ATAR SINGH SARRAF Vs. COMMISSIONER OF SALES TAX

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this revision application, the applicant has challenged the order passed by the Tribunal dated 3rd February, 1993. The applicant is engaged in the business of cleaning and repairs of old ornaments. The applicant also buys old ornaments and sells them in the market. The applicant is not engaged in any business as envisaged under Section 2(e-1) of the U.P. Trade Tax Act, 1948 which reads as follows :

(2.) On basis of the aforesaid definition, it is submitted by the learned Counsel for the applicant that the applicant is not engaged in manufacturing or processing of any goods. It is submitted that no alteration in the character or nature of the ornaments has been made and the goods remain the same.

(3.) Learned Counsel for the applicant relied on a decision of the Supreme Court reported in 1981 U.P.T.C. 667, Civil Appeal No. 2398 of 1978, Deputy Commissioner of Sales Tax (Law) Board of Revenue (Taxes), Ernakulam v. Pio Food Packers, wherein it has been held that the nature and extent of processing may vary from one case to another and indeed there may be several stages of processing and perhaps a different kind of processing at each stage. With each process suffered, the original commodity experiences a change. But it is only when the change or a series of changes, the commodity to the point where commercially it cannot longer be regarded as the original commodity but instead is recognised as a new and distinct article that a manufacture can be said to take place. Where there is no essential difference in identity between the original commodity and the processed article it is not possible to say that one commodity has been consumed in the manufacture of another. Although it has undergone a degree of processing, it must be regarded as still retaining its original identity.