2002 (6) TMI 113 - AT - Central Excise

Summary

Issues involved:
The inclusion of the cost of batteries in the assessable value of Uninterrupted Power Supply Systems (UPS) manufactured by the appellants.

Summary:
The appellants manufactured UPS and billed clients separately for systems cleared without batteries and for batteries purchased from other sources. The Assistant Commissioner confirmed duty amounting to Rs. 20,90,015/-, which was upheld by the Commissioner (Appeals) based on the inclusion of battery cost in the assessable value of UPS. The Tribunal examined relevant judgments, including one where the manufacturer supplied batteries as a trading activity. The Tribunal's decision in a similar case was cited, where the value of batteries was held includible in the value of UPS. The Tribunal also considered a case where the price was not included if batteries were not supplied from the manufacturer's factory but directly installed at the customers' premises. The appeal was allowed based on the logic of a previous order, providing consequential relief as per law.

This judgment highlights the importance of assessing the inclusion of additional components in the assessable value of manufactured goods, particularly in cases where components are supplied separately or from external sources. The Tribunal's analysis of previous judgments and the application of legal principles demonstrate the complexity of determining the assessable value in such scenarios. The decision to allow the appeal with consequential relief emphasizes the need for a thorough examination of all relevant factors in similar cases to ensure fair and consistent outcomes.