Supreme Court of India
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P.versusM/S OSWAL GREENTECH LIMITED
- Citation
- 2016 INSC 7
- Decided
- 28 October 2016
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- DIPAK MISRA
Holding
Section 3‑B does not apply where the dealer uses raw material for the intended manufacture and fails to sell as intended; such a situation is governed by Section 4‑B(6), rendering the penalty under Section 3‑B unwarranted.
Summary
M/s Oswal Greentech Ltd., a holder of a recognition certificate under Section 4‑B of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, purchased natural gas at a concessional rate using Form III‑B and used it to manufacture urea. Some of the finished urea was transferred out of Uttar Pradesh by way of stock transfer rather than by sale. The Revenue issued a show‑cause notice and imposed a penalty under Section 3‑B, alleging a false certificate. The Tribunal, and subsequently the High Court, held that the dealer was authorised to purchase the gas and that Section 3‑B applies only to false or wrong certificates, not to a failure to sell as intended; the situation is covered by Section 4‑B(6). The Supreme Court affirmed this view, holding that the penalty under Section 3‑B was unwarranted and that the Tribunal’s order should stand.
Issues considered
- Whether the stock transfer of finished urea outside the State, without a sale, violates Section 4‑B(2) and attracts penalty under Section 3‑B of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act.
- Whether Section 3‑B can be invoked when the dealer fails to comply with the ‘intended’ sale requirement, or whether Section 4‑B(6) governs such cases.
- Interpretation of the term ‘intended’ in Section 4‑B(2) and its relevance to the liability for penalty.
Legislation cited
- Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, 1948s. 3-B, s. 4-B(2), s. 4-B(6)
Subjects
recognition certificateconcessional tax ratestock transferSection 3-BSection 4-Bpenaltyindirect taxationUttar Pradesh Trade Tax Actureamanufacture of notified goods
Judgment
[2016] 5 S.C.R. 851
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. A
v.
M/S OSWAL GREENTECH LIMITED
(Civil Appeal No. 10430of2016)
OCTOBER 28, 2016 B
[DIPAK MISRA AND SHIVA KIRTI SINGH, JJ.]
U.P. Trade Tax Act, 1948 - ss. 3B and 4B - Recognition
certificate - Concessional rate oftax-Assessee holder of recognition
certificate as per s. 4B - Purchase of raw material-natural gas at C
the concessional rate of tax against Form Ill B - Manufacture of
notified goods-fertilizers out of the purchases of natural gas
purchased - Transfer of finished goods outside the State of UP -
Imposition of penalty by the Revenue since.. the assessee made stock
transfer of the goods in violation of ss. 3B and 4B(2) - In appeal,.
tribunal held infav our of assessee - High Court upheld the said D
order - On appeal, held: Tribunal rightly held that the trader· was
authorized to purchase the natural~ gas for the manufacture of .
fertilizer and had manufactured fertilizer by utilizing the natural
gas purchased against the issue of Form JJI-B; and that no action
can be taken u/s. 3-B on the ground that the products utilizing the
E
natural gas purchased against the issue of Form JJI-B were sent
through stock transfer without selling those directly, because s. 4-B
cannot be extended to determine the responsibility uls.3-B - Section
4B has nothing to do with the fact that how notified goods are to be
disposed of because s. 3B is not applicable in case the raw material
is used for production of the notified goods mentioned in the F
recognition certificate - Section 3B would apply when a false and
wrong certificate or declaration is made - Order passed by the
tribunal was upheld by the High Court and is justifiable and does
not call for any interference.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court G
HELD: 1.1 Sub-section (2) to Section 4-B of the U.P. Trade
Tax Act, 1948 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
H
851
852 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 5 S.C.R.
A 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.
Sub-section (6) is a specific provision which deals with the case
of the dealer who has been issued the recognition certificate and
B
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
c 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. 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
D
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. [Para 17] [863-B-G]
1.2 Section 3-B undoubtedly commences with a non-
E 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 the plea of the Revenue
whenever there is violation or failure to abide with the
"intendment" is accepted, Section 3-B would be invoked and
F 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
G of the said na 111 re 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
H
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. MIS OSWAL 853
GREENTECH LIMITED
necessity and the interpretative should be same. The view A
expressed by the tribunal that the trader was autho_rized 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 111-B; that no action can
be taken under Section 3-B on the ground that the products
B
utilizing the natural gas purchased against the issue of Form 111-
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 Section3-B which has been concurred
by the High Court is absolutely defensible and does not warrant
any interference [Para 18) [863-H; 864-A-D] c
Camphor and Allied Products Ltd. v. State of U.P. &
Ors. (2005 ) 139 STC 380 (All); Bareilly v. State of
U.P. 2004 UPTC 331; CITv. Manoharlal Heeralal Pvt.
Ltd. 2006 NTN, Vol. 29 page 223; CCE v. Gas Authority
of India Ltd. 2008 (232) ELT 7 (SC); SAC/ Allied D
Products Ltd. v. CCE, Meerut 2005 (183) ELT 225 (SC);
Commissioner of Trade Tax v. Spox India and Allied
Industries 1998 UPTC 631; Arora Steel Udyog (P) Ltd.
v. Commissioner of Trade Tax, U.P. 1999 UPTC 277;
Puri Industries v. Commissioner of Sales Tax 1998
UPTC 1197 - referred to. E
Case Law Reference
(2005) 139 STC 380 (All) referred to Para6
2004 UPTC 331 referred to Para9
F
2006 NTN, Vol. 29 pg 223 referred to Para 9
2008 (232) ELT 7 (SC) referred to Para 14
2005 (183) ELT 225 (SC) referred to Para 14
1998 UPTC 631 referred to Para 15
G
1999 UPTC 277 referred to Para 15
1998 UPTC 1197 referred to Para 15
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 10430
of2016.
H
854 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 5 S.C.R.
A From the Judgment and Order dated 12.12.2011 of the High Court
ofJudicature at Allahabad in TTR No. 579 of201 l.
Pawan Shree, Rajeev Dubey and Ravi Prakash Mehrotra,
Advocates for the appellant.
Punit Dutt Tyagi, An)5it Parhar and Ambarish Pandey, Advocates
B for the respondent. ·
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
DIPAK MISRA, J. 1. Leave granted.
2·. The respondent, a dealer registered under Section 8-A of the
c 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 Ill-B obtained by it from the office
of the Trade Tax Officer. As per conditions prescribed under Section 4-
D B(2) of the Act, the notified goods manufactured out of the raw material
produced at the concessional rate of tax against Form III-Bis 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
E concessional rate of tax against Form III-Bin 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
F respondent had made purchases ofnatural gas against Form III-Bat 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 ill-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
G
the explanation offered, imposed penalty of Rs.I 0,46.98,335/-vide order
dated 28.03.2009. Being aggrieved, the respondent preferred an appeal
under Section 9 of the Act before the Joint Commissioner (Appeals)-!,
Commercial Tax, Bareilly being Appeal No. 798 of2009, and the appellate
authority vide its order dated 12.11.2009 dismissed the appeal and
H
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. M/S OSWAL 855
GREENTECH LIMITED [DIPAK MISRA, J.]
confirmed the order of the assessing authority dated 28.03 .2009 passed A
under Section 3-B of the Act.
4. The dismissal of appeal constrained the respondent to file a
second appeal (Appeal No. 237 of2009) before the Tribunal, Trade Tax,
U.P. (for short, "tribunal"). Since there was diffetence ofopinion in the
Division Bench of the tribunal, the case was referred to the Chairman of B
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 ofthe opinion expressed by the nominated Judicial Member,
the appeal stood allowed as a consequence of which the order imposing
penalty was annulled.
c
5. Being aggrieved by the order of the tribunal, the Revenue filed
Trade Tax Revision No. 579of2011 under Section I I 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 D
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 E
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. F
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
G
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,
I (2005) 139 STC 380 (All)
H
856 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 5 S.C.R.
A but stock transfer is not permissible. According to the assessing officer,
the trader had purchased natural gas at a concessional rate against Form
lll-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
B
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 oflaw 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
c 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
D 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
E got 20% as Tax and I% as development tax totaling 21 %. The
local purchase ofnatural gas could have been made without form
38. 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
F 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 ofraw
G 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%
H
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. MIS OSWAL 857
GREENTECH LIMITED [DIPAK MISRA, J.]
in an illegal manner and thereby had caused double loss ofrevenue A
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 B
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.
M(llto/wrlal Heeralal Pvt. Ltd. 3 are different and not applicable to the
facts of the case.
I 0. The opinion of the tribunal, as expressed by the judicial member, c
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 IIJ-8. He has proceeded to state that no action can
be taken under Section 3-8 on the ground that the products utilizing the
natural gas purchased against the issue of Form IIJ-B were sent through D
stock transfer without selling those directly, because Section 4-8 of the
Act cannot be extended to determine the responsibility under Section 3-
8. The judicial member has arrived at the said conclusion on the
foundation that Section 4-8 has nothing to do with the fact that how the
notified goods are to be disposed of because the provision of Section 3- E
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 F
Products Ltd. (supra), Bareilly (supra) and Manolwrlal 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 G
natural gas purchased against the Form 38 in the production of
the 'Urea'. As such, in my opinion, proceeding u/s 38 should not
have been initiated against the trader. The order which has been
' 2004 UPTC 331
3
2006 NTN. Vol. 29 page 223 H
858 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 5 S.C.R.
A 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
B 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
c 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
D 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.
E 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."
F
[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:-
G "(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 oflndia, he may apply to
H
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. MIS OSWAL 859
GREENTECH LIMITED [DIPAK MISRA, J.]
the assessing authority in such form and manner and within such A
period as may be prescribed, for the grant of a recognition
certificate in respect thereof, and if the appricant satisfies such
requirements including requirement of depositing l~te fee and
conditions as may be prescribed, the assessing authority shall grant
to him in respect of such goods a recognition certificate in such
B
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 c
(b) 'notified goods' means such goods as may, from time to time,
be notified by the State Government in that behalf.
xxxx xxx.xx
(6) Where a dealer in whose favour a recognition certificate has D .,
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 matefial are sold or E
disp9sed 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 F
or purchase of such goods.".
13. It is submi_tted by Mr. Agrawal, learned counsel for the appellant
that recognition certificate fa 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 G
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(l) has engaged itself in stock transfer and,
therefore, the penal provisions gets fully attracted. Relying on sub-section H
860 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 5 S.C.R.
A (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
B
said case the camphor manufactured by the assessee was transferred
by way of stock transfer outside the State ofU.P. on which the differential
tax was paid in accordance with Section 4-8(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
c that the certificate in Form lll-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 consid.eration 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
D
has not considered the second part, that is, the goods had been sold
intra-State or inter-State or exported out oflndia.
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
E 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
F various States which have been pursuant to and in compliance of
Movement Orders issued by the Government oflndia 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 oflndia authorizes a manufacturer to make stock
G 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 propane that show cause notice was· issued under Section 3-B
H for alleged violation of Form Ill-Band it cannot change the foundation
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. M/S OSWAL 861
GREENTECH LIMITED [DIPAK MISRA, J.]
to raise a fresh plea under Section 4-8(6) of the Act. It is further urged A
by Mr. Tyagi that the pronouncement in Camp/tor 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.-1 and SAC/ Allied
B
Products Ltd. v. CCE, Meerut 5 • Though Mr. Tyagi has contended
with regard to limitation in exercise ofrevisionaljurisdiction and the bar
on the part of revenue to accept the judgment on the same question in
the case of one assessee ~nd 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. c
15. In CamplwrandAl/ied Products Ltd. (supra) the High Court
took note of the fact that the RFO and furnace oil was purchased against
Form Ill-B and the same was used in the manufacture of camphor and
other goods mentioned in the recognition certificate granted unger,_Section
4-B of the Act. It took note of the two earlier decisions in Commissioner D
of Trade Tax v. Spox India and Allied lndustries 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 etfect:-
"It is well-settled that proceedings under Section 3-B shall be
initiated only when the assessee issues a false or wrong certificate E
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 F
this Court. Therefore, unless it was shown that the form Ill-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 G
by him for the purpose for which exemption certificate was
4
2008 (232) ELT 7 (SC)
'2005-(183) ELT 225 (SC)
6
1998 UPTC 631
7
1999 UPTC 217
H
'
862 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 5 S.C.R.
A 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 ofSales Ta.x8, which took a different
view and thereafter came to hold as follows:-
B "28. The petitioner purchased RFO/fumace oil against fonn Ill-
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
c are sold. Admittedly form lll-B was issued for use in manufacture
of camphor and other allied products and RFO/fumace 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.
D
xxxxx xxx.xx
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
E 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."
F
16. We have already analysed the statutory scheme and what has
been dwelt with by the High Court in Camp/tor 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
G 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
8
H 1988 UPTC 1197
COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAX, U.P. v. MIS OSWAL 863
GREENTECH LIMITED [DIPAK MISRA, J.]
packing of the notified Goods. Explanation to the sub-section defines A
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 B
goods should be "intended" to be sold by the deaier within the State or in
the course of inter-State trade or commerce or in the course of exports
out oflndia. 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
c
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 D
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 E
specifically deals with cases where the dealermanufactures or packs
the notified goods and has taken benefit oflower/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. F
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 G
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)
H
864 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2016] 5 S.C.R.
A 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
B
to sell the goods within the State, export them or sell them in the course
of inter-State trade or commerce. lntendment 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
c 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,
D being devoid of merit, stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to
costs.
Nidhi Jain Appeal dismissed.
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