Page 150 - ELT_2nd_15th April 2020_Vol 372_Part
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196                         EXCISE LAW TIMES                    [ Vol. 372

                                     spondence were exchanged between the parties. There were time and again or-
                                     ders by the authorities, which were challenged to the superior authorities and
                                     matters were remanded. The time was consumed thereunder but, ultimately, the
                                     competent authority passed an order  on 23-1-2017, which was issued on 24-1-
                                     2017. Operative part whereof reads as under :-
                                            “(i)   I allow the benefit of exemption of Notification No. l97/76-Cus., dated
                                                  2-8-1976 for the five B/Es mentioned at Sr. No. 1 to 5 in the table as
                                                  discussed above, considering the same as provisionally assessed BOE
                                                  as on date.
                                            (ii)   I allow the benefit of exemption of Notification No. 515/86-cus dated
                                                  30-12-1986 read with Notification No. 25/87-Cus., dated 23-1-1987 for
                                                  the ten B/Es mentioned at Sr. No 6 to 15 in the table-B as discussed
                                                  above considering the same as provisionally assessed as on date.
                                            (iii)   The benefit of  exemption  of  Notification  No. 25/87-Cus., dated
                                                  23-1-1987 will also be extended to BOE No. F-00612, dated 17-2-1987,
                                                  when the same will be produced.
                                            (iv)   A Chart of Custom duty payable on final assessment of the 15 BOE is
                                                  attached as Annexure-A with this Order-in-Original.
                                            (v)   Subsequent to this final assessment order of the BOEs as detailed above, the
                                                  importer will be required to file refund claim under Section 27 of the Customs
                                                  Act, 1962 and rules framed thereunder within the specified period. The re-
                                                  fund claim shall be disposed of in accordance with the principles of ‘Unjust
                                                  Enrichment’ on merits.
                                                 This order is issued without prejudice to any other action against the
                                            importers for the acts of omissions and commissions discussed above or re-
                                            lated thereto under the Customs Act of 1962 or any other law of the coun-
                                            try.”
                                                                       (emphasis supplied)
                                            2.3  The petitioner  appears to have  approached the authority under
                                     communication dated 16th August, 2017 produced on the compilation at page
                                     115 for seeking refund with interest, which were totalling to Rs. 22,44,88,330.71.
                                     The reminder was sent on 10th November, 2017, which is also produced in com-
                                     pilation at page 117. The respondents sent communication on 21-11-2017 to the
                                     petitioner seeking clarification on discrepancy/deficiency which they noticed, for
                                     ready reference, the same deserve to be extracted and reproduced here verbatim.
                                            “Please refer to your refund claim application letter dated 16-8-2017 (re-
                                            ceived in this office on 21-8-2017)  for Refund of, Customs duty of  Rs.
                                            5,41,82,641.08 & Interest of Rs.  17,03,05,689.63 (Total claim of  Rs.
                                            22,44,88,330.71).
                                                 In this connection, it may be noted that during the scrutiny of your
                                            above claim, it is found that you have not complied with all procedural re-
                                            quirements prescribed and  have also not  submitted requisite documents
                                            leading to delay in processing of refund claims. The following discrepan-
                                            cies/deficiencies have been noticed;
                                            (1)  The refund claim application is not filed in the proper and prescribed
                                            performa as provided under Section 27 of the Customs Act, 1962.

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