1993 (4) TMI 73 - SUPREME COURT

Whether "toilet soap" would be household soap within the meaning of Tariff Item 15(1) of the Schedule?

Held that:- As considered in the legal setting and commercial parlance we are of the considered view that "toilet soap" being of everyday household use for the purpose of the bath and having removed its separate identity which it enjoyed preceding amendment and having been not specifically included in "other sorts", it took its shelter in commercial parlance under "household". As stated if anybody goes to the market and asks for toilet soap he must ask only for household bathing purpose and not for industrial or other sorts. Even the people dealing with it would supply it only for household purpose. It may be true that household consists of soap used for cleaning utensils, laundry used for cleaning soiled clothes and soap toilet is used for bathing but household is compendiously used, toilet soap is used only by the family for bathing purpose. Individual preference or choice or taste of a particular soap for bath is not relevant. The soap "toilet" would, therefore fall within the meaning of the word "household" in sub-item (1) of Item 15 of the Schedule. The classification shall accordingly be adopted. The appeals are accordingly allowed. The cases are remitted to the primary authority to deal with the matters accordingly.