- (1.) In these appeals, a short but interesting question of law arises for consideration. It pertains to the construction of Section 17 of the Karnataka Value Added Tax (Act), 2003 [hereinafter referred to 'KVAT Act'] read with Rule 131 of the Karnataka Value Added Tax Rules, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the 'KVAT Rules, 2005').
(2.) The respondent is the manufacturer of sunflower oil, which is extracted from sunflower cake by employing solvent extraction process. Sunflower oil cake, is, thus, used as input/raw material. On purchase of sunflower oil cake (input) VAT is payable under the KVAT Act. After the extraction of sunflower oil, on its sale again VAT is payable under the said Act. For this reason, provisions of KVAT Act provides for tax credit paid on the input. To this extent there is no issue. However, when the sunflower oil is extracted, by-product in the form of de-oiled sunflower oil cake (hereinafter referred to as the 'de-oiled cake') also becomes available. This by-product is sold by the respondent (hereinafter referred to as the 'assessee) but on the sale of this by-product, no VAT is payable as it is exempted item under the KVAT Act. Section 17 of the KVAT Act takes care of those contingencies where the final products are more than one and output tax is payable on the sale of one such final product but other final product is exempted from payment of the said output tax. Since, no output tax is payable on the sale of exempted goods, the input tax credit in such cases is partially admissible. The manner in which partial exemption is given is provided in Rule 131 of KVAT Rules, 2005.
(3.) Keeping in view this provision, the appellant - State has taken the view that the assessee would be entitled to only partial rebate of input tax because of the reason that though output tax is paid on sunflower oil, it is not paid on the sale of de-oiled cake. The assessee, on the other hand, contends that Section 17 of the KVAT Act would not be applicable in the instant case because of the reason that sunflower oil cake, as an input, is used in its entirety in the extraction of sunflower oil. De-oiled cake is not the result of any manufacturing process but is only a by-product. Therefore, sale of such by-product, even when it is exempted from output tax, would not have any bearing. The High Court in its impugned judgment has accepted this position adopted by the assessee thereby giving full input tax deduction.;