Full Judgment
2. We have heard Shri K.C. Agarwal for the Revenue and Shri D.B. Shroff the ld. Advocate for the Respondents.
3. The second ground for appeal is that the notification speaks of "fabrics" whereas the elastic tapes are not called "fabrics" in trade parlance. Shri Agarwal chose not to comment on this ground but we find that the show cause notice itself proceeds on the assumption that the goods fall under Chapter 60, the heading of which was "Knitted, crocheted fabrics". The first ground is that the process to which the elastic tapes was subjected would make for application of the exclusion clause in the proviso.Siddeshwari Cotton Mills (P) Ltd. v. Union of India -1989 (39) E.L.T. 498 (S.C.).
In this judgment the Court had taken cognizance of wording of Notification No. 230/77-C.E. In interpretating the notification, the Court had taken into account the definition in Section 2(f) of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944. The Court observed that for a processes to be likened to the process of bleaching, dying, printing etc., the process must be of a such nature so as to impart a change of lasting character to the fabric. The Collector's finding that the process in the case was merely of rolling which did not result in any change in the structure of the fabric has not been contested in the appeal memorandum. We therefore endorse the view of the Collector that the process undertaken on the fabric did not amount to a process which would render the benefit of the notification as not available.
5. On this observation we uphold the Collector's order and dismiss this appeal.