TMI Blog1998 (10) TMI 185X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rejected the appellants claim under Heading 84.35 as ancillary to printing machine on the ground that the said machine does not assist or take part in the process of printing and merely counts the papers. Hence the same cannot be considered as a machine for uses ancillary to printing. Hence it cannot be classified under Heading 84.35. The Assistant Collector approved the classification of the said machine under 84.59(i). 2. On appeal against the above Order of the Assistant Collector, the Collector of Customs (Appeals), Bombay, rejected the same by holding that the Catalogue showed the application in counting and batching of labels, business terms, calendar pads, cheques, computer cards, envelopes, leaflets, pads, tickets, legal documents etc. and as such the same cannot be considered as an ancillary machine to the printing. The said Order of the lower appellate authority is impugned before us. 3. Appearing on behalf of the appellants, Shri Gopal Prasad, learned Advocate has contended that counting of paper sheets before feeding to printing machine or after the printing of the sheets was a function which was ancillary to the printing. In this connection, he drew our attention ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... and press time spent on printing unnecessary overs or reprinting for shortages. Consider what inadequate quantity control is doing to your business - then take a look at what the Vacuumatic VICOUNT can do to help..." Count the cost of printing excessive overs. Count the cost of hand counting. Count the cost of reprinting shortages. Count the cost of departmental disputes. Count the cost of dissatisfied customers. Count the cost of shortages from the paper supplier." 6. This makes it clear that the paper counting machine in question is a machine for counting of papers after printing and accordingly, is a machine for uses ancillary to the printing. Explanatory Notes, while giving some instances under the Heading - Machines for uses ancillary to printing - give reference to stock or pile elevators, automatic feeders, sheet delivery mechanism, Folders, gummers, perforators and staplers. While explaining folders, gummers, perforators and staplers, it is written that these are often used, at the delivery end of the printing machine to fold and staple or stitch printed pages. As such, if the said can be considered as a machine for uses ancillary to printing, there is no ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... d including in the note. At the same time it is significant that it is required to be shown that only that machines can be treated as a machine for uses ancilliary to printing which is exclusively designed to operate with the printing machines. 12. From the description and particulars of the machine explained before us, we observe that there is nothing in the material on record to show that the item in question is exclusively designed to operate with printing machines. On the contrary from the pamphlet regarding vacuumatic vicount paper counters that these are machines of general use and not designed for particular goods or industries. 13. The fact that as a result of its use, affects the cost is immaterial. What is important is that the pamphlet itself indicates as follows :- The Vacuumatic VICOUNT can make an important contribution to the efficiency and profitability of printers and converters, large or small. The VICOUNT provides total counting accuracy for many different applications. - Book signatures - Business forms - Calendar pads - Cheques - Company and financial reports - Computer cards - Coupons - Envelopes - General stationer ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e imported was usable in printing where the printing machine had no counting mechanism. The machine could handle large volume of paper and was useful to the printers in printing the exact number of required copies. He referred to the pages 1287-88 of the Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (CCCN) Explanatory Notes - Volume 3 (Second Edition - 1966) and page 112 of the Import Export Policy, AM 1985-88, Volume I, and submitted that it was a machine designed to operate with printing machine. 16. Shri S.N. Ojha, JDR, replied that under Heading No. 84.35 machinery for uses ancillary to printing was covered, and that the reference was to the printing machine and not to the printing industry as a whole. He submitted that the learned Vice President had observed that the machine imported was not specially designed as ancillary machine to the printing machine. As regards the Import Policy, he submitted that only automatic sheet counting and tab inserting equipment was mentioned and that in the machine in dispute there was no tab inserting mechanism. He relied upon the following decisions : (i) Rollatainers Ltd. v. U.O.I. - 1994 (72) E.L.T. 793 (SC); and (ii) CC, Bombay v. Larsen ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e counting of the sheets and the printing of the sheets. 19. In Invoice No. 9616, dated 3-7-1985 by the suppliers, Sulby Vacuumatic Division, London, the supplier had shown the classification of the machine, under CCCN Heading (also known as BTN Heading) as Heading No. 84.59 which covers machines and mechanical appliance having individual functions not falling within any other heading of Chapter 84. Further, according to this invoice for import control purposes, the goods were covered by the import licence No. OGL-Appendix 1, Part B, Item 12(19) P. 105/104 while the appellants had referred to the Item No. 18 of appendix No. 1, Part B, of the Import Export Policy Control, 1985 - March, 1988, Volume I. It covers automatic sheet counting and tab inserting equipment. In the machine imported, there is no tab inserting mechanism. The role of the machine was over after counting and batching and the use of such counted and batched paper could differ from user to user. 20. I agree with the learned Vice President that the machine in question was correctly classifiable under Heading No. 84.59(1) of the erstwhile Customs Tariff. Sd/- (Lajja Ram) Member (T) MAJORITY OP ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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