Hair-dye is not a hair lotion within the meaning of entry 36 of the Andhra Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1957.

GANGADHARA RAO, J.

( 1 ) THE question for our consideration in this case is, whether hair-dye is a cosmetic or toilet preparation, falling under any of the items mentioned in entry 36 of the First Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act" ). If it so falls, then it will be taxable at 8 per cent on the first sale. If it does not, then it will be taxable as general goods at 4 per cent at every point of sale. The Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal held that hair-dye is a hair lotion which is one of the items mentioned in entry 36.

( 2 ) THE petitioners are manufacturers and dealers in soaps, chemicals, cosmetics, and cattle-feed marketed under the brand name of "godrej Soaps Limited". They also manufacture hair-dye.

( 3 ) IN this revision it was submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that hair-dye is not a hair lotion, therefore, it cannot be taxed under entry 36 of the First Schedule to the Act. On the other hand, it was submitted by the learned Government Pleader that the hair-dye is a hair lotion, and therefore, it could be taxed under that entry.

( 4 ) ENTRY 36 of the First Schedule to the Act reads as follows :"36. Cosmetics and toilet At the point of first 8 paise in preparations, namely, sale in the state. the rupee. "face powders, talcum powders, hair tonics, hair oils, hair lotions, face creams and snows, pomades, depilatories, tooth powers, tooth paste and tooth brushes. It is agreed by the learned counsel for both the parties that if at all hair-dye must come under the item "hair lotion" but not under any other item mentioned in entry 36.

( 5 ) THE expression "cosmetics and toilet preparations" has not been defined in the Act. Entry 36 names certain items as cosmetics and toilet preparations. It means that the entry is an exhaustive enumeration of the items mentioned therein - see State of Tamil Nadu v. Pyare Lal Malhotra [1976] 37 STC 319 (SC) and Udata Narasimha Rao and Co. v. State of A. P. [1982] 51 STC 126. It is now well-settled by the decisions of the courts that these terms should be understood as they are understood in common parlance, in commercial sense, not in any technical sense : see State of U. P. v. Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. [1977] 39 STC 355 (SC ).

( 6 ) IN Websters Third New International Dictionary, the meaning of "lotion" is given as :" (1) The act of washing, ablution. (2) A liquid usu. aqueous medicinal preparation containing one or more insoluble substances and applied externally for skin disorders. (3) A liquid cosmetic preparation usu. containing alcohol and a cleansing, softening or astringent agent and applied to the skin, esp. , of the face and hands after shave. "

( 7 ) IN Shorter Oxford Dictionary, lotion is defined as :" (1) to wash; the action of washing (the body); washing with a medicinal preparation; (2) the washing of metals, medicines, etc. , in water to cleanse them; (3) a liquid preparation used externally to heal wounds, relieve pain, beautify the skin, etc. "

( 8 ) IN Random House Dictionary of the English Language, the meaning of "lotion" is given as follows :"1. A liquid usually aqueous or sometimes alcoholic preparation containing insoluble material in the form of a suspension or emulsion, intended for external application without rubbing, for skin conditions such as itching, infection, allergy, or the like. 2. A liquid cosmetic, usually containing agents for soothing or softening the skin, esp. , that of the face or hands : after-shave lotion; hand lotion. "

( 9 ) IN Chambers 20th Century Dictionary, the meaning of "lotion" given is : "a washing : a wash, medicinal or cosmetic. "

( 10 ) IN Random House Dictionary, the meaning of "dye" is given as :"1. A coloring material or matter : 2. A liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc. 3. Color or hue, especially, as produced by dyeing. 4. Of the deepest or blackest dye, of the most extreme or worst sort : A prevaricator of the

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