# COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE, COCHIN v. M/S. TATA TEA LTD. MAY2, 2002

- **Citation:** [2002] 3 S.C.R. 730
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 2002
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal Nos. 1515-1517 of 1999
- **Bench:** N. Santosh Hegdeand Shivaraj V. Patil
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/commissioner-of-central-excise-cochin-v-m-s-tata-tea-ltd-may2-2002-18538
- **Pages:** 5

## Headnote

Tea Act, 1953-Sections 25 and 3(n)-Imposition of cess on tea
produced in India- 'Instant tea' manufactured and exported by a tea
company-Cess-Levy of-Liability-Held, since 'instant tea' is covered by
C definition of tea within the meaning of Section 3(n), cess can be levied on
it.
D
Interpretation of Statutes-When Act specifically provides for a definition
of a term, there is no need to refer to other enactments.
Respondent, engaged in the manufacture of 'instant tea', was issued
notices as to why on 'instant tea' cleared by them cess should not be levied
under Section 25 of the Tea Act, 1953. Respondent submitted that 'instant tea'
was not 'tea' falling within the definition of Section 3(n) of the Act and thus
the notices were illegal. Assistant Commissioner held that cess could be levied.
E Commissioner (Appeals) upheld the same. However, Tribunal referring to
Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control)
Order, 1959 held that 'instant tea' cannot be considered as 'tea' within the
meaning of Section (3)n of the Act, thus cess could be levied.
In appeal before this Court appellant contended that the term 'tea' for
F levy of cess has to be interpreted on the basis of the definition of 'tea' given in
the Act and not on the basis of definitions given in the Preventioq of Food
Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control) Order, 1959; that
'instant tea' is variety of tea and it is commercially known and sold in the
market as 'instant tea'; and that there was no fprther need to go into the
G manner of manufacture and preparation of 'instant tea' and the tribunal
misdirected itself in concluding that 'instant tea' is not 'tea' by referring to
other enactments.
Respondent submitted that 'instant tea' has a different identity and it is
differently known in the market and hence it does not fall within the definition
II
730
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COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE v. TATA TEA LTD. [SHIVARAJ V PATIL,J.l 73J
of 'tea' under the Act.
Allowing the appeals, the Court
HELD: 1.1. In order to satisfy the definition of 'tea' under Section 3(n)
of the Tea Act, 1953 a product should be commercially known as tea and it
should be made from the leaves of the plant of Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze.
'Instant tea' satisfies both these conditions. It conveys that it is a 'tea.' The
term 'instant tea' is not the brand name of the product manufactured by the
assessee but the name of the product itself. It is a variety of tea. Further, the
term 'instant tea' gives a meaning that it is a 'tea', which can be prepared/
used instantaneously. Merely because the product is known as 'instant tea', it
does not cease to be known commercially as 'tea'. The manner of preparation
of tea and the process of manufacture of 'instant tea' powder cannot take away
'instant tea' out of definition of'tea' under the Act. Thus, the 'instant tea'
falls within the definition of Section 3(n) and cess can be levied on i( under
Section 25 of the Act.1753-F-H; 734-A, BJ
•
1.2. Commissioner (Appeals) was right in upholding the Order of the
Assistant Commissioner but the Tribunal went wrong in holding that 'instant
tea' is different from 'tea' and it fell outside the scope of Section 3(n) of the
Act. When the Act defined 'tea' specifically, the tribunal ought not to have
strained itself by referring to other enactments to construe 'instant tea' as
the product not included within the definition of 'tea' under the Act.1734-B-CJ

## Text

A
COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE, COCHIN
v.
M/S. TATA TEA LTD.
MAY2, 2002
B
[N. SANTOSH HEGDEAND SHIVARAJ V. PATIL, JJ.]
Tea Act, 1953-Sections 25 and 3(n)-Imposition of cess on tea
produced in India- 'Instant tea' manufactured and exported by a tea
company-Cess-Levy of-Liability-Held, since 'instant tea' is covered by
C definition of tea within the meaning of Section 3(n), cess can be levied on
it.
D
Interpretation of Statutes-When Act specifically provides for a definition
of a term, there is no need to refer to other enactments.
Respondent, engaged in the manufacture of 'instant tea', was issued
notices as to why on 'instant tea' cleared by them cess should not be levied
under Section 25 of the Tea Act, 1953. Respondent submitted that 'instant tea'
was not 'tea' falling within the definition of Section 3(n) of the Act and thus
the notices were illegal. Assistant Commissioner held that cess could be levied.
E Commissioner (Appeals) upheld the same. However, Tribunal referring to
Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control)
Order, 1959 held that 'instant tea' cannot be considered as 'tea' within the
meaning of Section (3)n of the Act, thus cess could be levied.
In appeal before this Court appellant contended that the term 'tea' for
F levy of cess has to be interpreted on the basis of the definition of 'tea' given in
the Act and not on the basis of definitions given in the Preventioq of Food
Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control) Order, 1959; that
'instant tea' is variety of tea and it is commercially known and sold in the
market as 'instant tea'; and that there was no fprther need to go into the
G manner of manufacture and preparation of 'instant tea' and the tribunal
misdirected itself in concluding that 'instant tea' is not 'tea' by referring to
other enactments.
Respondent submitted that 'instant tea' has a different identity and it is
differently known in the market and hence it does not fall within the definition
II
730
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-+
' '
..
..(
..
~
COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE v. TATA TEA LTD. [SHIVARAJ V PATIL,J.l 73J
of 'tea' under the Act.
Allowing the appeals, the Court
HELD: 1.1. In order to satisfy the definition of 'tea' under Section 3(n)
of the Tea Act, 1953 a product should be commercially known as tea and it
should be made from the leaves of the plant of Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze.
'Instant tea' satisfies both these conditions. It conveys that it is a 'tea.' The
term 'instant tea' is not the brand name of the product manufactured by the
assessee but the name of the product itself. It is a variety of tea. Further, the
term 'instant tea' gives a meaning that it is a 'tea', which can be prepared/
used instantaneously. Merely because the product is known as 'instant tea', it
does not cease to be known commercially as 'tea'. The manner of preparation
of tea and the process of manufacture of 'instant tea' powder cannot take away
'instant tea' out of definition of'tea' under the Act. Thus, the 'instant tea'
falls within the definition of Section 3(n) and cess can be levied on i( under
Section 25 of the Act.1753-F-H; 734-A, BJ
•
1.2. Commissioner (Appeals) was right in upholding the Order of the
Assistant Commissioner but the Tribunal went wrong in holding that 'instant
tea' is different from 'tea' and it fell outside the scope of Section 3(n) of the
Act. When the Act defined 'tea' specifically, the tribunal ought not to have
strained itself by referring to other enactments to construe 'instant tea' as
the product not included within the definition of 'tea' under the Act.1734-B-CJ
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 1515-1517 of
1999,
A
B
c
D
E
From the Judgment and Order dated J 7. 7 .1998 of the Customs Excise p
•
J>
and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, South Zonal Bench at Chennai in
A.No. E/358, 361 & 362/98 in F.O. No. 1352-1354 of 1998.
Soli J. Sorabjee, Attorney General, Rajiv Nanda and 8.K. Prasad for the
Appellant.
Anil 8. Diwan, Joy Joseph and R.8. Hathikhanwala for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
SHIV ARAJ V. PATIL, J. The short question that arises for consideration
G
is whether 'instant tea' manufactured and exported by the respondent is liable H
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A
B
c
·n
E
F
G
732
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2002] 3 S.C.R.
for levy of cess under Section 25 of the Tea Act, 1953.
The respondent is engaged in the manufacture of 'instant tea'. Show
cause notices were issued to the respondent as to why on 'instant tea'
cleared by them during the given period, cess should not be levied under
Section 25 of the Tea Act, 1953 (for short the Act). The reply of the respondent
was that 'instant tea' was not 'tea' falling within the definition of Section 3(n)
of the Act and that the show cause notices issued were patently illegal. The
Assistant ~ommissioner confirmed the demand. The respondent filed appeal
to the Commissioner (Appeals), ,Cochin, who upheld the order of the Assistant
Commissioner. The respondent took up the matter before the CEGA T which
set aside the order of the Commissioner (Appeals) taking a view that 'instant
tea' cannot be considered as 'tea' within the meaning of Section 3(n) of the
Act. Hence, these appeals by the revenue.
The learned Attorney General urged on behalf of the appellant that the
term 'tea' for levy of cess pas to .be interpreted on the basis of the definition
of 'tea' given in the Act and not on the basis of definitions given in the
Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control)
Order, 1959; 'instant tea' is a variety of tea and it is commercially known and
sold in the market as 'instant tea'; there was no further need to go ·into. the
manner of manufacture and preparation of 'instant tea'; the Tribunal misdirected
itself in concluding that 'instant tea' is not 'tea' by referring to other
enactments. According to him, manner of preparing tea and whether it is
consumed in hot or cold form, is immaterial in deciding whether 'instant tea'
attracted cess under the Act.
Shri A nil B. Diwan, learned senior counsel, appearing on behalf of the
respondent, made submissions supporting the impugned order of the Tribunal
for the very reasons stated in the order emphasizing that 'instant tea' when
mixed in cold water, it gets completely dissolved and it is taken instantly; it
is not mixed with hot water to get extract of tea decoction. The learned senior
counsel further contended that 'instant tea' has a different identity and it is
differently known in the market and hence it does not fall within the definition
of 'tea' under the Act.
In order to appreciate the rival contentions and to record an answer to
the question raised in the beginning, it is useful to notice the relevant
provisions of the Act, which are extracted below:-
H
"S. 3(n) - "tea" means the plant Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze as
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COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE "· TAT A TEAL TD. ISHIVARAJ V. PATIL,!.] 733
....
well as all varieties of the product known commercially as tea made A
from the leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze including
green tea. "
·---..
"S. 251 - imposition of cess on tea produced in India - (I) There sha!l
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"
y
be levied and co!lected as a cess for the purposes of this Act a duty
of excise on a!l tea produced in India at such rate not exceeding fifty B
paise per kilogram as the Central Government may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, fix;
~
Provided that different rates may be fixed for different varieties or
grades of tea having regard to the location of, and the climatic
conditions prevailing in, the tea estates or gardens producing such c
varieties or grades of tea and any other circumstances applicable to
such production.
2. The duty of excise levied under sub-section ( l) sha!l be in addition
. to the duty of excise leviable on tea under the Central Excises and Salt
D
Act, 1944, or any other law for the time being in force.
..
3. The provisions of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, and the
rules made thereunder, including those relating to refund the exemption
from duty, sha!l so far as may be, apply in relation to the levy and
co!lection of the duty of excise under this section as they apply in E
relation to the levy and co!lection of the duty of excise on tea under
the said Act."
[emphasis supplied]
In order to satisfy the definition of 'tea' under Section 3(n), a product
> should be commercia!ly known as tea and it should be made from the leaves F
•
of the plant of Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze. 'Instant tea' satisfies both
these conditions. By the very name, the product namely 'instant tea' conveys
that it is a 'tea'. The term 'instant tea' is not the brand name of the product
manufactured by the assessee but the name of the product itself. It is a
variety of tea. Further, the term 'instant tea' gives a meaning that it is a 'tea', ·G
which can be prepared/used instantaneously. Merely because the product is
known as 'instant tea', it does not cease to be known commercially as 'tea'.
Whether tea is consumed as hot beverage or a cold beverage depending
'I:
upon one's liking and taste, it does not make any difference in deciding
whether it is a tea falling within the definition of Section 3(n) of the Act. In
our view, the manner of preparation of tea and the process of manufacture H
734
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2002] 3 S.C.R.
A of 'instant tea' powder cannot take away 'instant tea' out of definition of 'tea'
+
under the Act. Ultimately 'instant tea' is produced from the leaves of the plant
Camellia Sinensis (L) 0. Kuntze. In these circumstances, the 'instant tea' is
covered by the definition of tea within the meaning of Section 3(n). Once
~~
'instant tea' falls within the definition of Section 3(n), a cess can be levied
B
on it under Section 25 of the Act. In our view, the Commissioner (Appeals)
was right in upholding the order of the Assistant Commissioner but the
Tribunal went wrong in holding that 'instant tea' is different from 'tea' and
...
it fell outside the scope of Section 3(n) of the Act referring to Prevention of
Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and the Tea Waste (Control) Order, 1959.
)'"
"
When the Act defined 'tea' specifically, the Tribunal ought not to have
c strained itself by referring to other enactments to construe 'instant tea' as the
product not included within the definition of 'tea' under the. Act.
For what is stated above, we answer the question in the affirmative and
in favour of the Revenue. Consequently, the order under challenge cannot be
sustained. Hence, the same is set aside. The appeals are allowed. No costs.
D
N.J.
Appeals allowed.
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