2024 (6) TMI 1460 - AT - Central Excise

Method of valuation for waste and scrap generated during the manufacture of BOPP films which is partly captively consumed in the manufacture of PP granules and partly sold to independent buyers - applicability of Rule 8 of Central Excise (Determination of Price of Excisable Goods) 2000 or Section 4 of Central Excise Act 1944? - HELD THAT - This Tribunal considering the very same issue in the appellant s own case for the previous period 2020 (1) TMI 757 - CESTAT AHMEDABAD held that as per the Ispat Industries Judgment 2007 (2) TMI 5 - CESTAT MUMBAI-LB for the purpose of captive consumption the value of transaction made through the outside buyer should be taken as assessable value. Conclusion - The provisions of Rule 8 of the Valuation Rules will not apply in a case where some part of the production is cleared to independent buyers. The issue is no longer res-integra. Accordingly the impugned orders are set aside. Appeals are allowed.

Summary

The core legal questions considered by the Tribunal in this case are:

1. What is the correct method of valuation for waste and scrap generated during the manufacture of BOPP films, which is partly captively consumed in the manufacture of PP granules and partly sold to independent buyers?

2. Whether Rule 8 of the Central Excise (Determination of Price of Excisable Goods) Rules, 2000, which prescribes valuation at 110% of the cost of production for goods not sold but used captively, applies in a case where part of the production is sold to independent buyers?

3. Whether the valuation of waste and scrap used captively should be done on the basis of cost construction method (Rule 8) or on the basis of the transaction value of similar goods sold to independent buyers (Rule 4 and Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944)?

4. Whether the demand for differential duty on valuation raised by the department is sustainable, including the question of limitation for such demand.

Issue-wise detailed analysis:

1. Correct method of valuation for waste and scrap used captively and sold externally

The legal framework involves Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944, which governs valuation of excisable goods, and the Central Excise Valuation Rules, 2000, particularly Rule 4 and Rule 8. Rule 4 concerns valuation based on transaction value of identical or similar goods, while Rule 8 prescribes valuation at 110% of cost of production for goods not sold but used captively.

The department contended that valuation of waste and scrap used captively should be done under Rule 8, i.e., cost construction method, as the goods were not sold but consumed in-house. The appellant argued that since part of the waste and scrap was sold to independent buyers, the transaction value of such sales should govern valuation for captive consumption as well, relying on precedents including a Larger Bench decision in the appellant's own case and the judgment in Ispat Industries Ltd.

The Tribunal examined the show cause notice and found that it accepted the waste and scrap sold to independent buyers and that used captively were the same, with no allegation or investigation to prove any difference in nature or quality. The invoices and descriptions of goods cleared for captive consumption and for sale to independent buyers did not indicate any difference in character.

The Tribunal relied on the Larger Bench decision in Ispat Industries Ltd., which clarified that Rule 8 applies only where the entire production is captively consumed, and not where part of the goods are sold externally. The Tribunal emphasized that the wording of Rule 8 ("where the excisable goods are not sold") indicates it applies exclusively to goods not sold at all. Since in the present case some quantity was sold, Rule 8 was held inapplicable.

Further, the Tribunal noted that Rule 4 should be preferred over Rule 8 because it occurs earlier in the sequential order of the Valuation Rules and leads to valuation consistent with Section 4 of the Central Excise Act. The Tribunal also applied the principle from the Supreme Court judgment in the appellant's own case regarding interpretation of valuation rules in harmony with the parent statute.

The Tribunal rejected the department's argument that the waste and scrap sold externally and used captively were different, due to absence of any evidence or investigation to that effect. The valuation based on transaction value of sales to independent buyers was therefore accepted as correct.

2. Applicability of Rule 8 in case of partial sale and partial captive consumption

The Tribunal analyzed the language of Rule 8 and relevant judicial precedents, including the jurisdictional High Court decision in Indian Drug Manufacturers Association v. Union of India, which held that Rule 8 applies only where goods are cleared exclusively for captive consumption.

The Tribunal held that since the appellant's factory cleared part of the waste and scrap to independent buyers, the goods were not cleared exclusively for captive consumption, thus Rule 8 did not apply. The Tribunal further clarified that the term "assessee" in the Central Excise Rules applies to a particular factory and different units of a company are separately assessed. Since the goods were not transferred to other units for manufacture on behalf of the appellant's unit, Rule 8 was inapplicable.

The Tribunal also emphasized a logical sequential application of valuation rules, giving precedence to Rule 4 over Rule 8, to avoid confusion and ensure consistency with the parent statute.

3. Sustainability of demand and limitation

The Tribunal considered whether the demand for differential duty on valuation was sustainable, including the question of limitation. It found that the department was aware of the appellant's practice of selling and captively consuming waste and scrap, and the appellant was discharging duty accordingly.

The dispute was a pure question of law regarding valuation method, which was contentious and ultimately resolved by the Larger Bench decision. There was no evidence of intention to evade duty by the appellant.

Accordingly, the Tribunal held that the extended period of limitation for demand could not be invoked, rendering the demand time-barred and unsustainable.

Significant holdings:

The Tribunal preserved the Larger Bench's crucial legal reasoning on the applicability of Rule 8:

"Where the excisable goods are not sold by the assessee but are used for consumption by him or on his behalf in the production or manufacture of other articles, the value shall be one hundred and ten per cent of the cost of production or manufacture of such goods." (emphasis supplied)

The Tribunal emphasized that Rule 8 applies only when the entire production is captively consumed, not when part of the goods are sold externally:

"If the intention was not to restrict the applicability of Rule 8 to cases where the entire production was being captively consumed, the Rule would have simply stated 'where excisable goods are consumed by an assessee himself or on his behalf in the manufacture of other articles' instead of preceding the above expression with the words 'where the excisable goods are not sold'."

The Tribunal also stated:

"The provisions of Rule 8 of the Valuation Rules will not apply in a case where some part of the production is cleared to independent buyers."

"The provisions of Rule 4 are in any case to be preferred over the provisions of Rule 8 not only for the reason that they occur first in the sequential order of the Valuation Rules but also for the reason that in a case where both the rules are applicable, the application of Rule 4 will lead to a determination of a value which will be more consistent and in accordance with the parent statutory provisions of Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944."

On limitation, the Tribunal held:

"Since the issue was contentious on the dispute of valuation in case of captive consumption the same was resolved by the Larger Bench of this tribunal... it cannot be said that the appellant had any intention to evade payment of Excise Duty. Accordingly, the extended period of demand was also not invocable."

Ultimately, the Tribunal set aside the impugned orders and allowed the appeals, holding that the appellant's valuation method based on transaction value of sales to independent buyers was correct and that the department's demand was unsustainable both on merits and limitation grounds.