Single-point sales tax entry: cutting iron and steel plates into smaller pieces did not change their commercial identity or form.

Sheet cuttings and plate cuttings of iron and steel were treated as retaining the same commercial identity as the plates directly produced by the rolling mill. Mere cutting into smaller sizes was held to change only size, not form, and did not create a new commodity or destroy the goods' character under the single-point sales tax entry. On that reasoning, the cuttings continued to qualify as goods sold in the same form, supporting exemption as a second sale and rendering multi-point taxation unsustainable.

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Issues: Whether sheet cuttings and plate cuttings sold by the assessee retained the same form in which iron plates and steel plates were directly produced by the rolling mill so as to fall within the single-point entry in the Second Schedule.

Analysis: The qualifying words in the entry were construed in their natural sense and in harmony with the scheme of single-point taxation. The cutting of iron and steel plates into smaller sizes did not alter their commercial identity or convert them into a different commodity; it involved only a change in size and not in form. The distinction between mere processing that preserves identity and transformation into a new commercial product was applied, and the contrary view treating any cutting as loss of form was rejected.

Conclusion: The sheet cuttings and plate cuttings remained goods sold in the same form in which they were directly produced by the rolling mill. The assessee was entitled to exemption as a second sale, and the assessment restoring multi-point taxation was unsustainable.

Final Conclusion: The appeal succeeded, the appellate authority's order was restored, and the assessee obtained relief on the disputed turnover.

Ratio Decidendi: Under a single-point sales tax entry, mere cutting of iron or steel plates into smaller pieces does not destroy their commercial identity or change their form if they continue to be the same goods as directly produced by the rolling mill.

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