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1989 DIGILAW 240 (MAD)

South India Automotive Corporation Private Limited v. State of Tamil Nadu

1989-04-03

MOHAN, VENKATASWAMY

body1989
Judgment :- S. MOHAN, OFFG. C.J. The short question in all these cases is whether the body built the chassis of station wagon or autorickshaws which had already suffered sales tax is liable to be taxed in terms of Schedule I item 3 of the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act as it stood prior to the amendment ? The contention of Mr. Govindswaminadhan, learned counsel for the petitioners, is that the body built to be fitted on the chassis has already suffered sales tax and, therefore, there is no scope for taxation again. This contention was overruled by the assessing authority as well as the Tribunal on going through the various invoices produced. What is now urged before us is that in so far as the petitioners have to supply only the finished product as a motor vehicle namely station wagon or autorickshaw, if the chassis alone is supplied and the body is build by somebody else on which chassis the body is fitted, there cannot be any liability for sales tax. The contract is for supply of finished product namely station wagon or autorickshaw. The Tribunal erred in relying on the decision in Rane (Madras) Ltd. v. State of Kerala 1968 (21) STC 420, 1967 KLT 890 (Ker) [FB]. This is the only contention raised before us. We have very carefully considered the argument. In this case, admittedly, the contracts with the purchasers were not produced by the assessee. By way of sample we will only reproduce the invoice : "SOUTH INDIA AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION PRIVATE LTD., 24, WHITES ROAD, MADRAS - 600 014. No. L. 1380. Dt. 15-4-1970 M/s. Ravin Trading Co., 193, Mount Road, Madras-2. Particulars Amount Lambretta LI 175 Model Scooter/ 3 Wheeler Van bearing Engine No. 003646 Frame No. 003485. Registration No. MSL. 702 complete with all tools and equipments 4, 234.11 Extra cost for speedometer 82.00 Excise duty 446.56 Spare wheel tyre and tube with bracket 95.86 Locally built cab with windscreen 846.82 Surcharge 162.25 Transport charges from Bombay to Madras including transit insurance, clearing charges, etc. 265.006, 132.60 Sales tax 15% 919.80 Registration 15.00 Painting No. Plates 10.00 Cost of body building 1, 805.50 Total 8, 883.00 (Rupees eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-three only) For South India Automotive Corporation P. Ltd. (Sd) ...... Office Manager (TRUE COPY) INVOICE ORIGINAL ANNAMALAI AUTO SERVICE, MADRAS-1 No. AR. 265.006, 132.60 Sales tax 15% 919.80 Registration 15.00 Painting No. Plates 10.00 Cost of body building 1, 805.50 Total 8, 883.00 (Rupees eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-three only) For South India Automotive Corporation P. Ltd. (Sd) ...... Office Manager (TRUE COPY) INVOICE ORIGINAL ANNAMALAI AUTO SERVICE, MADRAS-1 No. AR. 504 10-4-1970 M/s. South India Automotive Corporation Pvt. Ltd., 24, Whites Road, Madras-14. As per your purchase Order No. 770, dt. 9-3-1970 Part No. Amount Construction charges of an open type van body on one Lambretta three wheeler chassis bearing the Engine No. 003646 Chassis No. 003485 1, 300.00 1, 300.00 Sales tax 13% 139.00 1, 469.00 (Rupees one thousand four hundred and sixty-nine only). (TRUE COPY) On this basis it was argued that the body having suffered sales tax, there is no possibility of taxing it over again. We are afraid, it is not the way to look at the matter at all. As rightly pointed out by the Tribunal, the contract is for the delivery of station wagon or autorickshaw. It is worthwhile to quote verbatim the order of the Tribunal which is as follows :" * In the cases wherever they were produced, the orders were for supply of finished van or autorickshaw. There was no specific agreement for the supply of a chassis separately and then to construct a body on it. In fact, in certain cases, where the customer placed order for chassis of three wheelers, the appellants stated that they did not entertain orders for chassis and got the orders amended. In certain cases, where the customer replaced orders for autorickshaws but subsequently on account of delay in supply, wanted only chassis, the appellants kept silent over such letters and supplied only autorickshaws after collecting the full agreed price. The letter written to the customers in some cases indicate that even after the cost of chassis was collected as advance payment and the bodies were built, the appellants retained the right of allotting the autorickshaws to the next person in the priority list if the full payment was not made and delivery taken within two weeks of the intimation. Where the cost of the chassis was collected it was treated as advance against the value of the finished van or autorickshaw. Where the cost of the chassis was collected it was treated as advance against the value of the finished van or autorickshaw. The chassis were allotted and sent to the body builders in some cases after the full payment was realised and in some cases even before any part payment was received. Thus the allotment of chassis had no relationship with the payment of the value of the chassis. At the time when the customers placed their orders, the appellants were not in possession of the chassis. The chassis were received from the manufacturers long after the orders were booked by the appellants. In every case, the intimation sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Licensing), Madras under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act revealed that there was sale of a finished vehicle." As rightly pointed out by the Tribunal there are no materials to support the contention as advanced before us that the sale of the chassis and the construction of the body are two different transactions. Orders of the customers were only for finished vans. If, this be the factual position, the fact that the body had suffered tax earlier is of no consequence. The question is whether the sale was of the finished vehicle or that of two independent goods namely the chassis and body. In this connection the ruling in Rane (Madras) Ltd. v. State of Kerala 1982 (21) STC 420 (Ker) [FB] becomes very relevant, and rightly it was relied on by the Tribunal. We are unable to see any infirmity in the order. The tax revision cases are dismissed. No costs.