Page 170 - GSTL_3rd September 2020_Vol 40_Part 1
P. 170

104                           GST LAW TIMES                      [ Vol. 40
                                                  o   It is settled law that clauses in the agreement should be read
                                                      as a whole and not in isolation to understand the tenor and
                                                      intention of the contracting parties.
                                                  o   The Appellant had explained in their  application  about the
                                                      civil works on which the Appellant does not intend to claim
                                                      credit. The Appellant further made submissions that it is only
                                                      Package III rail network that is outside the factory which has
                                                      been duly recorded in Para 4 of the Order.
                                                  o   The Appellant draws attention the scope of work given pack-
                                                      age-wise in their submissions dated 13-3-2019.
                                                  o   Denial of credit only on the ground the contract involves civil
                                                      work is  unsustainable. Basis the above  table, it  is clear that
                                                      the contract is for railway siding works and apart from the
                                                      civil works involved in the contract, the Appellant is eligible
                                                      to take credit of taxes paid by it.
                                            (h)  That, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Jayaswal Neco Ltd.
                                                 [2015 (319) E.L.T. 247 (S.C.)] has held that Railway track was han-
                                                 dling system for raw material and processed material. Their use in-
                                                 side plant formed process of manufacturing. It was integral part of
                                                 process as without activity for which railway tracks are used, manu-
                                                 facturing/commercial production of  pig iron was not possible.
                                                 Hence, railway track was capital goods, on which assessee was enti-
                                                 tled to take credit of duty paid by them. The relevant Para is quoted
                                                 below for your reference :
                                                  “18.  We find from the order of the Commissioner that in spite of
                                                  taking note of the aforesaid use of the railway tracks and accepting
                                                  the same as correct, the Commissioner denied the relief to the ap-
                                                  pellant on an extraneous ground, i.e., railway tracks were used for
                                                  other purposes as well, namely,  apart from conveying hot metal
                                                  and hot pigs, it was used for carrying raw materials and finished
                                                  goods as well. This can hardly be a ground to deny the relief inas-
                                                  much as by incidental use of the railway tracks for some other in-
                                                  nocuous purpose, it does not lose the character of being an integral
                                                  part of the manufacturing process. The Commissioner has further
                                                  observed in his order that the railway track is not utilized directly
                                                  or indirectly for producing or processing of goods or bringing about
                                                  any change for manufacture of final product. This conclusion, obvi-
                                                  ously,  is  completely erroneous and amounts  to misreading of the
                                                  process. Such an error has occurred because the Commissioner did
                                                  not keep in mind the principle of law laid down by this Court in
                                                  M/s. J.K. Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills Co. Ltd.’s case, highlighted
                                                  above.
                                            (i)  When we read the order of the CEGAT, we find that CEGAT has
                                                 not even adverted to and examined the issue from the aforesaid an-
                                                 gle, which  was the only method for arriving  at a  finding as to
                                                 whether the railway tracks installed within the plant would come
                                                 within the definition of capital goods under Rule 57Q of the Rules
                                                 or not. The order of the CEGAT is stoically silent. It has affirmed the
                                                 order of the Commissioner by simply observing that the Commis-
                                                 sioner has arrived at the conclusion that these goods are not being
                                                 used directly or indirectly for producing or processing the goods or
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