Inclusion of Packing Charges in Taxable Turnover Upheld, Rejecting Exclusion Claim

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. Versus State of Tamil Nadu

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. Versus State of Tamil Nadu - [1991] 83 STC 442 (Mad) Issues:
1. Exclusion of packing charges, labour charges, and excise duty from taxable turnover.
2. Interpretation of the definition of 'sale price' under the Central Sales Tax Act.
3. Determination of whether packing charges and labour charges for packing are eligible for exemption.

Detailed Analysis:
1. The judgment pertains to a case involving the exclusion of packing charges, labour charges, and excise duty from the taxable turnover for three assessment years. The excise duty claim for 1975-76 was not disputed, leading to its omission from consideration. The assessing authority included packing and labour charges in the turnover, considering them as forming part of the sale price under the Central Sales Tax Act. The Appellate Assistant Commissioner and the Tribunal upheld this assessment, emphasizing that packing charges are incurred before or at the time of delivery, constituting pre-sale charges. The Tribunal noted the absence of evidence proving that packing charges were incurred post-sale. The petitioner contested this decision, arguing for the exclusion of these charges.

2. The crux of the issue lies in interpreting the definition of 'sale price' under the Central Sales Tax Act. The petitioner relied on previous case law to support their claim for deducting packing and labour charges from the turnover. However, the court emphasized that the sale agreement in this case involved delivery at the despatching railway station, where goods were packed in gunny bags before sale. The court concluded that the packing charges and labour charges for packing are integral to the sale price, falling within the ambit of the Act's definition. The court rejected the argument that separate invoicing of packing charges entitles the petitioner to deduction under the Act's exclusion clause.

3. The judgment references precedents such as Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. and Deputy Commissioner of Sales Tax v. Raja Oil Mills to support the inclusion of packing charges in the taxable turnover. The court highlighted the necessity of packing materials for delivering goods in a sale agreement, emphasizing that such charges are part of the consideration for the sale of goods. Ultimately, the court upheld the concurrent findings of the lower authorities, dismissing the petitioner's revisions and ruling in favor of including packing and labour charges in the taxable turnover for all three assessment years. The judgment concludes with the dismissal of the petitions, with no order as to costs.