1990 (11) TMI 383 - HC - VAT and Sales Tax

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Classification of bearings for diesel engines under the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959.
2. Applicability of the "special excludes general" principle.
3. Validity of the Tribunal's reliance on the use theory for tax rate determination.
4. Binding nature of clarifications issued by the Board of Revenue and Government.

Summary:

1. Classification of Bearings for Diesel Engines:
The petitioner, an assessee under the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959, challenged the order of the Tamil Nadu Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, which taxed the sales of bearings for diesel engines at 13% and 9% under entries 3 and 55 of the First Schedule, respectively. The petitioner contended that these sales should fall under entry 111 of the First Schedule, which pertains to oil engines and parts and accessories, and thus be taxed at a concessional rate.

2. Applicability of the "Special Excludes General" Principle:
The petitioner argued that entry 111, being a special entry for oil engines and parts, should exclude the general entries 3 and 55. The court agreed, citing precedents from the Madras High Court and Gujarat High Court, which emphasized that a specific entry should prevail over a general one. The court noted that the bearings sold were specifically for diesel engines, and there was no evidence to suggest they could be used for other purposes.

3. Validity of the Tribunal's Reliance on the Use Theory:
The Tribunal's view that the tax rate should be based on the use of the goods was rejected. The court referenced the Supreme Court's judgment in Porritts Spencer (Asia) Ltd. v. State of Haryana, which stated that the use of an item does not determine its classification for tax purposes. The court also cited the Karnataka High Court's decision in R.N. Dongare v. State of Karnataka, which supported the principle that the specific description of an item should determine its tax classification, not its use.

4. Binding Nature of Clarifications Issued by the Board of Revenue and Government:
The petitioner presented clarifications from the Board of Revenue and the Government, which indicated that diesel engines and their parts should be taxed under entry 111. The court held that while such clarifications are not binding on the Tribunal or courts, they should not be ignored and can provide valuable guidance. The court cited several judgments, including those from the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh High Courts, which supported the view that administrative interpretations, though not binding, are significant aids in statutory construction.

Conclusion:
The court concluded that the bearings sold by the assessee should fall under entry 111 of the First Schedule, and the Tribunal's contrary view was unsustainable. The tax case was allowed, and the order of the Tribunal was set aside. The court emphasized that clarifications issued by the Board of Revenue and Government, while not binding, should be considered in interpreting tax provisions. The petition was allowed with no order as to costs.