Commissioner of Central Excise, Bangalore-III Versus Stanzen Toyotetsu India Pvt. Ltd.>2011(04)LCX0151

2011(04)LCX0151

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE

N. Kumar and Ravi Malimath, JJ.

Commissioner of Central Excise, Bangalore-III

Versus

Stanzen Toyotetsu India Pvt. Ltd.

C.E.A. No. 96 of 2009 with CEA Nos. 97-99 of 2009 & 124-125 of 2009 decided on 8-4-2011

Cases Quoted -

Commissioner v. Cable Corporation of India - 2008(06)LCX0067 Eq 2008 (012) STR 0598 (Tribunal) - Referred [Para 5]

Advocated By -

Shri T.N. Venkata Reddy, Advocate, for the Appellant. Shri K.S. Ravishankar, Advocate, for the Respondent.

[Judgment per : N. Kumar, J.]. -

All these appeals are preferred by the revenue challenging the order of the Tribunal which held that the assessees are entitled to Cenvat credit on the service tax paid on outdoor catering services, transportation charges, rent-a-cab scheme and Group Health Insurance.

2. The assessees are manufacturers of parts and accessories of motor vehicles falling under Chapter 8708 99 00 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985. They are also availing Cenvat credit of duty paid on inputs, capital goods and service tax paid on services used in or in relation to manufacture of their final products.

3. By the scrutiny of the records, the revenue found that the assessee had availed and utilized input service tax credit relating to canteen services. They also noticed that the assessee had availed and utilized the input service tax credit relating to Rent-a-Cab service and on the Group Health Insurance services. Therefore a show cause notice was issued to the assessee asking him to show cause as to why the total input service credit availed in respect of outdoor catering, Rent-a-Cab Service and Group Health Insurance services should not be treated as wrong availment and utilization of input service credit and the same should not be recovered under Rule 14 of the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 and also interest and penalty on the duty leviable.

4. The assessee gave his reply and contended that all those services was availed by the assessee in or in relation to the manufacturing activity and therefore falls within the definition of "input service" and therefore they have rightly availed the benefit of Cenvat credit and they requested for dropping of further proceedings. However, the assessing authority overruling the said objections proceeded to pass an order holding that the assessee has availed and utilized Cenvat credit wrongly and levied duty, interest and penalty. Aggrieved by the said order the assessee preferred an appeal to the Commissioner of Appeals who dismissed the appeal upholding the order of the assessing authority. Aggrieved by the same, the assessee preferred an appeal to the Tribunal.

5. The Tribunal taking note of the judgment of the Tribunal in the case of CCE v. Cable Corporation of India - 2008(06)LCX0067 Eq 2008 (012) STR 0598 (Tri. - Mumbai) on the point and also taking note of the definition of input service contained in the Rules held that since Rent-a-Cab service is used for bringing employees to work in the factory for manufacture of goods it is to be considered as if used indirectly in relation to the manufacture or as a part of business activity for promoting the business as any facility given to the employees will result in greater efficiency and promotion of business. The service tax on outdoor catering services is paid by the manufacturer for running the canteen, irrespective of the fact that subsi-dised food is provided or not. Whether the cost of the food is borne by the worker or by the factory, the same will form part of the expenditure incurred by the manufacturer and will have a bearing on the cost of production. Therefore employment of outdoor caterer for providing catering service has to be considered as an input service relating to the business and the Cenvat credit in respect of the same credit is admissible. The Group Health Insurance Policy is taken to protect the interest of the employees either during the course of their journey to the factory or while working in the factory and the cost of that insurance premium is also a factor that the manufacturer takes into consideration in fixing the price of the goods manufactured. The service tax paid on the said service, the manufacturer is entitled to Cenvat credit and therefore the order passed by the original authority as well as the appellate authority were set aside and the benefit of Cenvat credit was restored. Aggrieved by the same, the revenue is in appeal.

6. Sri T.M. Venkata Reddy, the learned counsel appearing for the reve-nue assailing the impugned order contends that the definition of input service as contained in Rule 2(1) did not include Outdoor Catering, Rent-a-Cab Service or Group Health Insurance and therefore the Tribunal was in error in holding that those services fall within the definition of input service and in extending the benefit to the assessee. He also contended that those services are in the nature of welfare measure to the employees and it has nothing to do with the manufacturing activity of the assessee. Therefore he contends that the order of the Tribunal is liable to be set aside and the assessee is liable to pay duty, interest and penalty, in respect of wrong availment of Cenvat credit.

7. Per contra, the learned counsel Sri K.S. Ravishankar, appearing for the assesee contended that all the aforesaid three services are provided by the assessee to its employees and it falls within the definition of input service inasmuch as those services are used by the assessee indirectly or in relation to the manufacture of final products and clearance of final products from the place of removal and it also falls within the phrase "activities relating to business" as contained in the inclusive part of the definition and therefore the Tribunal was justified in setting aside the order passed by the authorities and granting the benefit. He also submits that the Tribunals throughout the country have taken the said view and therefore no case for interference with the order of the Tribunal is made out.

8. These appeals were admitted to consider the following substantial questions of law:

1. Whether the canteen services, provided in the factory of the M/s. Stanzen Toyotetsu India (P) Ltd., through the outdoor caterers, was an input service, in or in relation to manufacture, whether directly or indirectly, of the final products, within the meaning and comprehension of Rule 2(1) of the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004?

2. Consequently, whether the Cenvat credit of the service tax, so paid for receiving the outdoor caterer's services by them for providing canteen services to their employees, was eligible for availment and utilization in terms of Rule 3 read with Rule 2(1) and Rule 9 thereof?
3. Whether, the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, South Zonal Bench, Bangalore, while passing the Order No. 1419 to 1422/2008, dated 31-12-2008 [2008(12)LCX0131 Eq 2009 (014) STR 0316 (Tri. - Bang.)], had properly exercised their appellate function, while deciding the Appeal No. E/233 to 236/2008?

9. In order to answer the aforesaid questions it is necessary to have a glance at the definition of input service as contained in Section 2(1) reads as under :-

"(1) "input service" means any service, -
(i) used by a provider of taxable service for providing an output service, or

(ii) used by the manufacturer, whether directly or indirectly, in or in relation to the manufacture of final products and (clearance of final products upto the place of removal,)"

"and includes" services used in relation to setting up, modernization, renovation or repairs of a factory, premises of provider of output service or an office relating to such factory or premises, advertisement or sales promotion, market research, storage upto the place of removal, procurement of inputs, activities relating to business, such as accounting, auditing, financing, recruitment and quality control, coaching and training, computer networking, credit rating, share registry, and security, inward transportation of inputs or capital goods and outward transportation upto the place of removal;"

10. As is clear from the definition any service used by the manufacturer whether directly or indirectly in or in relation to the manufacture of final products constitutes input service. Various services are set out in the definition expressly, as constituting input service. It also includes transportation of inputs or capital goods and outward transportation upto the place of removal. Therefore the test is whether the service utilized by the assessee is for the manufacture of final product. Such service may be utilized directly or indirectly. Such service may be in the nature of transportation of inputs or capital goods, upto the factory premises or if the final product is removed from the factory premises for outward transportation upto the place of removal. It is an inclusive definition. The services mentioned in the Section are only illustrative and it is not exhaustive. Therefore when a particular service not mentioned in the definition clause is utilised by the assessee/manufacturer and service tax paid on such service is claimed as Cenvat credit, the question is what are the ingredients that are to be satisfied for availing such credit. If the credit is availed by the manufacturer, then the said service should have been utilized by the manufacturer directly or indirectly in or in relation to the manufacture of final products or used in relation to activities relating to business. If any one of these two tests is satisfied, then such a service falls within the definition of "input service" and the manufacturer is eligible to avail Cenvat credit of the service tax paid on such service.

11. It is also useful to refer to CAS-4 Standards wherein all the elements of costs which are required to be included in the costing of final product have been enumerated. It reads as under :

"4.1 Cost of Production : Cost of production shall consist of material consumed, direct wages and salaries, direct expenses, works overheads, quality control cost, research and development cost, packing cost, administrative overheads relating to production. To arrive at cost of production of goods dispatched for captive consumption, adjustment for stock of work-in-process, finished goods, recoveries for sales of scrap, wastage, etc., shall be made.

5.2 Direct wages and salaries shall include house rent allowance, overtime and incentive payments made to employees directly engaged in the manu-facturing activities.
o Contribution of provident funds and ESIS
o Bonus/ex-gratia payment to employees
o Provisions for retirement benefits such as gratuity and superannuation
o Medical benefits
o Subsidized food
o Leave with pay and holiday payment
o Leave encashment
o Other allowances such as children's education allowance, conveyance allowance which are payable to employees in the normal course of business etc."

Canteen Service:
12. It is in this context that when the assessee provides outdoor canteen facilities because of a statutory obligation imposed on him under Section 46 of the Factories Act, it becomes a condition of service as far as the employees are concerned. He has paid the service tax on outdoor canteen services. The said expenses incurred by the assessee will also be taken into consideration before fixing the price of the final product. It may be a welfare measure but certainly it is not a charity provided by the employer to the employees. It is an onerous legal obligation imposed on him. The cost incurred in rendering such service will be included in the cost of production.

Rent-A-Cab Service/Transportation:
8. Rent-a-Cab service is provided by the assessee to these workers to reach the factory premises in time which has a direct bearing on the manufacturing activity. In fact the employee is also entitled to conveyance allowance. It also would form part of a condition of service and the amounts spent on the conveyance of the employees is also a factor which will be taken into consideration by the employees in fixing the price of the final product. By no stretch of imagination can it be construed as a welfare measure. It is a basic necessity. To ensure that the work force comes on time at the work place, the employers have taken this measure which has a direct bearing on the manufacturing activity. At any rate it is an activity relating to business.

Insurance/Health Policy :
14. In so far as Insurance coverage to the employees is concerned in the course of employment if the employees suffer injury or dies, there is a vicarious liability imposed on the employer to compensate the employee. If the employer employs its own transportation facility in order to cover the risk which also includes the risk of workers who are covered in that statutory establishment. He has to take the insurance policy without which the vehicle cannot go on the road. Under the Workmen's Compensation Act he has to obtain the Insurance Policy covering the risk of the employees. The employees' State Insurance Act takes care of the health of the employees also and casts an obligation on the employer to provide insurance services. Under these circumstances, this Group Insurance Health Policy though is also a welfare measure is an obligation which is cast under the Statute that the employer has to obey. Section 38 of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, mandates that subject to the provisions of the Act, all employees in factories or establishments to which this Act applies shall be insured in the manner provided by this Act. May be the employees also have to contribute but the employer is under an obligation to take an insurance policy and contribute his share. Therefore, the said Group Insurance Health Policy taken by the assessee is a service which would constitute an activity relating to business which is specifically included in the input service definition.

15. Therefore, merely because these services are not expressly mentioned in the definition of input service it cannot be said that they do not consti-tute input service and the assessee is not entitled to the benefit of CENVAT credit. In fact, Rule 3 of the Cenvat [Credit] Rules, 2004, specifically provides that the manufacturer of final products shall be allowed to take credit, the service tax leviable under Section 66 of the Finance Act and paid on any input service received by the manufacturer of a final product. Therefore under the scheme of the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004, the service tax paid on all those services which the assessee has utilized directly or indirectly in or in relation to the final product is entitled to claim the credit. Therefore, the judgment of the Tribunal is legal and valid and is in accordance with law and does not suffer from any legal infirmity which calls for any interference. Hence, the substantial questions of law framed in these appeals are answered against the revenue and in favour of the assessee.

Equivalent 2011 (023) STR 0444 (Kar.)