1993 (6) TMI 171 - AT - Central Excise

Issues Involved:
1. Inclusion of notional interest on interest-free deposits in the assessable value.
2. Validity of the price lists submitted by the appellant.
3. Differential duty demands based on revised assessable values.
4. Applicability of previous judgments and legal precedents.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Inclusion of Notional Interest on Interest-Free Deposits in the Assessable Value:
The appellant, engaged in the manufacture of aluminum products, collected interest-free trade deposits and advances from their dealers/customers. The Assistant Collector, Central Excise, Jaipur, contended that the notional interest on these deposits should be included in the assessable value of the goods, as it constituted an indirect consideration for the sale. The Assistant Collector calculated the notional interest at 18% per annum and added it to the assessable value, leading to a revised price list approval.

The appellant argued that the deposits were merely security against goods supplied and had no impact on the sale prices, which were uniform for all dealers, regardless of whether they made deposits. The appellant cited various legal precedents to support their claim that the notional interest should not be included in the assessable value.

The Tribunal noted that there was no evidence of price depression due to the deposits and that the prices charged to dealers who did not make deposits were the same as those who did. The Tribunal referred to the Madras High Court's decision in Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd. v. Union of India, which emphasized the need for a factual assessment to determine if deposits/advances influenced the sale price.

2. Validity of the Price Lists Submitted by the Appellant:
The appellant submitted price lists in Form Part-I and Part-II, disclosing the collection of trade deposits and advances. The Assistant Collector approved the price lists after adding the notional interest to the assessable value. The appellant maintained that the contracted price was the basis for the assessable value and that the deposits did not alter the price of the goods.

The Tribunal found that the Assistant Collector did not dispute the uniformity of sale prices and that the deposits were meant to secure the appellant's interests. The Tribunal concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the deposits influenced the sale prices.

3. Differential Duty Demands Based on Revised Assessable Values:
The Assistant Collector issued multiple Show Cause Notices demanding differential duty based on the revised assessable values, which included the notional interest on deposits. The appellant consistently added 0.51% to the assessable value, while the Assistant Collector demanded higher percentages based on the increased deposits.

The Tribunal observed that there was no evidence to support the claim that the deposits led to a depression in sale prices. The Tribunal referred to the Supreme Court's decision in Hindustan Polymers v. Collector of Central Excise, which stated that percentages of sales do not affect the determination of assessable value.

4. Applicability of Previous Judgments and Legal Precedents:
The appellant and the respondent cited various legal precedents to support their arguments. The Tribunal referred to several cases, including Indian Oxygen Ltd., V.S.T. Industries, and Lily Foam Industries Pvt. Ltd., to analyze the relevance of notional interest in the assessable value.

The Tribunal concluded that the facts of the present case did not support the inclusion of notional interest in the assessable value. The Tribunal emphasized that there was no evidence of price depression due to the deposits and that the deposits were not used as working capital.

Conclusion:
The Tribunal allowed both appeals, setting aside the Order-in-Appeals and the demands for differential duty. The Tribunal held that the notional interest on interest-free deposits did not influence the sale price and, therefore, should not be included in the assessable value. The Tribunal ordered consequential relief to the appellant, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11B of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944.

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