of Revenue, i.e., Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, Meerut-I. This appeal has arisen from the judgment and order dated 12-3-2009 [2010 (250) E.L.T. 417 (Tribunal)] passed by Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as "Tribunal") allowing appeal of Assessee holding that ''Welding Electrode'' is eligible for Cenvat Credit. The Assessee, i.e., M/s. U.P. State Sugar Corporation Limited, Village Bidvi, P.B. No. 27, District Saharanpur, which is an Industry engaged in manufacture of Sugar, had claimed that ''Welding Electrode'' is specified under Head 8311.00 of Central Excise Tariff and used in repair and maintenance of ''Machines'', therefore, would fall within the category of ''Capital Goods''. The claim was accepted by Tribunal allowing Assessee''s appeal.

Before this Court, appellant has contended that ''Welding Electrodes'' would not fall in the category of ''Capital Goods'' under the provisions of Rule 57-Q of Central Excise Rules, 1944 (hereinafter referred to as "Rules, 1944"). The question of law required to be decided by this Court, is:

"Whether Cenvat Credit is admissible on Welding Electrodes (falling under Chapter Heading No. 8311.00) as Capital goods used in the repair and maintenance notwithstanding the ruling of the Hon''ble Supreme Court?"

The period of dispute for which Cenvat Credit has been accepted is from November'' 2004 to September'' 2005. During this period, matter of Cenvat Credit was governed by Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as "Rules, 2004") and term ''Capital Goods'' was defined in Rule 2(a) of Rules, 2004 as under:

"(a)" capital goods " means:--

(A) All following goods, namely:--

(i) all goods falling under Chapter 82, Chapter 84, Chapter 85, Chapter 90, Heading No. 6805, grinding wheels and the like, and parts thereof falling under Heading 6804 of the First Schedule of the Excise Tariff Act;

(ii) pollution control equipment;

(iii) components, spares and accessories of the goods specified at (i) and (ii) above;

(iv) moulds and dies; jigs and fixtures;

(v) refractories and refractory materials;

(vi) tubes and pipes and fittings thereof; and

(vii) storage tank,

used-

(1) in the factory of the manufacturer of the final products, but does not include any equipment or appliance used in an office; or

(2) for providing output service;"

(B) motor vehicle registered in the name of provider of output service for providing taxable service as specified in sub-clauses (f), (n), (o), (zr), (zzp), (zzt) and (zzw) of clause (105) of Section 65 of the Finance Act;"

It is admitted by the parties that the Heading of Chapter 8311 is not included specifically in the definition of ''capital goods''. The Assessee, however, relied on Rule 2(a)(A)(iii) of Rules, 2004, and contended that ''Welding Electrodes'' would come within the term ''components'' so as to fall within the category of ''capital goods''.

The definition of ''capital goods'' under Rule 2(a) of Rules, 2004 is exhaustive in the sense that it clearly specifies what ''capital goods'' would mean. The items which fall under certain chapters of Central Excise Tariff Act are specifiably mentioned in Rule 2(a)(A)(i) of Rules, 2004. Then comes pollution control equipment'', moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures, refractories and refractory material, tubes and pipes and fittings thereof and storage tank. All these things, if used in the factory of manufacturer of final products, or, for providing output service, would mean ''capital goods''. However, it would not include any equipment or appliance used in office. There is one more aspect, i.e., Rule 2(a)(A)(iii) of Rules, 2004, which says that in respect to items mentioned in Rule 2(a)(A)(i) and (ii) of Rules, 2004, components, spares and accessories of the goods specified thereunder would also fall within the category of ''capital goods''. Having failed to point out application of any other provision under Rule 2(a) of Rules, 2004, the stress on the part of Assessee was on the term ''components'' under 2(a)(A)(iii) of Rules, 2004 and it is contended that ''Welding Electrodes'', being used for maintenance and repair of machineries and factories, would fall in the category of components, hence would be entitled for Cenvat Credit being ''capital goods''. We find that ''capital goods'' as defined under Rule 2(a) of Rules 2004, in substance, are pari materia with the ''capital goods'' specified in Rule 57Q of Rules, 1944 and there is no substantial difference therein.

Considering a similar argument in the context of Rule 57Q of Rules, 1944, as it stood in 1999, similar question and submissions have already been considered by this Court recently in Central Excise Appeal No. 135 of 2005 (M/s. Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries Ltd. v. Commissioner Customs & Central Excise) decided on 25-2-2015.

For the reasons given in the judgment dated 25-2-2015 in M/s. Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries Ltd. v. Commissioner Customs & Central Excise (supra), the aforesaid question of law is answered in favour of Revenue and against Assessee.

Appeal is, accordingly, allowed. The order of the Tribunal dated 12-3-2009 is hereby quashed. There shall be no order as to costs.