M/S. Prachi Industries versus Commissioner of Central Excise, Chandigarh

Manufacture - Swaging of tubes whether amounts to c manufacture - Held: Manufacture of a product means any process incidental/ancillary to the completion of manufacturing of a product - Finished product so obtained must be of distinguishable identity in the form of physical shape, size and use - In the present case, swaging imparts a change of lasting D character to the plane MS-tubes - It undergoes a change both in terms of form/shape and user - MS tubes being used to carry water whereas work piece, the product obtained after swaging of MS tubes, used as decorative item/in auto-rikshaw - Hence, the process of swaging amounts to manufacture ul E^{s. 2(f) of the Act- Central Excise and Tariff Act, 1985-}^Heading 73.06.

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Words and Phrases:

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'Metal Forming' and 'swaging' - Meaning of, in the F^{context of s. 2(f)of the Central Excise Act,1944.}

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Assessee buys duty-paid MS tubes, cut into requisite lengths and put in the swaging machine in which dies are fitted which imparts "folds" to the flat surface of the tube. The question which arose for determination in these G appeals was as to whether swaging constitutes manufacture in terms of Section 2(f) of the Central Excise Act, 1944.

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Dismissing the appeals, the Court

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560

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MIS. PRACH! INDUSTRIES v. COMMNR. OF CENTRAL 561 EXCISE, CHANDIGARH

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HELD: 1.1 With the introduction of the Central Excise A and Tariff Act, the definition of "manufacture" has been substituted to include "any process - incidental or ancillary to the completion of a manufactured product". Therefore, on analyzing Section 2(f) of the Central Excise Act, 1944 it becomes clear that the word "process" must B be in relation to manufacture. (Para - 8) [565-G; 566-A]

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1.2 Incidental process must be an integral part of manufacture resulting in a finished product which has to be of a different physical shape, size and use. The said process must impart a change of lasting character to the^c original product or raw-material. After the process, a new finished product must come into existence. It comes into existence only when it acquires a distinguishable identity. (Para - 8) [566-B, C]

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1.3 Once the process amounts to manufacture, the^D fact that the goods belong to the same entry would not be relevant. In the present case, the swaging machine contains dies of different sizes and patterns. Swaging is a process which imparts a change of lasting character to E the plane MS pipe or tube by use of dies which exists in the machine. After the process of swaging the identity of the plane MS pipe or tube undergoes a change both in terms of form, shape and user. (Para - 8) [566-C, 0, E]

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E

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2.1 According to Production Technology, Metal Forming is a manufacturing process by which the size or shape of plane pipe or tube is changed by the application of forces that produce stress in the part of tube or pipe which is greater than the yield strength and less than the fracture strength of the material. (Para - 9) [566-E, F]

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2.2 Forming Operation in which the diameter of bars or tubes is changed by repeated blows of shaped hammers is called as "Swaging". (Para -10) [567-A, B]

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Production Technology by O.P. Khanna - referred to.

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562 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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[2008] 5 S.C.R.

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A 2.3 Production Swaging Operations are commonly performed on rotary swaging machines. Swaging has proved to be an economical-production method for forming shapes confined to a portion of the total length of a given pipe or tube, by tapering, pointing, reducing or B sizing. Swaging provides a pattern or contour, with peaks and valleys, depending upon the desired configuration. Therefore, even in matter of classification, distinction is made between pipes and tubes on one hand and hollow profile on other hand. (Paras - 12 &13) [567-F; 568-A, BJ C Dictionary of Technical Terms by F.S. Crispin - referred to.

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C

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2.4 In the present case, the assessee has assigned distinct code numbers and distinct design numbers for 0^{different shapesofprofiles (patternor contours). This} aspect has not been considered by the adjudicating authority which decided the matter in favour of the assessee. (Para - 14) [568-C, DJ

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2.5 The rotary swaging machine with different dies E therein imparts a change of lasting character to the plane pipe or tube by use of dies. That, a workpiece having a distinguishable identity comes into being depending on the shape of the die and the punch used. On facts, it is found that after undergoing the swaging process a F workpiece of a different shape and user emerges and, therefore, the process of swaging amounts to manufacture under Section 2(f) of the Act. (Para - 15) [568-D, E, FJ

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2.6 MS plane pipe/tube can carry water to the G overhead tank whereas the workpiece produced in the present case is useful as a decorative item or as an item which provides a strong grip in the case of auto-rickshaw. Therefore, a distinguishable identity is acquired of a lasting character imparted to a plane MS pipe/tube by use H of dies and presses. (Para - 16) [568-F, GJ

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.,...

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M/S. PRACHI INDUSTRIES v. COMMNR. OF CENTRAL 563 EXCISE, CHANDIGARH [KAPADIA, J.]

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Bharat Forge & Press Industries (P) Ltd. vs. Collector of A Central Excise - 1990 (45) E.L.T. 525 (SC) and Hindustan Poles Corpn. vs. Commissioner of Central Excise, Calcutta - 2006 (4) sec 85 - held inapplicable.

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3. The issue as to entitlement of the assessee to the B benefit of CENVAT credit and SSI exemption was not raised by the assessee before the Tribunal. However, it is clarified that no opinion has been expressed on the entitlement of the assessee in that regard. However, this order will not preclude the assessee from making the claim for such entitlement in accordance with law. (Para - 19)^c [569-F, G]

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CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 3621-25 of 2002.

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A-.

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From the final Order Nos. dated 3-7/2002-B dated D 04.01.2002 of the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in Appeal Nos. E/2042-2046/ 2001-B.

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WITH

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E

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Civil Appeal No. 5401 of 2004.

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S.K. Bagaria, V. Lakshmi Kumaran, Alok Yadav, Rajesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar Jain, Seema Jain, M .P. Vi nod, Balbir Singh, Deepak, Rajesh Kumar, Rupinder Singh and Sarabjot Walia for the Appellant.

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Vikas Sharma and B.V. Bala ram Das for the Respondents.

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The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

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KAPADIA, J. These civil appeals are filed by the assessee under Section 35-L of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (for short, "1944 Act") and are against Final Order No.3-7/2002-B dated 4.1.2002 in Appeal No.E/2042-2046/2001-B and Final Order No.120/04-B dated 19.1.04 in Appeal No.E/1558/03-B passed by CEGAT. By the impugned orders CEGAT has allowed

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G

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

564

[2008] 5 S.C.R.

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A appeals filed by the Revenue. By the impugned decision CEGAT has held that the process of swaging undertaken by the assessee on swaging machine on duty paid MS tubes falling under Heading 73.06 of the Schedule to the Central Excise and Tariff Act, 1985, amounts to "manufacture" within the meaning of B^{Section 2(f) of the 1944 Act.}

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For the sake of convenience we reproduce hereinbelow facts mentioned in Civil Appeal Nos. 3621-25 of 2002 (lead matter).

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Mis. Prachi Industries is the small scale unit. It buys dutyc paid MS tubes from its manufacturers. The said MS tubes are classified under Heading 73.06 of the Schedule to the Central Excise and Tariff Act, 1985 (for short, "1985Act"). After receiving MS tube from the manufacturers, the assessee cuts the same D^{into requisite lengths. The cut MS tube is thereafter put in the} swaging machine in which dies are fitted which imparts "folds" to the flat surface of the MS tube/pipe.

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The short question which arises for determination in this batch of civil appeals is :

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"Whether swaging constitutes manufacture in terms of Section 2(f) of the 1944 Act?"

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At the outset, it may be reiterated that MS tubes bought by the assessee from its manufacturers falls under Heading 73.06 and the Revenue seeks to demand duty once again under the same heading by treating the process of swaging as "manufacture". Accordingly, we quote herein below Chapter Note 3 in Chapter 73 which covers "Articles of Iron and Steel" :

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"In relation to pipes and tubes of heading Nos.73.04, 73.05 and 73.06, the process of drawing or redrawing shall amount to 'manufacture'."

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We quote hereinbelow the Heading 73.06 which reads H^{as follows:}

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M/S. PRACHI INDUSTRIES v. COMMNR. OF CENTRAL 565

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A

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F

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EXCISE, CHANDIGARH [KAPADIA, J.]

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.....

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Heading No.	Sub- heading No.	Descriptionofgoods	Rate of Duty
( 1)	(2)	(3)	(4) .
73.06		Other tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (for example, open seam or welded, riveted or similarly closed), of iron or steel
	7306.10	Ofiron	15%
	7306.90	Other	15%

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B

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c

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We also quote herein below the distinction between "tubes and pipes" and "hollow profiles" as indicated in HSN, D Vol.3, which reads as under:

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"Tubes and pipes

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"'.'.),,

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Concentric hollow products, of uniform cross-section with only one enclosed void along their whole length, having their inner and outer surfaces of the same form. Still tubes are mainly of circular, oval, rectangular (including square) cross-sections but in .addition may include equilateral triangular and other regular convex polygonal crosssections ....

Hollow profiles

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Hollow products not conforming to the above definition and mainly those not having their inner and outer surfaces of the same form."

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(emphasis supplied)

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I _,,....

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At the outset we may clarify that our judgment in this case is based on interpretation of the word "manufacture" as defined in Section 2(f) of 1944 Act. With the introduction of 1985 Act, the definition of "manufacture" has been substituted to

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566

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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[2008] 5 S.C.R.

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A include "any process - incidental or ancillary to the completion ofa manufactured product". Therefore, on analyzing Section 2(f), it becomes clear that the word "process" must be in relation to manufacture. By this definition, it is made clear that the process must be incidental to the completion of the manufactured product. B In other words, incidental process must be an integral part of manufacture resulting in a finished product which has to be of a different physical shape, size and use. The said process must impart a change of lasting character to the original product or raw-material. After the process, a new finished product must c come into existence. It comes into existence only when it acquires a distinguishable identity. For example, in the case of blending of ore what emerges after the process of blending is an ore but of different type. Once the process amounts to manufacture, the fact that the goods belong to the same entry 0^{would not be relevant.In the present case, the swaging machine} contains dies of different sizes and patterns. Swaging is a process which imparts a change of lasting character to the plane MS pipe or tube by use of dies which exists in the machine. After the process of swaging the identity of the plane MS pipe or tube undergoes a change both in terms of form, shape and E user.

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According to Production Technology, Metal Forming is a manufacturing process by which the size or shape of plane pipe or tube is changed by the application of forces that produce F stress in the part of tube or pipe which is greater than the yield strength and less than the fracture strength of the material. The applied forces may be compressive, bending, sharing or a combination of all. In Metal Forming the sheet metal is strained beyond its yield point so that it takes a permanent new shape G which is retained for all times. Metal Forming is one of the most important of the manufacturing processes. It is the fastest way to change the shape of the iron pipe or tube. There are various types of Metal Forming

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Operations. These Operations are performed on Presses H and Hammers. They are also performed on rolls. Open and

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567

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MIS. PRACHI INDUSTRIES v. COMMNR. OF CENTRA.L EXCISE, CHANDIGARH [KAPADIA, J.]

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closed-die forging, coining, forward extrusion, embossing, swaging etc. are Forming Operations performed on Presses and Hammers.

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A

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According to Production Technology by O.P. Khanna, Forming Operation in which the diameter of bars or tubes is B changed by repeated blows of shaped hammers is called as "Swaging":

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It is important to note that in the mechanics of Forming Processes, the mechanics of rolling is different from the mechanics of forging, which is different from mechanics of c drawing, which is different from mechanics of bending and which is different from mechanics of extrusion. The shape that is formed on the metal sheet depends upon the shape of the punch and the shape of the die used to produce the workpiece. Depending upon the nature of the desired configuration, the D formed shape may be developed over a series of operations or it may be simultaneously formed. A wide variety of punches and dies are used in the swaging machine. The dies are of different shapes, namely, V-dies, W-dies, u~dies, rotary dies etc. The use of these dies would largely depend upon the E desired production rate and volume. In rotary swaging the final shape is round because the dies rotate around the workpiece while the operation is being performed.

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Swaging is a general term which is applied to a number of Metal Forming Operations. Production Swaging F Operations are commonly performed on rotary swaging machines. Swaging has proved to be an economical-production method for forming shapes confined to a portion of the total length of a given pipe or tube, by tapering, pointing, reducing or sizing. Swaging process is also used for joining and fastening G operations. It is also used in assembling two or more components by joining a bushing to a shaft, swaging of rings onto wire for use as electrical connectors, and for attaching fittings to tubes.

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According to Dictionary of Technical Terms by F.S.

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568

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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[2008] 5 S. C.R.

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• &..

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A Crispin, the word "swage" is defined to mean a form of die used as an aid in forming forged work. According to the said Dictionary the word "profile" refers to an outline or contour. Swaging provides a pattern or contour, with peaks and valleys, depending upon the desired configuration. Therefore, even in B^{matter of classification, distinction is made between pipes and} tubes on one hand and hollow profile on other hand.

¶132

Applying the above tests, we are of the view that the MS tube/pipe after insertion in the swaging machine receives "folds" on a portion of the plane MS tube/pipe depending upon c the die in the swaging machine. It is the die which gives accurate shape to the workpiece. In the present case, the assessee has assigned distinct code numbers and distinct design numbers for different shapes of profiles (pattern or contours). rhis aspect has not been considered by the adjudicating authority which D decided the matter in favour of the assessee.

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Applying the above tests in the context of Section 2(f) of the 1944 Act, we are of the view that in the present case the rotary swaging machine with different dies therein imparts a change of lasting character to the plane pipe or tube by use of E dies. That, a workpiece having a distinguishable identity comes into being depending on the shape of the die and the punch used. On facts, we find that after undergoing the swaging process a workpiece of a different shape and user emerges and, therefore, in our view, the process of swaging amounts to F manufacture under Section 2(f).

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Before concluding, we may mention that MS plane pipe/tube can carry water to the overhead tank whereas the workpiece produced in the present case is useful as a decorative G^{itemor asanitem which provides a strong grip inthecase of} auto-rickshaw. Therefore, in our view a distinguishable identity is acquired of a lasting character imparted to a plane MS pipe/ tube by use of dies and presses.

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...

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In the case ot Bharat Forge & Press Industries (P) H^{Ltd.V.Collector of Central Excise -1990(45)E.L.T.525}

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M/S. PRACHI INDUSTRIES v. COMMNR. OF CENTRAL EXCISE, CHANDIGARH [KAPADIA, J.]

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569

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(SC), this Court held that a mere change in length, size or shape A does not bring into existence a new product and the same is not dutiable: Merely because the good(s) after processing becomes different commercial commodity or having a distinct name, would not result in any change in excise classification if they continue to be goods of same specie. This court held that B pipe fittings made out of pipes and tubes continued to be pipes and tubes. In our view, the judgment of this Court in Bharat Forge (supra) has no application. In this case, we are not concerned with pipe fittings. In this case, the assessee is carrying out the process by which shape of the MS· pipe changes and what c emerges is a workpiece (desired configuration) after passing through swaging machine. That, after going through the swaging machine what emerges is a profile of a workpiece.

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According to Chambers Science and Te,chnology Dictionary the word "profiling" means producing the profile of a D die or other workpiece, with a grinding machine or a milling machine, incorporating a tracing mechanism. In the present case, we are concerned with rotary swaging machine which is based on rotary hammering process. The important thing to be noted is that the die is an important segment of that machine E and that is why in the present case, as stated above, the assessee has been assigning different, distinct code/design numbers for different shapes/types of hollow profile (See: page 132, Vol. II, of the Civil Appeal paper book).

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Before us, it has been urged that in any event the assessee is entitled to the benefit of CENVAT credit and SSI exemption. This point was not raised by the assessee before the Tribunal. However, we make it clear that we express no opinion on the entitlement of the assessee in that regard. However, our ,order will not preclude the assessee from making the claim for such entitlement in accordance with law.

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Before concluding we may clarify that the judgment of this Court in case of Hindustan Poles Corpn. v. .Commissioner of Central Excise, Calcutta - 2006 (4) SCC

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570

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

[2008) 5 S.C.R.

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A 85 has no application to the facts of the present case. In the case of Hindustan Poles (supra) the question which arose for determination before this Court was : whether joining of dutypaid pipes of different diameters by the assessee by welding would amount to manufacture. It was held that even after welding B there is no change in the basic identity or original character of MS welded pipes so as to make the same a marketable product. It is important to note that in that matter the original item was MS welded pipes. It was a case of connecting duty-paid pipes of different diameters. It was not the case where "folds" were to C be imparted on to the plane MS pipes which is the case herein. Further, ·in Hindustan Poles (supra) swaging machines were used. However, various functions are performed by swaging machines, welding is one of them. In numerous cases swaging machines are used by which the sizes of two pipes are welded 0^{through that machine. However, welding is not the only function} of swaging machine. Imparting of folds on to the plane pipes through the swaging machine containing dies of different shapes and sizes is the other function of that machine. That function was not for consideration in the case of Hindustan Poles (supra). Therefore, that judgment has no application to the facts E of the present case.

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Accordingly, the above civil appeals filed by the assessee are dismissed with no order as to costs.

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S.K.S.

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Appeals dismissed.

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M/S. Prachi Industries v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Chandigarh

Case brief

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M/S. Prachi Industries v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Chandigarh

Case brief

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