Cellular Mobile Service Provider is not entitled to Avail CENVAT Credit on Tower Parts & Pre-fabricated Buildings

[CBEC Instruction F. No. 267/60/2014-CX.8 dated 11^th November 2014]

Subject: Judgement of Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd. vs The Commissioner of Central Excise, Pune III in Central Excise Appeal No. 73 of 2012 and 119 of 2012 (reported as 2014-TIOL-1452-HC-MUM-ST).

Attention is invited to the judgement of Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd. vs The Commissioner of Central Excise, Pune III in Central Excise Appeal No. 73 of 2012 and 119 of 2012 (reported as 2014-TIOL-1452-HC-MUM-ST), wherein regarding the issue whether Cellular Mobile Service Provider is entitled to avail CENVAT credit on Tower Parts & Pre-fabricated buildings, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has held in favour of revenue. While relying on the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Saraswati Sugar Mills vs CCE Delhi, (2011(270)ELT 465) = 2011-TIOL-73-SC-CX, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has, inter-alia, observed as under:

“It would be misconceived and absurd to accept that tower is a part of antenna. An accessory or a part of any goods would necessarily mean such accessory or part which would be utilized to make the goods a finished product or such articles which would go into the composition of another article. The towers are structures fastened to the earth on which the antennas are installed and hence cannot be considered to be an accessory or part of the antenna. The position in this regard stands fortified from the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of "Saraswati Sugar Mills vs CCE Delhi, (2011 (270) ELT 465) = 2011-TIOL-73-SC-CX". From the definition of the term ‘input’ as defined in 2 (k) of the Credit rules it is clear that the Appellant is a service provider and not a manufacturer of capital goods. A close scrutiny of the definition of the term capital goods and input indicates that only those goods as used by a manufacturer would qualify for credit of the duty paid. As observed hereinabove a service provider like the appellant can avail of the credit of the duty paid only if the goods fall within the ambit of the definition of capital goods as defined under Rule 2(a)(A) of the Credit Rules. The contention of the appellant that they are entitled for the credit of the duty paid towers and PFB and printers is defeated by the very wording of the definition of input. In any case towers and PFB are in the nature of immovable goods and are non-marketable and non-excisable. If this be the position then towers and parts thereof cannot be classified as inputs so as to fall within the definition of Rule 2(k) of the credit rules. We clarify that we are not deciding any wider question but restricting our conclusion to the facts and circumstances which have fell for our consideration in these appeals.

34. We therefore find no infirmity or illegality in the findings as recorded by the tribunal in holding that the subject items are neither capital goods under Rule 2(a) nor inputs under Rule 2(k) of the Credit Rules and hence CENVAT credit of the duty paid thereon was not admissible to the appellants. The appeals are devoid of merit and accordingly stand rejected. No orders as to costs.”

2. The above decision of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court is brought to notice of all concerned for compliance.