ORDER
T.K. Jayaraman, Member (T)
1. The appellants who are the manufacturers of Cigarettes of various brands use “Printed Gay Wrappers” in the packing of cigarettes packets. They procured the Printed Gay Wrappers from other suppliers and also got the same from job workers after supplying the plain paper and polycoated paper to them. On the basis of information gathered by officers of Anti-evasion, Hyderabad-III, Commissionerate, the department conducted investigation and came to the conclusion that the appellants were manufacturing and clearing Printed Gay Wrappers classifiable under sub-heading No. 4823.90 as other Article s of paper without payment of duty and without following the central excise procedures. Therefore three show cause notices covering the period from 23-4-01 to 12-6-02 were issued to the appellants. The Commissioner in his OIO 22/02 dated 30-8-02 decided that the appellants are the manufacturers of gay printed wrappers which are classifiable under chapter sub-heading 4823.90. Duty of Rs. 1,29,13,866/- was confirmed under proviso to Sub-section (1) of Section 11A of the Central Excise Act, 1944. A penalty of Rs. 1,07,50,285/- was imposed on the appellants under Section 11AC of the Act. Interest was also demanded under Section 11AB. Penalties under Rule 209G of the Central Excise Rules, 1944 and Rule 26 of the Central Excise Rules, 2001 were imposed on the following persons.
(1) Shri V.V.H.S. Vara Prasada Rao, Rs. 50,000/- under Rule 209-A
Finance Executive
(2) Shri K.N.V. Prasada Rao, Material Rs. 20,000/- -do-
Superintendent
(3) Shri Sumit Dey, Supply Chain Rs. 20,000/- -do-
Manager
(4) Shri Sai Sankar, Vice President Rs. 20,000/- -do-
(5) Shri M.M. Sami, Vice President Rs. 20,000-/- -do-
A penalty of Rs. 25,00,000/- was imposed on M/s. VST Industries under Rule 173Q of the Central Excise Rules, 1944 and Rule 25 of the Central Excise Rules, 2001. The appellants have strongly challenged the findings in the above OIO.
The following issues are involved in this appeal.
(1) Whether “Printed Gay Wrappers” are classifiable under chapter subheading No. 4823.90 as held by the Commissioner or under chapter 4901.90 as claimed by the appellants.
(2) Whether the appellants are the manufacturers of printed gay wrappers.
(3) Whether the appellants are liable to penalty under Central Excise Rules/Act.
2. The first question raised above is very decisive in this appeal. In other words, if the classification of the impugned goods is decided, all the other questions can be answered on the basis of the correct classification. The appellants claim classification of the product under chapter 4901 as products of printing Industry. If the appellants’ claim is accepted, then the products carry nil rate of duty and no duty can be demanded. The penalties imposed also will not be sustained. On the other hand, if the department’s position is upheld, the appellants would be liable to pay duty under Chapter heading 48.23 and also will be liable for interest and penalties, etc.
3. Smt. Shoba L. Chary learned JCDR appeared for the department and Shri R. Sasidharan, Sr. Advocate and Smt. L. Maithili, Advocate appeared on behalf of the appellants.
4. The departmental representative argued that the impugned products known as gay wrappers are products of packing industry and printing on them is merely incidental. In this connection she relied on the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Rollatainers Ltd. v. UOI [1994 (72) E.L.T. 793 (S.C.)]. Further it was contended that the Larger Bench of the CEGAT in Smit Enterprises v. Collector of Central Excise, Cochin [2000 (118) E.L.T. 69] has held that wrapping paper cut to size and shape will be classifiable under sub-heading 4823.19 of the CETA, 1985 and not under sub-heading 4823.90. Further reliance was placed on Tribunal’s decision in the case of Commissioner of Central Excise, Mumbai v. New Jack Printing Works Pvt. Ltd. [1997 (93) E.L.T. 78 (T)] wherein it was held that printed wrapping papers for wrapping Cadbury chocolates bars shall be classifiable under sub-heading 4818.90 and not as other products of the paper industry.
5. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Collector of Central Excise, Bombay v. Paper Print Products Co. [1996 (88) E.L.T. 317 (S.C.)] held that wrappers obtained by cutting unwaxed printed paper and used for packing are products of packaging industries and not products of the printing industry even though printed.
6. Learned Counsel for the appellants mainly relied on the decision of the CEGAT in the case of Web Impressions (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. CCE, Calcutta [2002 (141) E.L.T. 370 (Tri-Kolkata)] where in it was held that the same product namely printed gay wrapper is classifiable under sub-heading 4901.90 of the Central Excise Tariff Act as printed product and not under sub-heading 4823.90 as contended by the Revenue. The above decision of the CEGAT was challenged by the Revenue in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court [upheld the decision of the CEGAT classifying the goods as products of printing industry. Moreover she contended that the appellants are not the manufacturers of the impugned products and if at all there is any manufacture the job workers only should be liable.
7. On a careful consideration of the matter, we find that the classification of gay wrapper has already been decided by the Tribunal in the cases quoted above. The decision of the Tribunal in the Web Impressions case is based on another decision of the Tribunal in Paxwell Printers v. CCE, Bangalore [2000 (93) ECR 340 (T)]. Since the decision of the Tribunal has been upheld by the SC for classification in respect of the same product, in the true spirit of judicial discipline, we have to follow the same. Hence, we hold that the impugned product is classifiable under chapter 4901.90. In view of this, it is not necessary to go into all the other issues. When the impugned product is classifiable under Chapter 4901.90, no duty can be levied and the demand is liable to be set aside. The penalties imposed and interest demanded are also not sustainable. Hence all these appeals are allowed.