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1988 (10) TMI 40 - SC - Central ExciseWhether proper notice had been issued/ Held that - Considering the contentions urged and do not find any ground which supports the allegation that there had been fraud, collusion or any wilful mis-statement or suppression of facts on the part of the respondent. Therefore, Rule 11 -A clearly applies to the facts of the instant case. In that view of the matter, the appeals were correctly allowed by the Tribunal. On careful examination of the facts of the case and the contentions raised, we are of the opinion that there is no merit in the appeals before us. The appeals, therefore, fail and are accordingly dismissed.
Issues:
- Proper issuance of notice under Section 11-A of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944. - Validity of demand for recovery of duty amount. - Allegations of fraud, collusion, willful mis-statement, or suppression of facts. Analysis: 1. Proper Issuance of Notice under Section 11-A: The case revolved around the issuance of a notice under Section 11-A of the Act. The respondent argued that the notice issued to them was not within the required time frame. The Supreme Court noted that a demand for recovery under the Act must comply with Section 11-A, which stipulates the period within which a notice must be served. The Court referenced the provisions of Section 11-A, emphasizing the time limit of six months for serving such notices. In this case, the notice served on the respondent exceeded the six-month period. The Tribunal also highlighted that the Assistant Collector did not have the authority to reopen assessments finalized by the Bombay Collectorate, citing a relevant precedent. Consequently, the Tribunal ruled in favor of the respondent based on the procedural non-compliance with Section 11-A. 2. Validity of Demand for Recovery of Duty Amount: The dispute also centered on the demand for recovery of duty amounting to Rs. 51,261.88 and Rs. 38,460.12 made by the Revenue. The Assistant Collector confirmed the demand for duty based on the allegation that the respondent had availed an incorrect set-off of duty on raw materials not falling under Tariff Item 68. The appeals against these orders were rejected, leading the respondent to approach the Tribunal. However, the Tribunal, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, allowed the respondent's claim, emphasizing the absence of fraud, collusion, or willful mis-statement on the respondent's part. The Supreme Court concurred with the Tribunal's decision, dismissing the appeals due to the lack of merit. 3. Allegations of Fraud, Collusion, Willful Mis-statement, or Suppression of Facts: The Court thoroughly examined the contentions raised regarding fraud, collusion, willful mis-statement, or suppression of facts. After careful consideration, the Court found no grounds to support these allegations against the respondent. Consequently, Rule 11-A of the Act, which deals with recovery of duties not levied or paid, was deemed inapplicable to the case. The Court concluded that the appeals failed on these grounds and were thus dismissed, with no order as to costs due to the circumstances of the case. In conclusion, the Supreme Court upheld the Tribunal's decision in favor of the respondent, emphasizing the procedural non-compliance with Section 11-A, the absence of fraudulent activities by the respondent, and the lack of merit in the appeals.
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