M/S.BPL. LTD. vs. STATE OF A.P.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 4 CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 444-445 of 2001 PETITIONER: B.P.L. LTD. RESPONDENT: STATE OF A.P. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/01/2001 BENCH: B.N. KIRPAL & MRS. RUMA PAL & BRIJESH KUMAR JUDGMENT: JUDGMENT 2001 (1) SCR 195 The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KIRPAL, J. Special leave granted. The only question which arises for consideration in this case is whether Fully Automatic Washing Machine can be regarded as "electronic goods’’ so as to attract a lower rate of sales tax. The undisputed facts are that the appellants are manufacturers and dealers in television, audios, washing machines etc. and are registered dealers with the Sales Tax Department at Hyderabad. Though the appellants deal in both Semi and Fully Automatic Washing Machines, the present controversy is only with regard to Fully Automatic Washing Machines. Prior to 20th July, 1988, the me of sales tax leviable on the sale of Automatic Washing Machine was 10 per cent. On 20th July, 1988, by a notification issued in exercise of power contained in Section 9 of the Andhra Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1957, the rate of tax payable on the sale of "electronic goods’ as defined in the said notification was reduced to 2 paise in a rupee with effect from 1st July, 1988. This notification also exempted the sale of electronic goods from the levy of additional tax under Section 5(a) and surcharge on sales tax under Section 6(B) of the said Act. The term "electronic goods" was defined in the said notification as follows: "2. For the purpose of this notification, the term "Electronic Goods" means electronic systems, instruments, appliances, apparatus, equipment operating on electronic principles and all types of electronic components, parts and materials and include: (i) Consumer Electronics; (ii) Electronic test and measuring instruments; (iii) Medical Electronic Equipment; (iv) Electronic analytical instruments; (v) Electronic equipment/instrument for nuclear Geo-Scientific and other special application; (vi) Electronic process control equipment; (vii) Power Electronic Equipment; Electronic industrial Automation and Control equipment: http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 4 (viii) Electronic data processing systems and electronic office equipment; (ix) Electronic Broadcasting Equipment; (x) Electronic Aerospace and Defence equipment." The appellants claimed before the Sales Tax Authorities that its Automatic Washing Machines worked on fuzzy Logic Computer Program. In other words, Fully Automatic Washing Machines were micro-computer- controlled washing machines that actually worked on the principle, of auto selection of the various parameters. The entire work of washing the clothes, after the same were loaded into the machine, was carried out automatically, the machines being controlled and operated micro processor technology. Without accepting the contention of the appellants, the provisional assessment order for the period 1st April, 1994 to 31st March, 1995 was passed raising a demand of Rs. 8,83,143 as differential tax. For subsequent period also tax was demanded, but it is not necessary to go into any further details in respect thereof. The appellant filed appeals before the Appellate Assistant Commissioner but without success. The Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, on a further appeal being filed by the appellants also came to the conclusion that the Automatic Washing Machines would not be regarded as electronic goods. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh also decided the point in issue against the appellants. While disposing of the tax revision case, the High Court came to the conclusion that while the control panel of such machines was certainly electronic in the sense that it involved silicon chips and semi conductors, the washing machines themselves did not operate on principles of electronics. The washing machines, the High Court concluded, operated on the principle of centrifugal force, which is electro-mechanical in nature but not electronic and any amount of sophisticated control of machine installing micro-computer in the control panel could not make the machine electronic in nature. Hence, these appeals. The answer to the question arising in these cases depends upon the interpretation of the definition of the term "electronic goods". The said term is defined by the aforesaid notification. On a plain reading thereof, it means that systems, instructions appliances, apparatus and equipments which are electronic and operate on electronic principle would be electronic goods. All types of electronic components, parts or materials are also electronic goods as per the said definition. In addition thereto, sub-clause (i) of para 2 of the notifications specifically provides that in the definition of the term "electronic goods" consumer electronics are also included. What has to be seen is whether the automatic washing machines are electronic appliances or equipments operating on electronic principle. Mr. Kapil Sibal, the learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants contended that it should be so regarded. Mr. M.N. Rao, the learned senior counsel submitted that in addition thereto, the automatic washing machine was in any case an item which should be regarded as consumer electronics and therefore would be entitled to the benefit of the said notification. The keywords to our mind which appear in the said definition contained in the notification are "operating on electronic principles". In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, Tenth Edition, "electronic" has been inter alia defined as "having components such as micro chips and transistors that control and direct electronic currents". In McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (Sixth Edition). Volume VI at page 235 under the heading "Electronics" it is stated thus: "The branch of science and technology relating to the conduction and control of electricity flowing through semi- conductor materials or though vacuum or gases." Under the heading "Consumer Electronics " at page 237 of the said Encyclopedia, it is it is stated that: "Aside from the communications services of telephone, radio and television the consumer has available a wide variety of electronic devices and equipment which employ the detailed technology of the computer http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 3 of 4 industry," It appears to us that the underlying object of the State of Andhra Pradesh issuing such a notification was to give fillip to modem technology as a result of which consumer electronics or electronic appliances or equipment operating on electronic principles were to be charged lesser rate of sales tax. It is, no doubt, true that the action of washing machines can be regarded as being one which runs on centrifugal force but the operation or the running of these machines is completely controlled by the micro process technology involved in the said machines. It is not in dispute that the running of this machine and its functions are controlled by programmed micro chips. These micro-chips control and direct electric current in a programmed manner so as to enable the washing machine to carry out its functions. The operations which are automatically controlled in the working of the machines are that of (a) wash cycle, (b) rinse cycle and (c) spin/dry. It has been certified by the Indian Institute of Technology in the present case that the Automatic Washing Machine of the appellants has the facility of water level controlled delay program. It has various programs which are controlled through microprocessor chips. In other words what the said notification requires is that on item can be regarded as an electronic goods if its all functions which are required to be performed by that equipment or appliance ate performed or controlled electronically by micro-processor. Admittedly, in the present case the entire functioning of the washing machine is automatic. Data is fed into the machine and thereupon it is the micro processors which control and direct the carrying out of the various functions of the machine which results in the clothes being washed\ in the desired manner. We may here notice that on 1st June, 1989 the Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued a memorandum whereby the attention of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes was drawn to the list of electronic items prepared by the Electronics Corporation and it was stated in this memorandum that the Government had decided that the State List may be followed for the purpose of concessional rate of tax on the electronic goods as envisaged by the earlier notification dated 20th July, 1988. A copy of the said list has been filed in Court which mentions various type of electronic equipments falling under different heads. Under the heading of "consumer electronics", radio receivers, cassette tape-recorders, record changers etc. are mentioned and entry 1.65 reads as follows: ’’Other consumer electronic aids/products". The reading of this list clearly shows that even though some of these equipments or appliances performed different functions like reproducing sound, as in the case of radio receivers or tape-recorders, all of them are controlled or work with the help of chips or micro processors. Even though washing machine is not specifically mentioned as one of the items, it would fall under the category of "Consumer Electronic Product". Like a record player or radio, it works with the aid or micro processor and falls within the definition of "electronic goods" as contained in the said notification dated 20th July, 1988. It was submitted by the learned senior counsel for the respondent that washing machine is specifically mentioned in Item No. 38(iv) of the Schedule to the said Act. Therefore, it was contended that notification of 20th July, 1988, cannot apply because in the case of washing machine the rate of duty specified under entry 38(iv) is 10 per cent. We are unable to agree with this Contention for the simple reason that entry 38(iv) relates to electrical items including electrical washing machine wheras electronic items or products are referred to in entry 38(v), An electronic washing machine would come under entry 38(v) and the notification dated 30th July, 1988 would apply to all electronic goods including automatic washing machines of the appellants. For the aforesaid reasons, the appeals are allowed, the judgment of the High Court and all the decision of the authorities below are set aside. The appellants are held to be entitled to the benefit of the notification dated 20th July, 1988 with the result that subject to other conditions which they http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 4 of 4 may require to be fulfilled, the rate of sales tax payable in respect of the Automatic Washing Machines would be 2 per cent as prescribed by the said notification and thereafter as per notification dated 7th September, 1993 by which rate has been raised to 4 per cent. No order as to costs.