2000 (3) TMI 457 - AT - Central Excise

Summary

Issues Involved:
The judgment addresses the issue of whether combining two components of a product constitutes "manufacture" under Section XVI, specifically analyzing the addition of a pre-filter to a water purifier.

Details of the Judgment:

Issue 1: Manufacture of Product
The appellant, a company marketing the "Aquaguard" product, combines a water purifier unit with a pre-filter before sale. The Commissioner deemed this activity as manufacturing, creating a new product. The appellant argued that the pre-filter merely enhances the main unit's function of filtration and purification, citing technical reports and brochures. The Tribunal analyzed the utility of the pre-filter and concluded that the Aquaguard unit, as received from the manufacturer, is complete and capable of functioning without the pre-filter. Therefore, the addition of the pre-filter does not amount to manufacturing under Section XVI.

Issue 2: Legal Precedents
The department relied on legal precedents, including a Supreme Court judgment, to support the view that the addition of the pre-filter changes the nature of the product. However, the Tribunal distinguished the facts of those cases from the present situation, emphasizing that the pre-filter's inclusion does not alter the essential function or marketability of the Aquaguard unit.

Issue 3: Classification and Tariff
The Tribunal clarified that for tariff classification purposes, the activity of combining the pre-filter with the water purifier does not meet the criteria for manufacturing. The Tribunal highlighted that the pre-filter does not significantly change the essential function of the Aquaguard unit, which is capable of both filtration and purification without the additional component.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Tribunal allowed the appeal, setting aside the Commissioner's order that considered the combining of the pre-filter with the water purifier as manufacturing. The judgment emphasized that the Aquaguard unit, as received from the manufacturer, is complete and functional without the pre-filter, and therefore, the addition of the pre-filter does not constitute a new commercially distinct product.