THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P.versusS/S. PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN

                        [2010) 9 S.C.R. 881


1         THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P.                        A
                                v.
            S/S. PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN
                 (Civil Appeal No. 651 of 2005)                          ...
                                                                           _


                        AUGUST 11, 2010
                                                                     B
                [D.K. JAIN AND H.L. DATTU, JJ.]

         UP. Trade Tax Act, 1948 - Entry 74 (f) and amended
    Entry 74 (a)(iii) - 'Voltage Stabilizer' - Levy of sales tax -
    Classification of, as 'electrical goods' under Entry No. 16 of   c
    the Schedule or as 'electronic goods' under Entry No. 74(f)
    - Held: Automatic voltage stabilizer involves the operation
    of a number of electronic components - Many of its
    components might use electricity but that cannot be the sole
    reason for classifying it as an electrical goods - Electrical    D
    device can be electronic device, but electronic device cannot
    be electrical device - Thus, taking into consideration the
    components, purpose for which it is used and principles on
     which it works, voltage stabilizer is 'electronic goods' -
    Notification No. 1223 dt 31.03.1992.                             E
        Voltage stabilizer - Purpose, components and functions
    - Explained.

        Words and Phrases: 'Electrical goods' and 'electronic
    goods' - Meaning of.                                             F

         The respondent-assessee was engaged in the
    business of manufacture of voltage stabilizer and sales
    thereof. The assessing officer passed an assessment
    order directing the respondent to pay certain amount as          G
    sales tax, on basis of the rate applicable to electrical
    goods under Entry No. 16 of Schedule to U.P. Trade Tax
    Act, 1948. The respondent contended that they were
    liable to pay taxes at the rates applicable to electronic
                                 881                                 H
    882      SUPREME COURT REPORTS             [2010] 9 S.C.R.


A goods under the old Entry 74(f) and the amended Entry           "
  74(a)(iii) of the Notification No.1223 dated 31.03.1992. In
  appeal, the tribunal held that the voltage stabilizers were
  'electronic' goods and not 'electrical' goods'. The High
  Court upheld the order of the tribunal. Therefore, the
B appellants-revenue filed the instant appeals.

          Dismissing the appeals, the Court

       HELD: 1. An automatic voltage stabilizer involves the
  operation of a number of electronic components. A
C voltage stabilizer might have many components some of
  which use electricity. This cannot be the sole reason for
  classifying it as an electrical goods. An electrical device
  can be an electronic device, but an electronic device
  cannot be an electrical device. The tribunal, which was
D the last fact finding authority, after taking into
  consideration the components of voltage stabilizer, the
  purpose for which it is used and the principles on which
  it works came to the conclusion that the voltage stabilizer
  is electronic goods, for the purpose of taxation under U.P.
E Trade Tax Act, 1948. The reasoning and conclusion
  reached by the tribunal is accepted. Therefore, there is
  no infirmity in the impugned judgment. [Paras 18 and 22]
  [892-E-G; 893-G]

      2. Entry 74 of the Notification No.1223 dated 31st
F March, 1992 and the subsequent Notification No. 3420
  dated 1st October, 1994 speaks of electronic goods.
  There is i:to material change in these two Notifications,
  except change in the rate of tax on certain electronic
  items. Entry 74(f) of the earlier Notification and 74(a)(iii)
G of the subsequent Notification speaks of all the other
  electronic goods not specified any where else in the
  Schedule or in any other Notification. [Para 12] [889-C-D]

     3. Electrical Goods is such articles the use of which
H cannot be had except with the application of electrical
   COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. SIS.           883
      PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN
energy. It must be kept in mind that an electronic device A
can be an electrical device but an electrical device cannot
an electronic device. The electronic goods cannot be
used without the aid of electricity is not the only criterion
to determine whether those goods can be treated as
electrical goods. The really important criterion is whether B
those goods are regarded as electrical goods in common
parlance. It might consist of electronic systems,
instruments, appliances, apparatus, equipment operating
on electronic principles and all types of electronic
components, parts and materials. [Paras 13 and 14] [889- c
F-H; 890-A-B]
    The Law Lexicon by Justice T.P. Mukherjee 4th Ed, 1989
p.574;/nterpretation of Words, Phrases & Commodities under
Sa/es Tax Lawsby Sri M.P. Agarwal - referred to.
                                                             D
     4. A voltage stabilizer is a device which is able to
deliver relatively constant output voltage while input
voltage and load current changes over time. The voltage
stabilizer is the shunt regulator such as a Zener diode or
avalanche diode. Each of these devices begins                E
conducting at a specified voltage and will conduct as
much current as required to hold its terminal voltage to
that specified voltage. It can be used by application of
electrical energy and not an instrument for generation,
distribution or transmission of electrical energy, but is
                                                             F
used for regulating the inflow of electrical energy for
variety of appliances. Voltage stabilizers serve the
purpose of producing a constant output voltage from a
variable input voltage. It provides a steady amount of
electrical current to electronic devices when power
fluctuates in the house or business where the devices are    G
located. Voltage stabilizers store power and provide
power from its reserve to attached devices, which
bypasses power fluctuations. The specifics of how a
voltage stabilizer operates varies from one type to
another, but the basics remain the same. A voltage           H
    884     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [2010] 9 S.C.R.


A stabilizer is plugged into an outlet, which charges a series
  of capacitors or battery units in the stabilizer. These
  capacitors maintain their charge even if the amount of
  power from the outlet fluctuates. Any device plugged into
  the stabilizer will draw its power from the capacitors or
B battery instead of directly from the outlet. The voltage
  stabilizer is wired so that the outlet and the devices are
  on separate circuits. [Paras 15, 16 and 17] [890-B-H; 891-
  A-E]'

      Williams Taks and Co. Ltd., Madras v. The State of
C Madras AIR 1955 Madras 656; B.P.L. v. State of Andhra
  Pradesh 2001 (127) E.L.T. 655($.C.) - referred to.

                         Case Law Reference:

     AIR 1955 Madras 656       Referred to.       Paras 19, 20
D
     2001 (127) E.L.T. 655     Referred to.       Paras 19, 21

         CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 651
    of 2005.
E       From the Judgment & Order dated 13.05.2003 of the High
    Court of Allahabad in Trade Tax Revision No. 4 of 1999.

                               WITH

F   C.A. Nos. 652, 653, 654, 655, 656 of 2005.

         Aarohi Bhalla, Gunnam Venkateswara Rao, S.K. Dwivedi,
    Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Vandana Mishra, Ashutosh, Subodh S.
    Patil for the Appellant.

G         Dhruv Agarwal, Parveen Kumar for the Respondent.

          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

        H.L. DATTU, J. 1. The question for determination in these
  Civil Appeals is whether the 'Voltage Stabilizer' manufactured
H and sold by the assessee (respondent herein) ought to be taxed
       COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. SIS.                    885
     PARIKH, GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN [H.L. DATTU, J.]
     as electrical goods under Entry No. 16 of Schedule to U.P.           A
••   Trade Tax Act, 1948 or as electronic goods under Entry No.
     74(f) of the Notification No.1223 dated 31st March, 1992?

          2. The Revenue contends that the voltage stabilizer is an
     'electrical goods'. The stand of the assessee is it is 'electronic   8
     goods'.

         3. The facts and the issues in all these civil appeals are
     identical and, therefore, these are all disposed of by this
     common judgment.
                                                                          c
          4. The Respondant/Assessee is in the business of
     manufacture of voltage stabilizer and sales thereof. The
     assessing Officer had passed Assessment Order dated March
     31, 1997 under Section 41 (8) of the U.P Trade Tax Act, 1948,
     directing S/S. Parikh Gramodyog Sansthan (Respondent) to             o
     pay Sales Tax in a sum of Rs. 1,00,875.55 and 19,3438.00 for
     the assessment years 1994-95 and 1995-96 respectively. This
     quantification was based on the rate applicable to electrical
     goods. The Respondents had stated that they were liable to pay
     taxes at the rates applicable to electronic goods under the old
                                                                          E
     Entry 74(f) and the amended Entry 74(a)(iii) of the Notification,
     which was 4% for the assessment years 1994-95 and 1995-
     96.

          5. The assessment years and the tax demand vary in each
     of these appeals.                                                    F

          6. Being aggrieved by the order passed by the Assessing
     Officer dated March 31, 1997, the assessee had preferred an
     appeal before the Commissioner of Trade Tax, which was
     dismissed vide order dated 29.7.1997. Subsequently, the              G
     Respondents filed second appeal before the Trade Tax
     Tribunal, Moradabad. The Tribunal while modifying the order
     passed by the assessing officer had held that voltage stabilizers
     were 'electronic' goods and not 'electrical' goods, primarilyon
     the ground that electrical goods involve the consumption of          H
     886     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                   [2010] 9 S.C.R


A electricity, whereas an electronic device functions through the         I·
  creation of an electron vacuum in the semiconductor material.
  The Tribunal also referred to a certificate issued by the Principal
  Director of Electronic Service and Training Center of Ram
  Nagar, Nainital, which is a government society, that voltage
B stabilizers are electronic devices. The Tribunal also noted that
  the Text Book 'Basic Electronic Engineering' by M.L Anumani,
  categorises voltage stabilizers as electronic goods. The
  Tribunal also had taken note of circular issued by the U.P
  government dated 31.3.1992 (Notification No. 1223), the
c notification issued by the Punjab Government dated
  10.11.1987, as well as Exemption No.12 of Entry No. 23 of
  the Excise Act, all of which categorizes voltage stabilizers as
  electronic goods.

        7. Being aggrieved by the aforesaid order, the revenue had
D filed Revision Petition in the High Court at Allahabad. Before
  the High Court, the revenue had relied on the order passed by
  the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes in another assessee's
  case, wherein it was held that voltage stabilizers are electrical
  goods. The High Court has agreed with the reasoning of the
E Trade Tax Tribunal. While rejecting the stand of the revenue,
  has observed that the order of Commissioner of Commercial
  Taxes, passed under Section 35 of U.P Trade Tax Act does not
  give out any reason as to why the automatic voltage stabilizer
  should be treated as electrical goods and not as electronic
F goods and, therefore, the reliance placed on the order passed
   by the Commissioner would not come to the aid of the revenue.
  Accordingly, the High Court dismissed the Revision Petition.
   That is how the revenue is before us in these appeals.

G          8. The learned counsel Sri Aarohi Bhalla would submit that,
     the commodity in question is electrical goods since it works on
     the principles of application of electric energy and also
     facilitates the distribution and transmission of electrical energy
     and therefore, it satisfies the twin tests that are required under
     Entry 16 of Schedule to the Act. It is further submitted, that for
 H
        COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. S/S.  887
      PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN [H.L. DATTU, J.]

.,   the goods to be classified as electronic goods, their functioning A
     or operation must be controlled and guided by Micro
     Processing Chips. According to learned counsel, the voltage
     stabilizers function as step up or step down transformers and
     their working is not controlled by Micro Processing and,
     therefore, they are outside the ambit of electronic goods. It is B
     also submitted that the assessee only imported electrical
     goods as raw materials for being used in the manufacture of
     stabilizers and the use of the raw material clearly establishes
     the fact that no microchips have been used while manufacturing
     the voltage stabilizers.                                          c
          9. Per contra, Shri Dhruv Agarwal, learned counsel for the
     assessee would submit that the voltage stabilizer is made of
     electronic components and since the main component of the
     stabilizer being a microchip, the commodity in question requires
     to be classified as electronic goods and, therefore, falls under     D
     Entry 74 (f) of the Notification No. 1223 dated 31st March,
     1992.

          10. The relevant entries that are required to be noticed are,
     Entry 16 and Entry 74 of the Schedule to UP Trade Tax Act,           E
     1948. They are as under:

          16. "All electrical goods. instruments, apparatus,
          appliances and all such articles the use of which cannot
          be had except with the application of electrical energy,
          including fans, fluorescent tubes (including their starters,    F
          chokes, fixtures, fittings and accessories), electrical
          earthenware and porcelain, electrical equipments, plant
          and their accessories required for generation, distribution
          and transmission of electrical energy, electric motors and
          parts thereof, and all other accessories and components         G
          whether sold as a whole or in parts, but excluding torches,
          torch cells, dry cell batteries, torch bulbs and filament
          lighting bulbs."

          74    "(a) Electronic goods made by such tiny units whose       H
    888      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                   [2010] 9 S.C.R.


A         investment in plant, machinery, equipment and apparatus         ,,
          as certified by a chartered accountant, does not exceed
          five lakh rupees and which manufactures and sells
          electronic goods notified Development Commissioner,
          Small Scale Industries, Government of India.
B
          (b) Consumer electronic goods that is to say black and
          white television, tape recorders, and public address
          system.

          (c) Office equipment that is to say data processing system,
c         micro processor based mini/micro computer system,
          computer peripherals, dot matrix printers, line printers,
          desk top publishing system, floppy drives, the hard disk
          drives, video display terminals, key boards, mouse,
          plotters, digitizers, monitor, cartridge tape, steamer drive,
D         calculators, electronic typewriters, data entry machines,
          automatic taller machines, cash dispensers.

          (d) Photo copiers.

          (e) Electronic components, that is to say all types of
E         passive components/resisters, capacitors, diodes and
          other active components, transistors, integrated circuits,
          large scale integration/very large scale integration chips,
          black and white picture tubes, colour picture tubes, power
          semi conductors, audio tapes and video tapes, printed
F         circuit boards/connectors, relays, upto electronic
          components, magnetic media, microwave tube, television
          components, television glass shell, electronic transducers,
          actuators, display devices that is light emitting diodes/
          liquid crystal diode, micro meters for video cassette
G         records/video cassette players, crystals, tape deck
          mechanism, etched and framed foils, electronic tubes,
          deflection yokes, line out put transformers, electro
          deposited copper foils printed circuit board laminate,
          populated printed circuit boards, power supply devices,
H         cabinet.
  COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. SIS.  889
PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN [H.L. DATIU, J.]
    (f) All other electronic goods, parts and accessories not         A
    covered in any of the aforementioned categories."

     11. Entry 16 of the Schedule to U.P. Trade Tax Act is an
inclusive definition. It speaks of all electrical goods,
instruments, apparatus etc., the use of which cannot be had
without the application of electrical energy, including plant and
                                                                      B
their accessories required for the generation, distribution and
transmission of electrical energy.

      12. Entry 74 of the Notification No.1223 dated 31st March,
1992 and the subsequent Notification No. 3420 dated 1st               c
October, 1994 speaks of electronic goods. There is no material
change in these two Notifications, except change in the rate of
tax on certain electronic items. The relevant entry for the
 purpose of the present case is Entry 7 4(f) of the earlier
 Notification and 74(a)(iii) of the subsequent Notification. The      0
 said entry speaks of all the other electronic goods not specified
 any where else in the Schedule or in any other Notification. The
.rate of tax during the relevant assessment years was 4%.
       13. Before we consider the specific case of the revenue,
it is desirable to know the meaning of the expression 'electrical     E
goods' and 'electronic goods'.

ELECTRICAL GOODS :

     The Law Lexicon (Justice T.P. Mukherjee 4th Ed, 1989
     pg.574) defines Electrical Goods as 'such articles the use       F
     of which cannot be had except with the application of
     electrical energy.' It must be kept in mind that an electronic
     device can be an electrical device but an electrical device
     cannot be an electronic device.
                                                                      G
ELECTRONIC GOODS :
     14. Sri M.P. Agarwal in his book Interpretation of Words,
Phrases & Commodities under Sales Tax Laws has stated,
'the fact that the electronic goods cannot be used without the
aid of electricity is not the only criterion to determine whether         H
    890     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  [2010] 9 S.C.R.


A those goods can be treated as electrical goods. The really
  important criterion is whether those goods are regarded as
  electrical goods in common parlance. It might consist of
  electronic systemR, instruments, appliances, apparatus,
  equipment operating on electronic principles and all types of
B electronic components, parts and materials.

         15. Now we will deal witA the specific goods which we are
    concerned in these appeals. At the outset, we intend to notice
    what is a voltage stabilizer, its purpose, components and
    functions?
c
    Voltage Stabilizer :

         A voltage stabilizer is a device which is able to deliver
   relatively constant output voltage while input voltage and load
   current changes over time. The voltage stabilizer is the shunt
D regulator such as a Zener diode or avalanche diode. Each of
   these devices begins conducting at a specified voltage and will
 · conduct as much current as required to hold its terminal voltage
   to that specified voltage. Hence, the shunt regulator can be
   viewed as the limited power parallel stabilizer. The shunt
E regulator output is used as a voltage reference. A Zener diode
   is a type of diode that permits current not only in the forward
   direction like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction
   if the voltage is larger than the breakdown voltage known as
   "Zener knee voltage" or "Zener voltage". The device was named
F after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property.
   An avalanche diode is a diode (usually made from silicon, but
   can be made from another semiconductor) that is designed to
   go through avalanche breakdown at a specified reverse bias
   voltage and conduct as a type of voltage reference. (see
G Wikipedia)
       16. The voltage stabilizer is an instrument which can be
  used by application of electrical energy and not an instrument
  for generation, distribution or transmission of electrical energy,
  but are used for regulating the inflow of electrical energy for
H variety of appliances. Voltage stabilizers serve the purpose of
   COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. SIS.  891
 PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN [H.L. DATTU, J.]

producing a constant output voltage from a variable input A
voltage. As a rule, voltage stabilizers operate with an in-phase
regulated transistor, which has a control input driven by a
stabilized control voltage. It is possible, given a constant control
voltage to largely stabilize the output. Voltage in a defined
operating range, by way of the characteristic response of the B
transistor acting as the actuator. The stabilized output voltage
serves, as a rule, to supply voltage to electronic circuits which
are connected down stream and often have a dedicated voltage
regulator for voltage supply.

17)    Purpose of Voltage Stabilizers :                           c
     Voltage stabilizers provide a steady amount of electrical
current to electronic devices when power fluctuates in the house
or business where the devices are located. Power surges and
sudden power drops can cause serious damage to computers 0
and other sensitive electronics. Voltage stabilizers store power
and provide power from its reserve to attached devices, which
bypasses power fluctuations. Some voltage stabilizers are also
incorporated into a universal power supply (UPS), which is a
backup battery system that allows devices such as computers E
to continue operating for a limited period of time in the event
of a power failure.

Standard Voltage Stabilizer Operation :

     The specifics of how a voltage stabilizer operates varies F
from one type to another, but the basics remain the same. A
voltage stabilizer is plugged into an outlet, which charges a
series of capacitors or battery units in the stabilizer. These
capacitors maintain their charge even if the amount of power
from the outlet fluctuates. Any device plugged into the stabilizer G
will draw its power from the capacitors or battery instead of
directly from the outlet. The voltage stabilizer is wired so that
the outlet and the devices are on separate circuits. As a device
drains power from the capacitors, the power coming in from
the outlet will continue to recharge them. Due to resistance in
                                                                   H
    892     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [2010] 9 S.C.R.


A   the stabilizer's circuitry, its power to devices is lower than the
    ideal voltage from the outlet. This means devices may function
    slightly slower when connected to a voltage stabilizer.

    Capacitor:

B        A capacitor (formerly known as condenser) is a passive
    electronic      component        consisting      of   a    pair
    of conductors separated by a dielectric (insulator). When there
    is a potential difference (voltage) across the conductors a
    static electric field develops in the dielectric that
c   stores energy and produces a mechanical force between the
    conductors. An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single
    constant value, capacitance, measured in farads. This is the
    ratio of the electric charge on each conductor to the potential
    difference between them.
D        Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for
    blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass.
                       .                                           .
          18. It is evident from the facts of the case that an automatic
    voltage stabilizer involves the operation of a number of
E   electronic components. A voltage stabilizer might have many
    components some of which use electricity. This cannot be the
    sole reason for classifying it as an electrical good. As noticed
    earlier, an electrical device can be an electronic device, but an
    electronic device cannot be an electrical device. The Tribunal
F   which is the last fact finding authority after taking into
    consideration the components of voltage stabilizer, the purpose
    for which it is used and the principles on which it works has
    come to the conclusion that the voltage stabilizer is electronic
    goods, for the purpose of taxation under U.P. Trade Tax Act,
    we are in agreement with the reasoning and conclusion reached
G   by the Tribunal.

         19. The learned counsel for the appellant has placed
    reliance on the observations made by Madras High Court in
    the case of Williams Taks and Co. Ltd., Madras v. The State
H   of Madras, [AIR 1955 Madras 656 (V.42, C.N.208 Nov.)] and
  COMMISSIONER OF TRADE TAX, U.P. v. SIS.  893
PARIKH GRAMODYOG SANSTHAN [H.L. DATTU, J.]
B.P.L. v. State of Andhra Pradesh, [2001 (127) E.L.T. 655         A
(S.C.)].
     20. In the case of Williams Taks and Co. Ltd., Madras v.
The State of Madras, [AIR 1955 Madras 656 (V.42, C.N.208
Nov.)], the question that came up for the determination before
                                                                  8
the Court was whether the articles specified within the list
mentioned thereby under General Sales Tax Act, 1939 were
electrical goods. The Court observed that -:
       "it is neither possible nor de&kable for this Court to embark
       on a preparation of an exhaustive list of what constitute C
       'electrical goods' within the meaning of section 3(2) (viii)
       of the Act nor even is it possible to device a formula of
       universal application."
     21. In the case ofB.P.L. v. State of Andhra Pradesh, [2001
(127) E.L.T. 655 (S.C.)], the question that was to be decided D
by this Court was "whether Fully Automatic Washing Machine
can be regarded as 'electronic goods' so as to attract a lower
rate of sales tax." It was observed that the answer to theI
question arising in the case depends upon the interpretation
of the definition of the term 'electronic goods'. The Court also E
pointed out that "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 F
definition ............. What has to be seen is whether the
automatic washing machines are electronic appliances or
equipments operating on electronic principle."
     22. In our considered view, these decisions would not
assist the appellants. We, therefore, do not find any infirmity G
in the impugned judgment. Accordingly, we dismiss these
appeals. In the circumstances of the case, there will be no
order as to costs.

N.J.                                        Appeals dismissed.     H