JUDGMENT

Kirpal, J.-The common question which arises for consideration in these cases relates to the interpretation of an entry in the Karnataka Tax on Entry of Goods Act, 1979 (for short "the Act") in so far it relates to furnace oil.

2. In the three sets of cases, there are different periods of assessment which are involved. In the case of Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. (Civil Appeal Nos. 1896-1899/1997 and 1900-1903/1997), the two periods in question are 1982-85 and 1986-89. In the case of M/s. Vikrant Tyres Limited (Civil Appeal No. 3697/2000), the period involved is 1992-93. In case of M/s. Graphite India Limited (Civil Appeal No. 3696/2000), we are concerned with the period post-1998.

3. Under Section 3 of the aforesaid Act, tax on entry of goods specified in the First Schedule into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein can be levied at the rates specified by the State Government by notification. It is common ground that prior to amendment of the Act in 1992, there was one Schedule which specified the various items on which entry tax could be levied. Entry No. 11 of the said Schedule was as follows :

"All petroleum products, that is to say, petrol, diesel, crud