1997 (12) TMI 642 - AT - Customs

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Applicability of exemption Notification No. 59/88-Cus. to fax machines imported in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) condition.
2. Classification of imported goods as parts or complete fax machines under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.

Summary:

1. Applicability of Exemption Notification No. 59/88-Cus.:
The core issue was whether the imported fax machines in CKD condition by M/s. Modi Zerox Ltd. (MZL) were eligible for the concessional rate of customs duty u/s Notification No. 59/88-Cus. The Assistant Collectors of Customs in both New Delhi and Bombay held that the benefit of the exemption notification was applicable only to complete fax machines and not to parts or components imported in CKD condition. The appellate authorities confirmed these orders, stating that the imported goods were parts and did not have the essential character of complete fax machines.

2. Classification of Imported Goods:
MZL argued that the imported goods should be classified as fax machines for the purposes of the exemption notification, citing general rules for the interpretation of the tariff schedule. However, the authorities maintained that the goods were parts and components for manufacturing fax machines and should be classified accordingly under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. The tribunal noted that the classification must be determined according to the terms of the headings and relevant section/chapter notes, and resort to general rules of interpretation is permissible only when the goods cannot be classified in terms of the headings and notes.

Conclusion:
The tribunal upheld the decisions of the lower authorities, concluding that the benefit of Notification No. 59/88-Cus. was not available to the imported goods in both cases. The appeals were rejected, affirming that the imported parts and components could not be classified as complete fax machines for the purposes of the exemption notification.