Supreme Court: 'Spent earth' not dutiable post-1985 Tariff amendment.

COMMR. OF C. EX., CHANDIGARH-I Versus MARKFED VANASPATI & ALLIED INDUS.

COMMR. OF C. EX., CHANDIGARH-I Versus MARKFED VANASPATI & ALLIED INDUS. - 2003 (153) E.L.T. 491 (SC), 2003 AIR 3534, 2003 (3) SCR 480, 2003 (4) SCC 184, ... Issues:
1. Whether 'spent earth' is liable to excise duty post the 1985 Tariff amendment.
2. Whether a good becomes excisable solely by falling within a tariff item.
3. The applicability of the twin tests of 'manufacture and marketability' in determining excisability.
4. The impact of specific tariff entries on the excisability of goods.

Analysis:
1. The primary issue in this case revolves around the excisability of 'spent earth' post the 1985 Tariff amendment. The conflict arose due to differing interpretations by various benches of the Tribunal. The Larger Bench of the CEGAT held that 'spent earth' was not dutiable, leading to the appeals before the Supreme Court.

2. The Court focused on whether a good automatically becomes excisable by being included in a tariff item. The argument presented was that since 'spent earth' falls under a specific entry, it should be considered excisable. However, the Court emphasized the importance of the twin tests of 'manufacture and marketability' in determining excisability, irrespective of tariff classification.

3. Prior to the 1985 Tariff amendment, it was consistently held that 'spent earth' did not undergo a transformation amounting to manufacture. The Court reiterated that the mere presence of a specific tariff entry does not eliminate the requirement to prove manufacture and marketability. It was emphasized that duty should not be levied twice on the same product.

4. The Court referred to precedents to support its stance, highlighting that the mere inclusion of an item in a tariff entry does not automatically render it excisable. The burden of proof regarding manufacture lies with the revenue authority. The judgment dismissed the appeals, upholding the decision that 'spent earth' remains non-dutiable. The Court emphasized the need for evidence demonstrating a change in the nature of the product to justify excisability.