REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 10430 OF 2016
(@ S.L.P. (Civil) No. 28962 of 2013)
Commissioner of Commercial Tax, U.P. …Appellant
Versus
M/s Oswal Greentech Limited …Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dipak Misra, J.
Leave granted.
2. The respondent, a dealer registered under Section 8-A of the U.P.
Trade Tax Act, 1948 (for brevity, “the Act”), is a holder of a recognition
certificate as per provisions contained in Section 4-B of the Act. The
respondent used to make purchases of raw material at the concessional rate
of tax against Form III-B obtained by it from the office of the Trade Tax
Officer. As per conditions prescribed under Section 4-B(2) of the Act, the
notified goods manufactured out of the raw material produced at the
concessional rate of tax against Form III-B is required to be sold by such
manufacturer in the State or in the course of inter-State trade and
commerce or in the course of export out of India. It is also provided in
the said Section that if a recognition certificate holder sells goods
manufactured by it out of the raw material purchased at the concessional
rate of tax against Form III-B in a manner otherwise than prescribed under
Section 4-B(2), the said dealer shall be liable to penal action equal to
three times of the tax, thus saved by the said dealer on purchase made
against Form III-B.
3. At the time of scrutiny, the assessing authority noticed that the
respondent had made purchases of natural gas against Form III-B at the
concessional rate of tax, and after manufacture of the notified goods, that
is, fertilizers, out of the said purchases of natural gas purchased against
Form III-B, some of the finished goods were transferred outside the State
of Uttar Pradesh. The Revenue issued show cause notice to the respondent
for the assessment year 2005-06 and after considering the explanation
offered, imposed penalty of Rs.10,46.98,335/- vide order dated 28.03.2009.
Being aggrieved, the respondent preferred an appeal under Section 9 of the
Act before the Joint Commissioner (Appeals)-1, Commercial Tax, Bareilly
being Appeal No. 798 of 2009, and the appellate authority vide its order
dated 12.11.2009 dismissed the appeal and confirmed the order of the
assessing authority dated 28.03.2009 passed under Section 3-B of the Act.
4. The dismissal of appeal constrained the respondent to file a second
appeal (Appeal No. 237 of 2009) before the Tribunal, Trade Tax, U.P. (for
short, “tribunal”). Since there was difference of opinion in the Division
Bench of the tribunal, the case was referred to the Chairman of the
tribunal who nominated another Judicial Member for his opinion. The
learned Judicial Member gave his opinion in favour of the respondent. On
the basis of the opinion expressed by the nominated Judicial Member, the
appeal stood allowed as a consequence of which the order imposing penalty
was annulled.
5. Being aggrieved by the order of the tribunal, the Revenue filed Trade
Tax Revision No. 579 of 2011 under Section 11 of the Act before the High
Court. The question of law that arose for consideration before the High
Court was as follows:-
“Whether under the facts and circumstances of the case, the Commercial Tax
Tribunal were legally justified in granting the exemption on purchase of
raw material against Form III-B whereas the dealer has made a stock
transfer of finished goods which is not permissible under law?”
6. The learned Single Judge took note of the fact that the tribunal had
relied on a Division Bench decision of the High Court in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. v. State of U.P. & Ors.[1] and on that basis had come to the
conclusion that the assessee had purchased the material and used it in
manufacture and there was no violation of Section 3-B of the Act and
accordingly concurred with the view of the tribunal as a result of which
the revision stood dismissed.
7. We have heard Mr. Pawanshree Agrawal and Mr. Rajeev Dubey, learned
counsel for the appellant and Mr. Punit Dutt Tyagi for the respondent.
8. It is profitable to refer to the findings recorded by the assessing
officer. It has been held by him that under Section 3-B and 4-B(2) of the
Act, the finished product manufactured from the raw material purchased at a
concessional rate can only be sold in U.P. or in the course of inter-State
trade and commerce or can be exported out of country, but stock transfer is
not permissible. According to the assessing officer, the trader had
purchased natural gas at a concessional rate against Form III-B i.e. 20%
minus 15% = 5%, availing the benefit at the rate of 15% and paying tax at
the rate of 5%. The production of urea has been done by using the natural
gas obtained at a concessional rate and the manufactured product, that is,
urea has been sent by way of stock transfer outside the State in clear
violation of Section 3-B and 4-B(2) of the Act. It has been further opined
by him that the assessee had acted contrary to the provision of law by
purchasing raw material at a concessional rate and thereafter sending the
finished goods as stock transfer outside the State which does not come
under the term ‘sale’ and no revenue is generated by the State. Proceeding
further, the assessing officer has held thus:-
“The trader without acting under the provisions of the Section 3B and 4B(2)
of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, had caused loss of revenue to the
State. The State had lost revenue at the rate of 15% on the purchase of
raw material used in the produced goods sent as stock transfer, which could
have received had these were not purchased against Form 3B. Because the
tax has been paid at the rate of 5% against form 3B. Had the trader not
declared false declaration against Form 3B, and had acted as per the
provision of Section 4B(2), then the State Government could have got 20% as
Tax and 1% as development tax totaling 21%. The local purchase of natural
gas could have been made without form 3B. But the trader had not acted
under the provisions of Section 3B. The trader had not also acted u/s 4B
(2) which he had declared to act when taking the forms 3B. Hence, the raw
material purchased at a concessional rate were utilized in the
manufacturing of the notified finished product (Urea), but instead of
making any sale (within and outside the State) and without exporting those
outside the country, had made stock transfers, thereby had violated Section
4B(2) of the Act. By making false declaration u/s 3B of the Act, the
trader had only deposited tax on the purchase of raw material (Natural
Gas) at the rate of 5% only and availed the benefit of 15%. On the other
hand without taking any action u/s 4B (2) of the Act, had made stock
transfer outside the State, as a result of which had saved tax @ 7.5% apart
from the development tax on Urea. As such the trader was able to evade tax
@ 22.5% in an illegal manner and thereby had caused double loss of revenue
to the State.”
9. The appellate authority, as the order would reflect, has expressed
the view that the assessee, after availing the benefit at the concessional
rate, has violated the provisions contained in Section 4B(2) of the Act and
has been making stock transfers quite often. The appellate authority has
opined that the principle stated in the authorities in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. (supra), Bareilly v. State of U.P.[2], CTT v. Manoharlal
Heeralal Pvt. Ltd.[3] are different and not applicable to the facts of the
case.
10. The opinion of the tribunal, as expressed by the judicial member,
which is the final view of the tribunal, is that the trader was authorized
to purchase the natural gas for the manufacture of urea and it is
undisputed that it had manufactured urea by utilizing the natural gas
purchased against the issue of Form III-B. He has proceeded to state that
no action can be taken under Section 3-B on the ground that the products
utilizing the natural gas purchased against the issue of Form III-B were
sent through stock transfer without selling those directly, because Section
4-B of the Act cannot be extended to determine the responsibility under
Section 3-B. The judicial member has arrived at the said conclusion on the
foundation that Section 4-B has nothing to do with the fact that how the
notified goods are to be disposed of because the provision of Section 3-B
is not applicable in case the raw material is used for production of the
notified goods mentioned in the recognition certificate. The learned
member has expressed the view that the decisions in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. (supra) and Bareilly (supra) are fully applicable and the
case of the assessee is covered by the principles stated therein. He also
took note of the fact that the decisions in Camphor and Allied Products
Ltd. (supra), Bareilly (supra) and Manoharlal Heeralal (supra) have not
been assailed before the Supreme Court and, therefore, they are binding
precedents in the field. Eventually, the learned member came to hold thus:-
“In the present case it is established that the trader had utilized natural
gas purchased against the Form 3B in the production of the ‘Urea’. As
such, in my opinion, proceeding u/s 3B should not have been initiated
against the trader. The order which has been passed by the assessing
officer u/s 3B of the Act and which has been confirmed by the first
appellate court, are not justified.”
11. To appreciate the controversy in proper perspective and to scrutinize
the analysis of the departmental authorities on one hand and the tribunal
and the High Court on the other, it is necessary to scan the statutory
scheme and its real import. Section 3-B of the Act reads as follows:-
"Section 3-B. Liability on issuing false certificate, etc.-Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Act, and without
prejudice to the provisions of Sections 14 and 15-A, a person, who issues a
false or wrong certificate or declaration, prescribed under any provision
of this Act or the Rules framed thereunder, to another person by reason of
which a tax leviable under this Act on the transaction of purchase or sale
made with or by such other person ceases to be leviable or becomes leviable
at a concessional rate, shall be liable to pay on such transaction an
amount which would have been payable as tax on such transaction had such
certificate or declaration not been issued :
Provided that before taking any action under this section, the person
concerned shall be given an opportunity of being heard.
Explanation.-Where a person issuing a certificate or declaration discloses
therein his intention to use the goods purchased by him for such purpose as
will make the tax not leviable or leviable at a concessional rate but uses
the same for a purpose other than such purpose, the certificate or
declaration shall, for the purpose of this section, be deemed to be wrong."
[Emphasis supplied]
12. Section 4-B(2) and 4-B(6) of the Act which are relevant to the
controversy at hand and further on which the Revenue has laid immense
emphasis are extracted hereunder:-
“(2) Where a dealer requires any goods, referred to in sub-section (1) for
use in the manufacture by him, in the State of any notified goods, or in
the packing of such notified goods manufactured or processed by him, and
such notified goods are intended to be sold by him in the State or in the
course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the course of export out of
India, he may apply to the assessing authority in such form and manner and
within such period as may be prescribed, for the grant of a recognition
certificate in respect thereof, and if the applicant satisfies such
requirements including requirement of depositing late fee and conditions as
may be prescribed, the assessing authority shall grant to him in respect of
such goods a recognition certificate in such form and subject to such
conditions, as may be prescribed.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section,-(a) goods required for
use in the manufacture shall mean raw materials, processing materials,
machinery, plant, equipment, consumable stores, spare parts, accessories,
components, sub-assemblies, fuels or lubricants ; and
(b) ‘notified goods’ means such goods as may, from time to time, be
notified by the State Government in that behalf.
xxxx xxxxx
(6) Where a dealer in whose favour a recognition certificate has been
granted under sub-section (2) has purchased any goods after payment of tax
at concessional rate under this section, or as the case may be, without
payment of tax and the goods manufactured out of such raw materials or
processing materials or manufactured goods after being packed with such
packing material are sold or disposed of otherwise than by way of sale in
the State or in the course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the
course of export out of the territory of India, such dealer shall be liable
to pay an amount equal to the difference between the amount of tax on the
sale or purchase of such goods payable under this section and the amount of
tax calculated at the rate of four per cent, on the sale or purchase of
such goods."
13. It is submitted by Mr. Agrawal, learned counsel for the appellant
that recognition certificate is granted where a dealer uses the goods (raw
material) in the manufacture of notified goods by him in the State or in
the course of inter-State trade and commerce or in the course of export
outside India and the fulfillment of aforesaid two conditions is a pre-
requisite for claiming exemption, but in the case at hand, the assessee
though has purchased the goods at concessional rate by furnishing Form III-
B under Rule 25-B(1) has engaged itself in stock transfer and, therefore,
the penal provisions gets fully attracted. Relying on sub-section (6) of
Section 4-B, it is urged by him as no differential tax has been paid by the
assessee, certificate in Form III-B continues to be a false or a wrong
certificate as regards the purchase of natural gas and used in the
manufacture of urea, hence the penalty has been correctly levied. It is
his further submission that decision in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd.
(supra) is not applicable to the facts of the present case, for in the said
case the camphor manufactured by the assessee was transferred by way of
stock transfer outside the State of U.P. on which the differential tax was
paid in accordance with Section 4-B(6) of the Act, but in the present case,
no differential tax has been paid by the respondent, and such violation as
a natural corollary leads to the inevitable conclusion that the certificate
in Form III-B continues to be a false or wrong certificate. Lastly, it is
contended by him that the Division Bench of the High Court has not
correctly laid down the law in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra)
inasmuch as it has confined its consideration to the first part of
condition enshrined under Section 4-B(2) of the Act, whether the raw
material has been used in the manufacture or not, but has not considered
the second part, that is, the goods had been sold intra-State or inter-
State or exported out of India.
14. Mr. Tyagi, learned counsel for the assessee, per contra, would
contend that the respondent-assessee is engaged in the manufacture and sale
of fertilizer and as per the recognition certificate, it is entitled to
procure natural gas at a concessional rate and the respondent has procured
natural gas from two sources (1) from GAIL at a concessional rate against
Form III-B and (2) from outside the State from BPCL/GAIL at normal tax.
Learned counsel would submit that the respondent has disposed of urea by
local sale and has also transferred the stock to various States which have
been pursuant to and in compliance of Movement Orders issued by the
Government of India from time to time. He has referred to directions
issued by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers under the Fertilizer
(Movement Control) Order, 1973. It is urged by him that as per the
Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973 unless the Government of India
authorizes a manufacturer to make stock transfer of a particular quantity
of urea in a particular month, no urea can be transferred/sold from one
State to another. Learned counsel would put forth that the State never
disputed the stock transfers made under Fertilizer (Movement Control)
Order, 1973. Learned counsel would further propone that show cause notice
was issued under Section 3-B for alleged violation of Form III-B and it
cannot change the foundation to raise a fresh plea under Section 4-B(6) of
the Act. It is further urged by Mr. Tyagi that the pronouncement in
Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) is absolutely correct and, in
fact, it has been holding the field for considerable length of time as far
as the State of U.P. is concerned. To substantiate the contentions he has
raised, he has placed reliance on CCE v. Gas Authority of India Ltd.[4] and
SACI Allied Products Ltd. v. CCE, Meerut[5]. Though Mr. Tyagi has
contended with regard to limitation in exercise of revisional jurisdiction
and the bar on the part of revenue to accept the judgment on the same
question in the case of one assessee and question its correctness in the
case of another assessee and in support of the same has cited certain
authorities, we need not enter into the said arena, for what we are going
to hold.
15. In Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) the High Court took note
of the fact that the RFO and furnace oil was purchased against Form III-B
and the same was used in the manufacture of camphor and other goods
mentioned in the recognition certificate granted under Section 4-B of the
Act. It took note of the two earlier decisions in Commissioner of Trade
Tax v. Spox India and Allied Industries[6] and Arora Steel Udyog (P) Ltd. v
Commissioner of Trade Tax, U.P.[7] and quoted a passage from the latter
authority, which is to the following effect:-
"It is well-settled that proceedings under Section 3-B shall be initiated
only when the assessee issues a false or wrong certificate or declaration
provided under any of the provisions under the Act or Rules framed
thereunder. This view has been constantly taken by this Court in Sahni
Engineering Works v. Commissioner of Sales Tax 1994 UPTC 70, Commissioner
of Sales Tax v. B.K. & Co. Engineering Works, Agra 1995 UPTC 502 and S.G.
Industries v. State of Uttar Pradesh [1998] 108 STC 328; 1997 UPTC 616 of
this Court. Therefore, unless it was shown that the form III-B issued by
the revisionist were false or wrong, or the declarations made therein was
false or wrong, no proceedings under Section 3-B of the Act could have been
initiated. It is also not the case of the department that the assessee did
not use the goods purchased by him for the purpose for which exemption
certificate was granted to him. Therefore, the assessee cannot be deemed to
have issued a wrong certificate."
It also took note of the decision relied upon by the Revenue in Puri
Industries v. Commissioner of Sales Tax[8], which took a different view and
thereafter came to hold as follows:-
“28. The petitioner purchased RFO/furnace oil against form III-B for
manufacture of its final product, namely, camphor and other allied
products. Section 3-B clearly shows that it is the user of the goods which
is relevant for the purpose for which form III-B was given and not how the
finished product or manufactured goods are sold. Admittedly form III-B was
issued for use in manufacture of camphor and other allied products and
RFO/furnace oil for which the recognition certificate was granted. Hence in
our opinion the petitioner cannot be deemed to have issued any wrong or
false certificate and tax cannot be legally charged under Section 3-B of
the Act.
xxxxx xxxxx
31. In the present case RFO and furnace oil have admittedly been used in
the manufacture of camphor and allied products for which recognition
certificate was granted. Hence it cannot be deemed that the petitioner has
issued any wrong or false certificate. It is evident from the facts that
the petitioner has not issued any wrong or false certificate or declaration
in form III-B inasmuch as both RFO and furnace oil have been used for the
same purpose, namely, in the process of manufacture of goods, i.e.,
camphor, and another allied products.”
16. We have already analysed the statutory scheme and what has been dwelt
with by the High Court in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) and what
has been pressed into service by Mr. Tyagi. Presently, text and context in
detail. Section 4-B(2) is applicable to the dealer who manufactures
notified goods in the State or engaged in packaging of such notified goods
manufactured or processed by him. The said dealer can apply to the
assessing authority in such form, manner and within the time prescribed for
grant of the recognition certificate. The assessing authority can grant
the recognition certificate to the dealer in respect of goods used in the
manufacture of the notified goods or packing of the notified Goods.
Explanation to the sub-section defines the word “Goods” which means raw
materials, processing material, machinery, spare parts and also fuels. The
expression “Notified Goods” means such goods as notified by the State
government from time to time.
17. Sub-section (2) to Section 4-B also requires that the notified goods
should be “intended” to be sold by the dealer within the State or in the
course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the course of exports out of
India. The expression “intended” is significant and important. It refers
to the intention of the dealer after the goods are manufactured and packed.
The expression “in the course inter-State trade or commerce” is quite
broad and wide. An issue may arise as to whether the stock transfer
outside the State in terms of directions issued by the Central Government
can be considered as sale or transaction in the course of inter-State trade
or commerce. In the case at hand, we would not decide the said issue or
question, for it was not raised or argued before the authorities and can be
examined in an appropriate case when raised and considered. Be it noted,
sub-section (6) is a specific provision which deals with the case of the
dealer who has been issued the recognition certificate and has purchased
goods without payment of tax or at concessional rates, but has sold the
manufactured goods or packaged goods otherwise than by way of sale in the
State, or in the course of inter-State trade or commerce or export out of
India. The provision specifically deals with cases where the dealer
manufactures or packs the notified goods and has taken benefit of
lower/concessional or nil rate of tax on the raw material but is unable to
fulfill the intendment, i.e., he has not been able to sell the notified
goods by way of sale within the State or in course of inter-State state or
commerce or by way of export. In such cases, the dealer is liable to pay
the amount of difference on the amount of sale or purchase of such goods on
which concession or nil rate of tax was paid on account of issue of the
requirement certificate and the amount of tax calculated @ 4%. The sub-
section is a particular and a specific section which deals with and
specifies the consequences when the dealer is unable to meet and comply
with intendment. The sub-section (6) would, thus, be applicable.
18. Section 3-B undoubtedly commences with a non-obstante clause, but the
provision has to be read harmoniously with sub-section (6) to Section 4-B.
Any other interpretation would make sub-section (6) a dead letter, for if
we accept the plea of the Revenue whenever there is violation or failure to
abide with the “intendment”, Section 3-B would be invoked and applied, not
sub-section(6) to Section 4-B. Section 3-B would apply when a false and
wrong certificate or declaration is made. Sub-section (6) on the other
hand, deals with cases where the dealer is unable to comply with the
intendment, i.e., for some reason he is unable to sell the goods within the
State, export them or sell them in the course of inter-State trade or
commerce. Intendment of the said nature has not been treated as false or
wrong declaration as consequences have been prescribed in sub-section (6).
It is essential to be stated that consistency and certainty in tax matters
is necessary. In cases relating to “Indirect Taxation”, this principle is
even more important. Clarity in this regard is a necessity and the
interpretative vision should be same.
19. In view of the aforesaid analysis, we find the view expressed by the
tribunal which has been concurred by the High Court is absolutely
defensible and does not warrant any interference. Resultantly, the appeal,
being devoid of merit, stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to
costs.
…….……….............J.
(DIPAK MISRA)
….……………………..J.
(SHIVA KIRTI SINGH)
New Delhi,
October 28, 2016
-----------------------
[1] (2005 ) 139 STC 380 (All)
[2] 2004 UPTC 331
[3] 2006 NTN, Vol. 29 page 223
[4] 2008 (232) ELT 7 (SC)
[5] 2005 (183) ELT 225 (SC)
[6] 1998 UPTC 631
[7] 1999 UPTC 277
[8] 1988 UPTC 1197
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 10430 OF 2016
(@ S.L.P. (Civil) No. 28962 of 2013)
Commissioner of Commercial Tax, U.P. …Appellant
Versus
M/s Oswal Greentech Limited …Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dipak Misra, J.
Leave granted.
2. The respondent, a dealer registered under Section 8-A of the U.P.
Trade Tax Act, 1948 (for brevity, “the Act”), is a holder of a recognition
certificate as per provisions contained in Section 4-B of the Act. The
respondent used to make purchases of raw material at the concessional rate
of tax against Form III-B obtained by it from the office of the Trade Tax
Officer. As per conditions prescribed under Section 4-B(2) of the Act, the
notified goods manufactured out of the raw material produced at the
concessional rate of tax against Form III-B is required to be sold by such
manufacturer in the State or in the course of inter-State trade and
commerce or in the course of export out of India. It is also provided in
the said Section that if a recognition certificate holder sells goods
manufactured by it out of the raw material purchased at the concessional
rate of tax against Form III-B in a manner otherwise than prescribed under
Section 4-B(2), the said dealer shall be liable to penal action equal to
three times of the tax, thus saved by the said dealer on purchase made
against Form III-B.
3. At the time of scrutiny, the assessing authority noticed that the
respondent had made purchases of natural gas against Form III-B at the
concessional rate of tax, and after manufacture of the notified goods, that
is, fertilizers, out of the said purchases of natural gas purchased against
Form III-B, some of the finished goods were transferred outside the State
of Uttar Pradesh. The Revenue issued show cause notice to the respondent
for the assessment year 2005-06 and after considering the explanation
offered, imposed penalty of Rs.10,46.98,335/- vide order dated 28.03.2009.
Being aggrieved, the respondent preferred an appeal under Section 9 of the
Act before the Joint Commissioner (Appeals)-1, Commercial Tax, Bareilly
being Appeal No. 798 of 2009, and the appellate authority vide its order
dated 12.11.2009 dismissed the appeal and confirmed the order of the
assessing authority dated 28.03.2009 passed under Section 3-B of the Act.
4. The dismissal of appeal constrained the respondent to file a second
appeal (Appeal No. 237 of 2009) before the Tribunal, Trade Tax, U.P. (for
short, “tribunal”). Since there was difference of opinion in the Division
Bench of the tribunal, the case was referred to the Chairman of the
tribunal who nominated another Judicial Member for his opinion. The
learned Judicial Member gave his opinion in favour of the respondent. On
the basis of the opinion expressed by the nominated Judicial Member, the
appeal stood allowed as a consequence of which the order imposing penalty
was annulled.
5. Being aggrieved by the order of the tribunal, the Revenue filed Trade
Tax Revision No. 579 of 2011 under Section 11 of the Act before the High
Court. The question of law that arose for consideration before the High
Court was as follows:-
“Whether under the facts and circumstances of the case, the Commercial Tax
Tribunal were legally justified in granting the exemption on purchase of
raw material against Form III-B whereas the dealer has made a stock
transfer of finished goods which is not permissible under law?”
6. The learned Single Judge took note of the fact that the tribunal had
relied on a Division Bench decision of the High Court in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. v. State of U.P. & Ors.[1] and on that basis had come to the
conclusion that the assessee had purchased the material and used it in
manufacture and there was no violation of Section 3-B of the Act and
accordingly concurred with the view of the tribunal as a result of which
the revision stood dismissed.
7. We have heard Mr. Pawanshree Agrawal and Mr. Rajeev Dubey, learned
counsel for the appellant and Mr. Punit Dutt Tyagi for the respondent.
8. It is profitable to refer to the findings recorded by the assessing
officer. It has been held by him that under Section 3-B and 4-B(2) of the
Act, the finished product manufactured from the raw material purchased at a
concessional rate can only be sold in U.P. or in the course of inter-State
trade and commerce or can be exported out of country, but stock transfer is
not permissible. According to the assessing officer, the trader had
purchased natural gas at a concessional rate against Form III-B i.e. 20%
minus 15% = 5%, availing the benefit at the rate of 15% and paying tax at
the rate of 5%. The production of urea has been done by using the natural
gas obtained at a concessional rate and the manufactured product, that is,
urea has been sent by way of stock transfer outside the State in clear
violation of Section 3-B and 4-B(2) of the Act. It has been further opined
by him that the assessee had acted contrary to the provision of law by
purchasing raw material at a concessional rate and thereafter sending the
finished goods as stock transfer outside the State which does not come
under the term ‘sale’ and no revenue is generated by the State. Proceeding
further, the assessing officer has held thus:-
“The trader without acting under the provisions of the Section 3B and 4B(2)
of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, had caused loss of revenue to the
State. The State had lost revenue at the rate of 15% on the purchase of
raw material used in the produced goods sent as stock transfer, which could
have received had these were not purchased against Form 3B. Because the
tax has been paid at the rate of 5% against form 3B. Had the trader not
declared false declaration against Form 3B, and had acted as per the
provision of Section 4B(2), then the State Government could have got 20% as
Tax and 1% as development tax totaling 21%. The local purchase of natural
gas could have been made without form 3B. But the trader had not acted
under the provisions of Section 3B. The trader had not also acted u/s 4B
(2) which he had declared to act when taking the forms 3B. Hence, the raw
material purchased at a concessional rate were utilized in the
manufacturing of the notified finished product (Urea), but instead of
making any sale (within and outside the State) and without exporting those
outside the country, had made stock transfers, thereby had violated Section
4B(2) of the Act. By making false declaration u/s 3B of the Act, the
trader had only deposited tax on the purchase of raw material (Natural
Gas) at the rate of 5% only and availed the benefit of 15%. On the other
hand without taking any action u/s 4B (2) of the Act, had made stock
transfer outside the State, as a result of which had saved tax @ 7.5% apart
from the development tax on Urea. As such the trader was able to evade tax
@ 22.5% in an illegal manner and thereby had caused double loss of revenue
to the State.”
9. The appellate authority, as the order would reflect, has expressed
the view that the assessee, after availing the benefit at the concessional
rate, has violated the provisions contained in Section 4B(2) of the Act and
has been making stock transfers quite often. The appellate authority has
opined that the principle stated in the authorities in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. (supra), Bareilly v. State of U.P.[2], CTT v. Manoharlal
Heeralal Pvt. Ltd.[3] are different and not applicable to the facts of the
case.
10. The opinion of the tribunal, as expressed by the judicial member,
which is the final view of the tribunal, is that the trader was authorized
to purchase the natural gas for the manufacture of urea and it is
undisputed that it had manufactured urea by utilizing the natural gas
purchased against the issue of Form III-B. He has proceeded to state that
no action can be taken under Section 3-B on the ground that the products
utilizing the natural gas purchased against the issue of Form III-B were
sent through stock transfer without selling those directly, because Section
4-B of the Act cannot be extended to determine the responsibility under
Section 3-B. The judicial member has arrived at the said conclusion on the
foundation that Section 4-B has nothing to do with the fact that how the
notified goods are to be disposed of because the provision of Section 3-B
is not applicable in case the raw material is used for production of the
notified goods mentioned in the recognition certificate. The learned
member has expressed the view that the decisions in Camphor and Allied
Products Ltd. (supra) and Bareilly (supra) are fully applicable and the
case of the assessee is covered by the principles stated therein. He also
took note of the fact that the decisions in Camphor and Allied Products
Ltd. (supra), Bareilly (supra) and Manoharlal Heeralal (supra) have not
been assailed before the Supreme Court and, therefore, they are binding
precedents in the field. Eventually, the learned member came to hold thus:-
“In the present case it is established that the trader had utilized natural
gas purchased against the Form 3B in the production of the ‘Urea’. As
such, in my opinion, proceeding u/s 3B should not have been initiated
against the trader. The order which has been passed by the assessing
officer u/s 3B of the Act and which has been confirmed by the first
appellate court, are not justified.”
11. To appreciate the controversy in proper perspective and to scrutinize
the analysis of the departmental authorities on one hand and the tribunal
and the High Court on the other, it is necessary to scan the statutory
scheme and its real import. Section 3-B of the Act reads as follows:-
"Section 3-B. Liability on issuing false certificate, etc.-Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Act, and without
prejudice to the provisions of Sections 14 and 15-A, a person, who issues a
false or wrong certificate or declaration, prescribed under any provision
of this Act or the Rules framed thereunder, to another person by reason of
which a tax leviable under this Act on the transaction of purchase or sale
made with or by such other person ceases to be leviable or becomes leviable
at a concessional rate, shall be liable to pay on such transaction an
amount which would have been payable as tax on such transaction had such
certificate or declaration not been issued :
Provided that before taking any action under this section, the person
concerned shall be given an opportunity of being heard.
Explanation.-Where a person issuing a certificate or declaration discloses
therein his intention to use the goods purchased by him for such purpose as
will make the tax not leviable or leviable at a concessional rate but uses
the same for a purpose other than such purpose, the certificate or
declaration shall, for the purpose of this section, be deemed to be wrong."
[Emphasis supplied]
12. Section 4-B(2) and 4-B(6) of the Act which are relevant to the
controversy at hand and further on which the Revenue has laid immense
emphasis are extracted hereunder:-
“(2) Where a dealer requires any goods, referred to in sub-section (1) for
use in the manufacture by him, in the State of any notified goods, or in
the packing of such notified goods manufactured or processed by him, and
such notified goods are intended to be sold by him in the State or in the
course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the course of export out of
India, he may apply to the assessing authority in such form and manner and
within such period as may be prescribed, for the grant of a recognition
certificate in respect thereof, and if the applicant satisfies such
requirements including requirement of depositing late fee and conditions as
may be prescribed, the assessing authority shall grant to him in respect of
such goods a recognition certificate in such form and subject to such
conditions, as may be prescribed.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section,-(a) goods required for
use in the manufacture shall mean raw materials, processing materials,
machinery, plant, equipment, consumable stores, spare parts, accessories,
components, sub-assemblies, fuels or lubricants ; and
(b) ‘notified goods’ means such goods as may, from time to time, be
notified by the State Government in that behalf.
xxxx xxxxx
(6) Where a dealer in whose favour a recognition certificate has been
granted under sub-section (2) has purchased any goods after payment of tax
at concessional rate under this section, or as the case may be, without
payment of tax and the goods manufactured out of such raw materials or
processing materials or manufactured goods after being packed with such
packing material are sold or disposed of otherwise than by way of sale in
the State or in the course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the
course of export out of the territory of India, such dealer shall be liable
to pay an amount equal to the difference between the amount of tax on the
sale or purchase of such goods payable under this section and the amount of
tax calculated at the rate of four per cent, on the sale or purchase of
such goods."
13. It is submitted by Mr. Agrawal, learned counsel for the appellant
that recognition certificate is granted where a dealer uses the goods (raw
material) in the manufacture of notified goods by him in the State or in
the course of inter-State trade and commerce or in the course of export
outside India and the fulfillment of aforesaid two conditions is a pre-
requisite for claiming exemption, but in the case at hand, the assessee
though has purchased the goods at concessional rate by furnishing Form III-
B under Rule 25-B(1) has engaged itself in stock transfer and, therefore,
the penal provisions gets fully attracted. Relying on sub-section (6) of
Section 4-B, it is urged by him as no differential tax has been paid by the
assessee, certificate in Form III-B continues to be a false or a wrong
certificate as regards the purchase of natural gas and used in the
manufacture of urea, hence the penalty has been correctly levied. It is
his further submission that decision in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd.
(supra) is not applicable to the facts of the present case, for in the said
case the camphor manufactured by the assessee was transferred by way of
stock transfer outside the State of U.P. on which the differential tax was
paid in accordance with Section 4-B(6) of the Act, but in the present case,
no differential tax has been paid by the respondent, and such violation as
a natural corollary leads to the inevitable conclusion that the certificate
in Form III-B continues to be a false or wrong certificate. Lastly, it is
contended by him that the Division Bench of the High Court has not
correctly laid down the law in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra)
inasmuch as it has confined its consideration to the first part of
condition enshrined under Section 4-B(2) of the Act, whether the raw
material has been used in the manufacture or not, but has not considered
the second part, that is, the goods had been sold intra-State or inter-
State or exported out of India.
14. Mr. Tyagi, learned counsel for the assessee, per contra, would
contend that the respondent-assessee is engaged in the manufacture and sale
of fertilizer and as per the recognition certificate, it is entitled to
procure natural gas at a concessional rate and the respondent has procured
natural gas from two sources (1) from GAIL at a concessional rate against
Form III-B and (2) from outside the State from BPCL/GAIL at normal tax.
Learned counsel would submit that the respondent has disposed of urea by
local sale and has also transferred the stock to various States which have
been pursuant to and in compliance of Movement Orders issued by the
Government of India from time to time. He has referred to directions
issued by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers under the Fertilizer
(Movement Control) Order, 1973. It is urged by him that as per the
Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973 unless the Government of India
authorizes a manufacturer to make stock transfer of a particular quantity
of urea in a particular month, no urea can be transferred/sold from one
State to another. Learned counsel would put forth that the State never
disputed the stock transfers made under Fertilizer (Movement Control)
Order, 1973. Learned counsel would further propone that show cause notice
was issued under Section 3-B for alleged violation of Form III-B and it
cannot change the foundation to raise a fresh plea under Section 4-B(6) of
the Act. It is further urged by Mr. Tyagi that the pronouncement in
Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) is absolutely correct and, in
fact, it has been holding the field for considerable length of time as far
as the State of U.P. is concerned. To substantiate the contentions he has
raised, he has placed reliance on CCE v. Gas Authority of India Ltd.[4] and
SACI Allied Products Ltd. v. CCE, Meerut[5]. Though Mr. Tyagi has
contended with regard to limitation in exercise of revisional jurisdiction
and the bar on the part of revenue to accept the judgment on the same
question in the case of one assessee and question its correctness in the
case of another assessee and in support of the same has cited certain
authorities, we need not enter into the said arena, for what we are going
to hold.
15. In Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) the High Court took note
of the fact that the RFO and furnace oil was purchased against Form III-B
and the same was used in the manufacture of camphor and other goods
mentioned in the recognition certificate granted under Section 4-B of the
Act. It took note of the two earlier decisions in Commissioner of Trade
Tax v. Spox India and Allied Industries[6] and Arora Steel Udyog (P) Ltd. v
Commissioner of Trade Tax, U.P.[7] and quoted a passage from the latter
authority, which is to the following effect:-
"It is well-settled that proceedings under Section 3-B shall be initiated
only when the assessee issues a false or wrong certificate or declaration
provided under any of the provisions under the Act or Rules framed
thereunder. This view has been constantly taken by this Court in Sahni
Engineering Works v. Commissioner of Sales Tax 1994 UPTC 70, Commissioner
of Sales Tax v. B.K. & Co. Engineering Works, Agra 1995 UPTC 502 and S.G.
Industries v. State of Uttar Pradesh [1998] 108 STC 328; 1997 UPTC 616 of
this Court. Therefore, unless it was shown that the form III-B issued by
the revisionist were false or wrong, or the declarations made therein was
false or wrong, no proceedings under Section 3-B of the Act could have been
initiated. It is also not the case of the department that the assessee did
not use the goods purchased by him for the purpose for which exemption
certificate was granted to him. Therefore, the assessee cannot be deemed to
have issued a wrong certificate."
It also took note of the decision relied upon by the Revenue in Puri
Industries v. Commissioner of Sales Tax[8], which took a different view and
thereafter came to hold as follows:-
“28. The petitioner purchased RFO/furnace oil against form III-B for
manufacture of its final product, namely, camphor and other allied
products. Section 3-B clearly shows that it is the user of the goods which
is relevant for the purpose for which form III-B was given and not how the
finished product or manufactured goods are sold. Admittedly form III-B was
issued for use in manufacture of camphor and other allied products and
RFO/furnace oil for which the recognition certificate was granted. Hence in
our opinion the petitioner cannot be deemed to have issued any wrong or
false certificate and tax cannot be legally charged under Section 3-B of
the Act.
xxxxx xxxxx
31. In the present case RFO and furnace oil have admittedly been used in
the manufacture of camphor and allied products for which recognition
certificate was granted. Hence it cannot be deemed that the petitioner has
issued any wrong or false certificate. It is evident from the facts that
the petitioner has not issued any wrong or false certificate or declaration
in form III-B inasmuch as both RFO and furnace oil have been used for the
same purpose, namely, in the process of manufacture of goods, i.e.,
camphor, and another allied products.”
16. We have already analysed the statutory scheme and what has been dwelt
with by the High Court in Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. (supra) and what
has been pressed into service by Mr. Tyagi. Presently, text and context in
detail. Section 4-B(2) is applicable to the dealer who manufactures
notified goods in the State or engaged in packaging of such notified goods
manufactured or processed by him. The said dealer can apply to the
assessing authority in such form, manner and within the time prescribed for
grant of the recognition certificate. The assessing authority can grant
the recognition certificate to the dealer in respect of goods used in the
manufacture of the notified goods or packing of the notified Goods.
Explanation to the sub-section defines the word “Goods” which means raw
materials, processing material, machinery, spare parts and also fuels. The
expression “Notified Goods” means such goods as notified by the State
government from time to time.
17. Sub-section (2) to Section 4-B also requires that the notified goods
should be “intended” to be sold by the dealer within the State or in the
course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the course of exports out of
India. The expression “intended” is significant and important. It refers
to the intention of the dealer after the goods are manufactured and packed.
The expression “in the course inter-State trade or commerce” is quite
broad and wide. An issue may arise as to whether the stock transfer
outside the State in terms of directions issued by the Central Government
can be considered as sale or transaction in the course of inter-State trade
or commerce. In the case at hand, we would not decide the said issue or
question, for it was not raised or argued before the authorities and can be
examined in an appropriate case when raised and considered. Be it noted,
sub-section (6) is a specific provision which deals with the case of the
dealer who has been issued the recognition certificate and has purchased
goods without payment of tax or at concessional rates, but has sold the
manufactured goods or packaged goods otherwise than by way of sale in the
State, or in the course of inter-State trade or commerce or export out of
India. The provision specifically deals with cases where the dealer
manufactures or packs the notified goods and has taken benefit of
lower/concessional or nil rate of tax on the raw material but is unable to
fulfill the intendment, i.e., he has not been able to sell the notified
goods by way of sale within the State or in course of inter-State state or
commerce or by way of export. In such cases, the dealer is liable to pay
the amount of difference on the amount of sale or purchase of such goods on
which concession or nil rate of tax was paid on account of issue of the
requirement certificate and the amount of tax calculated @ 4%. The sub-
section is a particular and a specific section which deals with and
specifies the consequences when the dealer is unable to meet and comply
with intendment. The sub-section (6) would, thus, be applicable.
18. Section 3-B undoubtedly commences with a non-obstante clause, but the
provision has to be read harmoniously with sub-section (6) to Section 4-B.
Any other interpretation would make sub-section (6) a dead letter, for if
we accept the plea of the Revenue whenever there is violation or failure to
abide with the “intendment”, Section 3-B would be invoked and applied, not
sub-section(6) to Section 4-B. Section 3-B would apply when a false and
wrong certificate or declaration is made. Sub-section (6) on the other
hand, deals with cases where the dealer is unable to comply with the
intendment, i.e., for some reason he is unable to sell the goods within the
State, export them or sell them in the course of inter-State trade or
commerce. Intendment of the said nature has not been treated as false or
wrong declaration as consequences have been prescribed in sub-section (6).
It is essential to be stated that consistency and certainty in tax matters
is necessary. In cases relating to “Indirect Taxation”, this principle is
even more important. Clarity in this regard is a necessity and the
interpretative vision should be same.
19. In view of the aforesaid analysis, we find the view expressed by the
tribunal which has been concurred by the High Court is absolutely
defensible and does not warrant any interference. Resultantly, the appeal,
being devoid of merit, stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to
costs.
…….……….............J.
(DIPAK MISRA)
….……………………..J.
(SHIVA KIRTI SINGH)
New Delhi,
October 28, 2016
-----------------------
[1] (2005 ) 139 STC 380 (All)
[2] 2004 UPTC 331
[3] 2006 NTN, Vol. 29 page 223
[4] 2008 (232) ELT 7 (SC)
[5] 2005 (183) ELT 225 (SC)
[6] 1998 UPTC 631
[7] 1999 UPTC 277
[8] 1988 UPTC 1197
