Krishna Bhavan Foods and Sweets ., In re

At the outset, we would like to make it clear that the provisions of both the Central Goods and Service Tax Act and the Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act are the same except for certain provisions. Therefore, unless a mention is specifically made to such dissimilar provisions, a reference to the Central Goods and Service Tax Act would also mean a reference to the same provisions under the Tamil Nadu Goods and Service Tax Act.

The subject appeal has been filed under Section 100 (1) of the Tamilnadu Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017/Central Goods & Services Tax Act 2017 by M/s. Krishna Bhavan Foods and Sweets (herein after referred as the Appellant), having their registered office at No. No.402,Big Bazzar Street, Gandhi Market, Triehy 620 008. They are manufactures of ready to prepare cook products like Dosai Mix, Tiffen Mix, Sweet Mix, Health Mix, Porridge Mix etc , in the name of “KRISHNA” and are registered under GST vide Registration No. 33AAFPR8076E1ZK. The appeal is filed against the Order No. 24/AAR/2021 Dated: 18.06.2021 passed by the Tamil Nadu State Authority for Advance ruling on the application for advance ruling filed by the appellant.

2.1 The appellant stated that they are manufacturing and selling the mixture of flour of grains/cereals, pulses mixed with spices and condiments, that their products are mainly used for preparing Indian Dishes like Idly Mixes, Dosai Mixes, Tiffen Mixes (Adai Mavoo, Millet Adai Mix, Uzhunthakali Mavoo, Ready Idiyappam, Bajji Mix), Health Mixes and Porridge Mixes.

2.2 They stated further that the order of the Authority for Advance Ruling is against the facts and settled proposition of Law, that the Authority for Advance Ruling failed to consider the nature of the business of the applicant, that the Advance Ruling Authority’s finding that the applicant’s product is falling under entry no.23 of Schedule-Ill of notification No. 1/2017-C.T (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and entry no.23 of Schedule-III of notification No. Il(2)/CTR/532(d-4)/2017 vide G.O. (Ms) No.62, dated 29.06.2017 falling under HSN code 2106 and gave a finding that the same would not fall under Entry No.59 falling under HSN code 1106 and Entry no.25 falling under HSN Code 0713 of Schedule-I Of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and the GST liability on all these products is 18% (9% CGST + 9% SGST) and that such findings are erroneous in the eyes of law and in facts.

2.3 They averred that the Authority for Advance Ruling failed to note that in point no.4.1 of the Authority for Advance Ruling order it can be evidenced that at the time of hearing the learned state jurisdictional authority who is the administrative jurisdiction over the applicant has stated that the applicant’s products fall under the chapter heading 2106 attracting GST 5% as per notification no.41/2017, dated 14.11.2017 through their written submissions.

2.4 They added that the HSN code 0713 related to the dried leguminous vegetables and its flour of leguminous plants falling under HSN Code 1106, that the mixture of various kinds of leguminous flours also falls under HSN code 0713 only, that both the entries falling under exempted category and if they are branded it is taxable at 5%. The appellant stated that their products are all branded.

2.5 The appellant referred to the Circular No.80 dated 31.12.2018 issued by DOR, MOF, GOT, containing clarification regarding GST rate and classification of some goods in which clarification has been issued with respect to classification of Chhatua or Sattu, which is a mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereals; that the purpose of this circular being discussed here is that the said circular appears to be squarely applicable in the instant case and that the issue regarding classification of Chhatua or Sattu as appearing in the said Circular reads

2.6 The appellant added that they are making ready to prepare the foods by further cooking; different types of ingredients such as flour of pulses and grams and spices are merely blended/mixed altogether after adding some portion of salt, Rice, Rice flour etc, for a kind of specific category of preparing tiffin , dishes and savorites; the above said mixes are same like the mixture of flour of vegetable plants which falls under serial no.78 of the CGST Notification No.2/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and serial no.78 , of the No.II(2)/CTR/532(d5)/2017 vide G.O. (Ms) No. 63 dated 29.06.2017 as amended.

2.7 They further stated that the Tamil Nadu Authority for Advance ruling gave the finding with regard to the sale of flour of leguminous vegetables even mixed with cereals falling under Customs Tariff Head (CTH 1102, 1106 etc) and liable to be taxed at 5% only of it is registered under the trade mark or otherwise exempted in the matter of M/s. Mahalakshmi Stores Vs The Assistant Commissioner (ST), Kamarajar Salai Assessment Circle, Madurai in Order No.55/ARA/2019, dated 23.12.2019 falling under Customs Tariff Head (CTH 1102, 1106 etc). Similarly the Gujarat Authority for Advance Ruling in the case of M/s. Dipakkumar Kantilal Chotai Vs The Commissioner of Central Goods and Service Tax & Central Excise, Ahmadabad in GUJ/GAAR/R/43/2020, dated 30.07.2020 and the issue had more elaborately discussed about the instant ready mixes for preparing the dishes and finally held that these instant ready mixes having mixture of flour of grains, pulses with spice powder are liable to be taxed at 5% only since it is branded; that this finding and facts are exactly similar to their product.

2.8 The appellant stated further that the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) means the food is already cooked and there is no need for further cooking; Ready-to-Cook (RTC) means it’s still raw but has been portioned & prepped as it is freshly frozen; the cooking needs to be done at home following the instructions that are given, Ready to eat applies to any product intended for human consumption without further preparation steps; thus it means that the products having sufficiently cooked so that they are safe to eat as they are with no further preparation. But in the case of ready to cook, cooking needs to done at home following the instructions that are given as recipe and printed in the packing label itself. They given examples for

1. Ready to eat foods examples:

Readymade parata
Readymade popcorn
Readymade Chappathi (Kakra-dry chappathi)
These products are just fry and heat without adding further raw materials before eating.

2. Ready to cook foods examples:

Dosa Mix
Idly Mix
Fenugreek Kazhi Mix
Uzhunthakali Mavoo
Vadai Mavoo
Porridge

Porridge is a traditionally a breakfast food that is simply made by cooking oats with water or milk and also having spices, fruits and sweetness can also be added according to taste.

2.9 They further averred that the Authority for Advance Ruling relied on the HSN entry 2106 and it can be evidenced from the said entry, that it covers nothing but a product which are in ready for consumption form. The entry 2106 is extracted hereunder

“All kinds of food mixes including instant food mixes, soft drink concentrates, Sharbat, Betel nut product known as “Supari”, Sterilized or pasteurized millstone, ready to eat packaged food and milk containing edible nuts with sugar or other ingredients, Diabetic foods; [other than Namkeens, bhujia, mixture, chabena and similar edible preparations in ready for consumption form].

Thus the entry itself speaks that the products meant for ready to eat and ready for consumption form. But their product does not fall under the above category and they have to be called as ready to cook which needs further cooking as per the instructions found in the packaging. In other words the appellant’s products are not in the form of ready to eat and also ready for consumption form; the instructions given in the packaging labels

2.10 Further the appellant added that the Authority for Advance Ruling has not considered the following points which are as follows:

3. The Appellant had sought for Advance Ruling on the following questions:

1 .Clarification on rate of GST for their products listed in the application and

2 .The applicable HSN CODE.

4. The AAR pronounced the following rulings:

The classification of the products is CTH 2106 and the applicable rate of tax is 9%CGST as per entry no.23 of Schedule-Ill of Notification No. 1/2017-C.T.(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and 9% SGST as per entry no. 23 of Schedule-Ill of Notification No. II(2)/CTR/532(d-4)/2017 vide G.O. (Ms) No. 62 dated 29.06.2017 as amended and the same, item-wise is tabulated as under:

5. The Appellant has filed the present appeal against the above decision.

The appellant submitted that the above ruling issued by the Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) is not sustainable in law and liable to be set aside for the following grounds:-

> The Authority for Advance Ruling failed to note that in point no.4.1 of the Authority for Advance Ruling order it can be evidenced that at the time of hearing the learned state jurisdictional authority who is the administrative jurisdiction over the applicant has stated that the applicant’s products fall under the chapter heading 2106 attracting GST 5% as per notification no.41/2017, dated 14.11.2017 through their written submissions.. But the lower authority took different views which are not connected with the applicants business transaction.

> Further most of the ingredients are falling under the exempted category. The Authority for Advance Ruling failed to appreciate the real nature and intent of the appellant’s product, which is manufactured and sold by them for the past several years, which is not liable to any tax either by sales tax authorities and central excise authorities, even after the same was put forth by the appellant at the time of personal hearing. The Authority further failed to appreciate the intention of the government and council to grant exemption on the food preparation. Hence this present appeal. Even according to the central excise tariff the appellants commodity fall under chapter 2106 and the lower authority failed to consider such discussion and it was elaborately discussed in the Gujarat Advance Ruling cited by them.

> They are a registered dealer under the GST Act having GSTIN No.33AAFPR8076ElZK; they are manufacturing and selling the mixture of flour of grains/cereals, pulses mixed with spices and condiments, that their products are mainly used for preparing Indian Dishes like Idly Mixes, Dosai Mixes, Tiffen Mixes (Adai Mavoo, Millet Adai Mix, Uzhunthakali Mavoo, Ready Idiyappam, Bajji Mix), Health Mixes and Porridge Mixes. These mixtures of flour are commonly and commercially known as instant mixer of flour. Since they are mainly dealing food products and they are registered under FSSI Act and having FSSI License No. 12418028000133. The raw materials used for manufacturing of these products are pulses and grams, grains/cereals, spices etc.

> the following are their main business activities:

a. Purchases food grains and pulses from open market

b. Such pulses are sorted and washed and then send to grinding machine.

c. Pulses are grinded into flour in grinding machine for e.g. where grams is purchased it results into gram flour by following grinding process. In certain cases, purchases grinded flour directly from the vendors.

d. Now, certain spices are mixed in flour and such mixed flour is packed in various packings.

e. Mixed flour (commercially known as instant mix flour) are sold in open market or through distributors to consumers.

f. End consumer of such instant mix flour is required to follow certain food preparation process before such product can be consumed as eatable.

g. Hence, instant mix flour cannot be consumed as it is, but it is required to follow certain cooking procedures before consumption. Hence the product manufactured and sold by the applicant is not ready to eat but can be said as ready to cook.

h. Ready to mix/instant mix flour contains mainly flours of grains and/or pulses like Bengal gram dal, gram dal, urad dal, chana dal, fnoong dal, paddy, sago, wheat granule, rice etc. where the content of flour is having major weightage. Most of the mixed flour products have flour content more than 70-90%.

i. Powder of spices like pepper, red chilli, coriander, ajma, sounff, jeera, turmeric, tamarind, iodised salt, sugar, mustard, lemon, condiments, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, turmeric, cumin, clove, curry leaves, asafoetida, baciliyam, black pepper, tej patta, curry leaves bundian, fennel seeds, anise seeds, bay leaf, neem leaves (sweet), flavours etc are added in a very little quantity to make the product tasty and delicious. ‘ ‘

j. At the processing unit, the applicant is not carrying any process of cooking. The applicant carries on only mixing process, whereby spices condiments and flavours are mixed with flour of grains, cereals and pulses. Flour of grains, cereals and pulses are used in its primary form.

k. Instant mix/ready to mix flour is packed in sealed packing of 175 gms 200/500 grams and 1 kg. On packing material, preparation process/recipe is printed to prepare food from such instant mix.

l. Instant mix/ready mix flour is by all means not a processed food, neither cooked food, nor semi-processed food, nor semi cooked food, nor preserved food or not a ready to eat food. Instant mixed flour is a flour of grains and pulses mixed with spices, condiments and flavours.

> After introduction of new GST regime they were confused about the classification of goods under the GST schedule and its applicable rate of tax; some of the manufacturer having similar line of business charging rate of tax at 18% and some of them charging 5% and also as exempted. They have furnished the probable classification of HSN codes.

> They are manufacturer and seller of ready to prepare the cook products like in the name of “KRISHNA”, Dosai Mixes, Idly Mix, Tiffen Mix, Sweet Mixes, Health Mix and also Porridge Mixes; that the preparations of above food products they have mixture the various ingredients (commodities in various rate of tax slabs) used for the manufacturing and sold as 175gm, 200gm, 500gm and lKg packet. The name of product and manufacturing details of the various products under consideration along with the percentage of mixes of ingredients were detailed.

> They added that the Government of India has issued Circular No.80 dated 31.12.2018 containing clarification regarding GST rate and classification of some goods in which clarification has been issued with respect to classification of Chhatua or Sattu, which is a mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereals. The purpose of this circular being discussed here is that the said circular appears to be squarely applicable in the instant case. They pleaded that they are making ready to prepare the foods; the above mentioned different types of ingredients such as flour of pulses and grams and spices which are mere blending/mixing altogether after adding some portion of salt, Rice, Rice flour etc, for a kind of specific category of preparing tiffin, dishes and savorites were mixed. The above said mixes are same like the mixture of flour of vegetable plants which is falls under serial no.78 of the CGST Notification No.2/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and serial no.78 of the No.II(2)/CTR/532(d5)/2017 vide G.O. (Ms) No. 63 dated 29.06.2017 as amended.

> In this connection they relied on the Gujarat Authority for Advance Ruling in AAR No.GUJ/GAAR/R/43/2020, dated 30.07.2020 where in which the members are clearly stated that

1. Khaman mix flour, Gota mix flour, Handwa mix flour, Dahi wada mix flour, Dalwada mix flour, Meduvada mix flour, Pudla mix flour, Moong bhajiya mix flour, Chorafali mix flour, Bhajiya mix flour, Dhokla mix flour, Idli mix flour and Dosa mix flour are classifiable under subheading 11061000 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975(51 of 1975). They appear at Entry No.59 of Schedule-! Of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and the GST liability on all these products is 5% (2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST).

2 Upma mix flour, Rava idli mix flour and muthiya mix flour are classifiable under sub-heading 23023000 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) whereas Khichu mix flour is classifiable under subheading 23024000 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975). They appear at Entry No.103A of Schedule-1 of Notification No.01/2017 Central Tax (Rate), dated 28.06.2017 and the GST liability on these products is 5% (2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST).

3. Chutney powder is classifiable under Sub-heading 07139099 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975(1 of 1975). The said product appeared at Entry No.23 of Schedule-Ill of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 till 14.11.2017 and at Entry No. 100 A of Schedule-I of the said notification with effect from 15.11.2017. The GST liability on the said product was 18 %( 9% CGST + 9% SGST) upto 14.11.2017 and 5 %( 2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST) with effect from 15.11.2017.

4. The supply of Gota Mix and Chutney powder will be considered as a mixed supply’ of goods and will be considered as a supply of Gota Mix (falling under Sub heading 11061000 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975)) on which the GST liability will be 5%(2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST). The supply of Bhajiya Mix and Chutney powder will be considered as a mixed supply’ of goods and will be considered as a supply of Bhajiya Mix (falling under Sub-heading 11061000 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975)) on which the GST liability will be 5%(2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST).

> It is just and necessary to extract the similarities of the products dealt by the applicant and the products discussed in the Advance Ruling in the both the cases are mostly having similar nature. But the name affixed for marking their products alone was different due to their geographical area in those products. For example the Idly mix flour is nothing but a composition of Rice, Urad dal, Iodised salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric acid. The very same kind of product dealt by the appellant was termed as Krishna Kanchipuram Idly mix. It could be evidenced from the above said composition of comparison of both products; the major ingredient is Rice Flour with various other similar portions of ingredients. In the Gujarat Advance Ruling the similar kind of products as called as Idly mix. The appellant in their product termed the name as Krishna Kanchipuram Idly mix. Similarly the leguminous flour mixed with cereal flour are also the kind of flour mix which has been specifically dealt in Tamil Nadu Advance Ruling in the case of Mahalakshmi Stores. Further the major ingredients of the cereal flour mixed with little amount of spice flour are also called as flour mix in the market. Accordingly to the clarification of sattu mavoo mentioned in the Circular No.80 dated 31.12.2018 given by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes that the flour of dal and cereal even after adding some spices with salt remains to be the flour of pulses and grams or flour of cereals. For the reason that those products were mainly used for preparing the Indian Dishes.

> The similarities of the products dealt in Gujarat Advance Ruling with that of applicant products.

The appellant requested this Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling to provide an opportunity of personally being heard to them in the present appeal and prayed that the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling may be pleased to allow the appeal by setting aside the order of the Authority for Advance Ruling and grant relief as prayed by the appellant and pass suitable orders which may deem fit and proper under circumstances of the case and thus render justice.

6. PERSONAL HEARING: The Appellant was granted personal hearing in Digital mode (Virtual Personal Hearing) on the consent of the appellant, as required under law before this Appellate Authority on 21.12.2021. The Authorized representatives of the Appellant Thiru. R. Thiagarajan, Advocate appeared for hearing. He vide e-mail dated 18.12.2021 filed a Memo which was taken on record. He reiterated his submissions and stated that the issue to be decided is whether their products fall under CTH 1106 or CTH 2106. He also stated that the products are not Ready- to-eat but are ‘Ready -to-cook’ foods. When asked as to where the ‘Ready -to-cook foods stands classified, the authorized representative referred to the Circular issued by the Ministry of finance and stated that their products are classifiable under CTH 1106. He requested to consider the written submissions made by him and the various AAR ruling referred to by him and decide the issue on merits.

Discussion

7.1 We have carefully considered the various submissions of the appellant and the order of the Lower Authority. The appellants contended primarily that their products are mixture of flours of cereals and dried leguminous and they strongly relied on the Circular No.80 dated 31.12.2018 issued by DOR, MOF, GOT clarifying GST rate and classification of among other goods Chhatua or Sattu, which is a mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereal. The circular is extracted below7 for the sake of convenience:

Applicability of GST on Chhatua orSattu:

(3.1 Doubts have been raised regarding applicability of GST on Chhatua (Known as ((Sattu’ in Hindi Belt).

3.2 Chhatua or Sattu is a mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereals. HSN code 1106 includes the flour, meal and powder made from peas, beans or lentils (dried leguminous vegetables falling under 0713). Such flour improved by the addition of very small amounts of additives continues to be classified under HSN code 1106. If unbranded, it attracts Nil GST (S. No. 78 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017) and if branded and packed it attracts 5% GST (S. No. 59 of schedule I of notification No. 1/20 17- Central Taxes (Rate) dated 28. 06.2017).”

Let us examine the contentions of the circular whether it would squarely applicable to the products manufactured and sold by the appellant. First it is stated that mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereals falls under HSN 1106 and second that such flour improved by the addition of very small amounts of additives continues to be classified under HSN code 1106.

The products of the appellant can be classified broadly as follows::

(i) Dosai Mixes

(ii) Idly Mixes

(iii) Tiffen Mixes

(iv) Health Mix

(v) Porridge Mixes

The composition of the various products under the category “dosai mixes” as declared by the appellant are as under:

a. Krishna Rava Dosai Mix

b. Krishna Special Rava Dosai Mix

c. Krishna Ragi Rava Dosai Mix

d. Krishna Sola Dosai Mix

e. Krishna Kambu Dosai Mix

f. Krishna Ragi Dosa Mix [HSN 2106]

g. Krishna Multigrain Dosai Mix

h. Krishna Horse Gram Dosai Mix

i. Krishna Green Leaf Dosai Mix

The composition of the various products under the category “Idly mixes” as declared by the appellant:

a. “KRISHNA” Kanchipuram Idly Mix

b. “KRISHNA” Oats Idly Mix

c. “KRISHNA” Masala Idly Mix

d. “KRISHNA” Wheat Rava Idly Mix

e. “KRISHNA” Rava Idly Mix

e. “KlRISHNA” Ragi and Bajra Idly Mix

e. “KRISHNA” Rice Idly Mix

The composition of the various products under the category “Tiffin mixes” as declared by the appellant:

a. “KRISHNA” Adai Mavola Mix

b. “KRISHNA” Millet Adai Mix

c. “KRISHNA” Kitchadi Mix

d. “KRISHNA” Parota Mix

e. “KRISHNA” Venpongal Mix

f. “KRISHNA” Uzhunthakali Mavoo

g. “KRISHNA” Kesari Mix 200gm

h. “KRISHNA” Payasam Mix

i. “KRISHNA” Vadai Mavoo

j. “KRISHNA” Masai Vadai Mavoo

k. “KRISHNA” Pattanam Pakoda Mix

l. “KRISHNA” Ready Idiyappam

m. “KRISHNA” Baiji Mix

n. “KRISHNA” Wheat Khara Bath Mix

o. “KRISHNA” Rice Upma Mix

p. “KRISHNA” Fenugreek Kazhi Mix

The composition of the various products under the category “Health mixes” as declared by the appellant:

a. “KRISHNA” Health Mavoo Mix

b. “KRISHNA” Sprouted Roasted Health Mix

a. “KRISHNA” Sprouted Roased Health Mix (Badam)

b. “KIRISHNA” Sprouted Roased Health Mix (Chaco)

The composition of the various products under the category “Porridge mixes” as declared by the appellant:

a. “KRISHNA” Bajra Porridge Mix 500gm

b. “KRISHNA” Jowar porridge Mix 500gm

c. “Krishna” Raggi Porridge Mix 500g

d. “KRISHNA” Horse gram Porridge Mix 200gm

e. “KRISHNA” Greengram Porridge Mix 200gm

f. “KRISHNA” Multigrain Porridge Mix 200gm

g. “KRISHNA” Little Rice & Foxtail Rice Porridge Mix 100gm

h. “KRISHNA” Red Rice & Bajra Porridge Mix 100gm

i. “KIRISHNA” Ragi & Hand Grinded Rice Porridge Mix 100gm

j. “KRISHNA” Yellow Corn & Rice Porridge Mix 100gm

k. “KRISHNA” Kodu Rice & Sorghum Porridge Mix 100gm

l. “KRISHNA” Rice & Dhall Porridee Mix 100gm

m. “KRISHNA” Samba Wheat & Barnyard Rice Porridge Mix 100gm

The issue to be decided is whether these products’ classification as relied on circular No.80, would fall under mere mixture of flour of ground pulses and cereals and such flour improved by the addition of very small amounts of additives or not. When we go through the details furnished by the appellant as extracted above, it clearly shows that they are having ingredients of flour as major part, other spices are also added so as to entice the consumers to use them for consumption. Had it been mere mixture of dried leguminous vegetable flour, the common consumer does not attract to these products. Thus the products manufactured would certainly have value addition which would basically distinguish the products of the appellants from that of mere mixture of various flours of cereals. Here the explanatory note under 1106 which says that

11.06 Flour, meal and powder of the dried leguminous vegetables of heading 0713, of sago or of roots or tubers of heading 0714 or of the products of Chapter 8:

1106.10 – Of the dried leguminous vegetables of heading 07.13

1106.20 -Of sago or of roods or tubers of heading 07.14

1106.30 – Of the products of Chapter 8

(A) Flour, meal and powder of the dried leguminous vegetables of heading 0713:

This heading includes the flour, meal and. powder made from peas, beans or lentils; they are mainly used for prepared soups or purees.

The heading does not cover:

(a) Non-defatted soys flour (heading 12.08)

(b) Locust bean flour (heading 12.12)

(c) Soups and broths (whether in liquid, solid or powder) with a basis of vegetable flours or meals (21.04)”.

The relevant entries contained in the GST law vide Notification No. 1/2017- Central Tax Rate dated 28-06-2017 are as follows:

Thus the above explanatory note and entry in serial number 59 of Schedule I of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017  speaks about the flours of cereals and dried leguminous vegetables. Whereas the products of the appellants do contain the flour and the same is not meant for supply as flour but meant as dosai mix, idly mix, vada mix, tiffin mix, health mix and porridge mix which are the products for human consumption by way of cooking as directed in the container label. Hence these products are not mere mixture of dried leguminous vegetable or cereals and hence not classifiable under HSN 1106.

7.2 The explanatory notes under CTH 2106 reads as follows:

21.06 – Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included.

2106.10 – Protein concentrates and textured protein substances

2106.90 – Other

Provided that they are not covered by any other heading of the Nomenclature, this heading covers :

(A) Preparations for use, either directly or after processing (such as cooking, dissolving or boiling in water, milk, etc.), for human consumption.

(B) Preparations consisting wholly or partly of foodstuffs, used in the making of beverages or food preparations for human consumption. The heading includes preparations consisting of mixtures of chemicals (organic acids, calcium, salts, etc.) with foodstuffs (flour, sugar, milk powder, etc.), for incorporation in food preparations either as ingredients or to improve some of their characteristics (appearance, keeping qualities, etc.) (see the General Explanatory Note to Chapter38).

This clearly states that Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included; preparations for use, either directly or after processing (such as cooking, boiling in water or milk,etc.) for human consumption. The products of the appellants need to be cooked for consuming the same. These products have not been specifically mentioned in HSN 1106 or 0713 as contended by the appellants. Further the process made by the appellants to make them appealable to the consumers by way of taste and such characteristic addition to the mixture of flour would make them distinct from normal flour. As the explanatory note to HSN 2106 states about improvement of characteristic of food preparations. The products of ready to cook mix has not been specified elsewhere and therefore, they need to be classified under the HSN 2106 falling under serial number 23 of Schedule III of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017

7.3 The appellant has relied on the decision of Gujarat Advance Ruling Authority, in the case of Dipak Kumar claiming similarity between the products. Though Advance Ruling is applicable only to the person seeking the said ruling, the jurisdictional authority and the concerned Authority, it is pertinent to mention that the relied upon decision has been appealed by the Department and the Gujarat Appellate Authority in the said case of Dipak Kumar, has held that the Instant Mixes’ are classifiable under CTH 2106 and are covered under Sr. No. 23 of Schedule-Ill of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 as amended and are leviable to GST @ 18% (9%CGST+9%SGST)

7.4 Further the appellant at the time of personal hearing has stated that the learned State jurisdictional authority who has the administrative jurisdiction over the applicant, has stated that the applicant’s products fall under the chapter heading 2106 attracting GST 5% as per Notification No.41/2017,dated. 14.11.2017 through their written submissions. It is worth mentioning that the remarks of the Jurisdictional Officer is not substantiated and it is his comments/opinion and this Authority is not bound by their observations. Further, Advance Ruling is a facility extended to the applicant to have clarity on the tax liability of their supplies being made/proposed to be made and this authority examines the facts independently. Also, under Section 60 of the GST Act 2017, the appellants might have availed the opportunity of provisional assessment before the jurisdiction Assessing officer. Having failed to avail this, the appellant need not raise the issue before this forum.

8. In light of the above, we rule as under:

RULING

For reasons discussed above, we do not find any reason to interfere with the order of the Tamil Nadu Advance Ruling Authority in this matter and accordingly the appeal fails and dismissed.