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Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. v. Asstt. Commissioner Of Commercial Taxes (Appeals) And Another
Factual and Procedural Background
The appeals arise from disputes over whether furnace oil is taxable under the Karnataka Tax on Entry of Goods Act, 1979. Three assessees—Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. (assessment periods 1982-85 and 1986-89), Vikrant Tyres Ltd. (1992-93), and Graphite India Ltd. (post-1998)—imported furnace oil into Karnataka.
Entry 11 of the original Schedule to the Act and, after the 1992 amendment, Entry 67 of the First Schedule, listed various “petroleum products” subject to entry tax. When tax was demanded from Indian Aluminium Company Ltd., it filed a writ petition before a Single Judge of the Karnataka High Court, contending that furnace oil was not covered. The Single Judge agreed (order dated 28-1-1992). The State’s appeal to a Division Bench succeeded on 28-6-1996, which held furnace oil taxable. The present civil appeals challenge that Division Bench judgment before the Supreme Court.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether furnace oil is included within Entry 11 (pre-1992) and Entry 67 (post-1992) of the Karnataka Tax on Entry of Goods Act, thereby attracting entry tax.
- Whether the expression “and others” in those entries enlarges the list of taxable petroleum products beyond the items expressly named.
- Whether the 30-3-1994 notification, which separately specified furnace oil at 2% tax, creates an ambiguity warranting a restrictive interpretation of the earlier entries.
Arguments of the Parties
Appellants’ Arguments
- The words “that is to say” render Entries 11 and 67 exhaustive; only items expressly named can be taxed.
- Furnace oil is not listed; therefore it is outside the scope of the entries.
- The phrase “and others” qualifies only the immediately preceding word “tar” and cannot be read expansively.
- The 1994 notification separately listing furnace oil shows legislative recognition that the prior entries did not cover it; a subsequent enactment may be consulted to ascertain legislative intent.
Respondent State’s Arguments
- Furnace oil is a petroleum product and falls within the general words of the entries.
- The phrase “and others” is meant to cover petroleum products not individually specified, including furnace oil.
- Specific exclusions of aviation fuel, LPG, kerosene and naphtha imply that all other petroleum products, unless expressly excluded, remain taxable.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court accepted that Entries 11 and 67 are exhaustive but found them clear and unambiguous. It reasoned as follows:
- Both entries embrace “petroleum products”. Presence or absence of the word “all” is immaterial; the category naturally covers every petroleum product.
- The words “and others” refer to petroleum products beyond those expressly enumerated. If those words did not extend the scope, there would have been no need to exclude aviation fuel, LPG, kerosene and naphtha for fertiliser use. Their explicit exclusion demonstrates the inclusive reach of the entry; absent exclusion, those products—and by parity, furnace oil—would be included.
- The legislature’s intention to tax furnace oil is underscored by the absence of any express exemption for it, unlike the specifically exempted products.
- The 30-3-1994 notification was issued only to overcome the impediment created by the Single Judge’s ruling then in force; it cannot create ambiguity where the statutory language is otherwise clear.
Holding and Implications
Appeals Dismissed. The Supreme Court affirmed the Karnataka High Court Division Bench, holding that furnace oil is a taxable petroleum product under Entries 11 and 67 of the Act. Consequently, entry tax levied on the appellants for the relevant periods stands confirmed. The decision clarifies that, save for expressly excluded items, all petroleum products are subject to entry tax; however, it establishes no new principle beyond statutory interpretation of these specific entries.
B.N Kirpal, J.— The common question which arises for consideration in these cases relates to the interpretation of an entry in the Karnataka Tax on Entry of Goods Act, 1979 (for short “the Act”) insofar as it relates to furnace oil.
2. In the three sets of cases, there are different periods of assessment which are involved. In the case of Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. (Civil Appeals Nos. 1896-99 of 1997 and 1900-03 of 1997), the two periods in question are 1982-85 and 1986-89. In the case of M/s Vikrant Tyres Limited (Civil Appeal No. 3697 of 2000), the period involved is 1992-93. In case of M/s Graphite India Limited (Civil Appeal No. 3696 of 2000), we are concerned with the period post-1998.
3. Under Section 3 of the aforesaid Act, tax on entry of goods specified in the First Schedule into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein can be levied at the rates specified by the State Government by notification. It is common ground that prior to amendment of the Act in 1992, there was one Schedule which specified the various items on which entry tax could be levied. Entry 11 of the said Schedule was as follows:
“11. All petroleum products, that is to say,—
Petrol, diesel, crude oil, lubricating oil, transformer oil, brake or clutch fluid, bitumen (asphalt), tar and others, but excluding LPG, kerosene and naphtha for use in the manufacture of fertilizers.”
4. When tax was sought to be levied on M/s Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. on entry of furnace oil, a writ petition was filed in the Karnataka High Court in which it was, inter alia, contended that the aforesaid entry did not permit levy of tax on furnace oil which was brought into Karnataka by the said assessee. The State of Karnataka took the stand before the Single Judge that furnace oil was lubricating oil and, therefore, covered by Entry 11.
5. By order dated 28-1-1992 the learned Single Judge came to the conclusion that furnace oil was not lubricating oil and, therefore, no tax could be levied on the said furnace oil which was brought into Karnataka.
6. An appeal was filed against the aforesaid decision before the Division Bench but during the pendency of the same by an amendment Act of 1992, the Act was amended. Instead of one Schedule, the amending Act provided for two Schedules. The First Schedule contained 102 items on which entry tax could be levied under Section 3(1). Item 103 in the First Schedule was a residuary item which enabled the imposition of tax on “goods other than those specified in any of the entries in this Schedule, but excluding those specified in the Second Schedule”. The Second Schedule which was inserted by virtue of the said amending Act contained a list of items on which tax was not leviable. In the First Schedule, Entry 67, corresponding to the earlier Entry 11, reads as follows:
“67. Petroleum products; that is to say; petrol, diesel, crude oil, lubricating oil, transformer oil, brake or clutch fluid, bitumen (asphalt), tar and others, but excluding aviation fuel, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene and naphtha for use in the manufacture of fertilizers.”
7. On 30-3-1994, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3, the Government of Karnataka by a notification specified different rates of tax in respect of entry of goods into Karnataka. Items 4 and 5, which are relevant in the present cases, which were inserted by reason of the said notification were as follows:
“4. Petroleum products, that is to say petrol, diesel, crude oil, lubricating oil, transformer oil, brake or clutch fluid, bitumen (asphalt), tar and others but excluding liquid petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene and naphtha for use in the manufacture of fertilisers. … 2% 5. Furnace oil. … 2%”
8. On 28-6-1996, the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court allowed the appeal of the State and set aside the decision of the Single Judge. The Division Bench came to the conclusion that the aforesaid original Entry 11 and the corresponding Entry 67 of the First Schedule after amendment in 1992 contemplated the inclusion of furnace oil in the said entry and, therefore, tax could be levied thereon. In these appeals, the challenge is to the said decision.
9. Learned counsel for the appellants have contended that use of the words “that is to say” both in original Entry 11 and in the new Entry 67 clearly indicated that the items mentioned therein were exhaustive. They further submit that neither of these entries mentioned furnace oil. It is contended by them that the words “and others” occurring in the said entries only qualify the word “tar” which precedes the said words and, therefore, furnace oil could not be brought under the category of “and others”. Reliance is also placed on the notification dated 30-3-1994 whereby in the Table providing for the rates of tax a specified entry of furnace oil was inserted. It was contended that in the case of ambiguity it is possible for the Court to look at the subsequent legislation in order to find out the legislative intent.
10. There can be no doubt that these entries, namely, original Entry 11 and the new Entry 67 were exhaustive. Learned counsel for the appellants are, therefore, right in contending as such. We, however, do not find any ambiguity in interpreting the said entries and, therefore, for this purpose it is not necessary for the Court to be influenced by the notification of 30-3-1994, the issuance of which can be easily explained.
11. Both these entries (Nos. 11 and 67) mention “petroleum products”: Whereas in Entry 11 the first words are “All petroleum products”, the word “All” is missing in the new Entry 67. This, however, will not make any material difference because petroleum products would clearly mean any type of petroleum product. The use of the words “and others” would, in our opinion, refers to petroleum products other than those which are specifically mentioned therein. What is, however, important is that the said entries specifically exclude aviation fuel, liquid petroleum gas, kerosene and naphtha for use in the manufacture of fertilizers. If the contention of the learned counsel for the appellants is correct that the words “and others” would not enable the inclusion of furnace oil in the said entries, then on the same parity of reasoning aviation fuel, liquid petroleum gas, kerosene and naphtha would also have to be regarded as not being included in the said entries and if this is so there was no need for their specific exclusion. The very fact that there is an exclusion clause, means that but for the said exclusion, aviation fuel, LPG, etc. would be included in the said entries and as they are not specifically mentioned they would be covered by reason of the words “and others”.
12. The said entries further show that the legislature never intended to exclude furnace oil from the levy of entry tax. Had the intention of the legislature been to exclude furnace oil, which admittedly is a petroleum product, then such an exclusion would have been indicated in the said entry itself as has been done in the case of aviation fuel, LPG, kerosene and naphtha for use in the manufacture of fertilizers. The aforesaid entries are clear and unambiguous and clearly indicate the taxability of any type of petroleum product except those which are specifically excluded by the said entries.
13. Coming to the notification of 30-3-1994, it is quite obvious that as on that day the judgment of the Single Judge in Indian Aluminium Co. case held the field and as a result thereof the State was unable to impose entry tax on the import of furnace oil into the State. The only way by which this could have been done, pending the outcome of the letters patent appeal, was to make a specific provision which it did by the said notification of 30-3-1994. The entries being clear, the subsequent notification of 30-3-1994, cannot be invoked for the purpose of creating ambiguity where none exists.
14. For the aforesaid reasons, we are of the opinion that there is no merit in these appeals. The same are, accordingly, dismissed.
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