HINDUSTAN POLYMERS ETC. ETC. vs COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether the value of drums supplied by the buyer should be included in the assessable value of fusel oil/styrene monomer under Section 4(4)(d) of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944. The Court held that since the drums were supplied by the buyer and not manufactured or purchased by the appellant, their value could not be included in the assessable value. The Court affirmed the Collector (Appeals) decision, emphasizing that only necessary packing for the goods to be sold in the wholesale market should be included in the assessable value, thus ruling in favor of the appellant.