COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, MADRAS vs T.I. MILLERS LTD. MADRAS & T.I. DIAMOND CHAIN, MADRAS

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals under Section 35L(b) of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, affirming the Appellate Tribunal's decision that the distributors were not 'related persons' to the manufacturers, T.I. Millers Ltd. and T.I. Diamond Chain. The Court held that the relationship between the manufacturers and distributors did not meet the criteria for related persons as defined in the Act. Additionally, it upheld the allowance of mark-up in pricing for display purposes, referencing the precedents set in Union of India v. Atic Industries Ltd. and Union of India v. Bombay Tyre International Ltd.