2007 (6) TMI 189 - AT - Central Excise

Cenvat credit - Mere for the reason that dealer mentioned incorrect address of appellant factory in invoice, it can t be said that appellant availed credit irregularly moreover, dealer has addressed a letter to appellant-assessee that by mistake he put incorrect address in invoice - there is sufficient record to establish that credit had not been availed irregularly credit not deniable

Summary

Issues:
1. Incorrect availing of Cenvat credit due to a mistake in the address on Central Excise invoices.
2. Imposition of penalty by lower authority.
3. Applicability of case laws regarding denial of modvat credit when the invoice is addressed to a different unit.

Analysis:
1. The appeal was filed against the Order-in-Original (OIO) passed by the Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals), Mangalore, regarding the incorrect availing of Cenvat credit due to a mistake in the address on Central Excise invoices. The appellant had two factories, one in Mangalore and another in Boisar, Maharashtra. The goods were dispatched with the address of the Maharashtra factory instead of Mangalore. However, it was established that the Maharashtra factory did not receive the consignment, and no Cenvat credit was taken by them. The appellant provided evidence that the duty credit had not been availed by any other person. The lower authority demanded the amount alleging improper availing of credit and imposed a penalty, which was upheld by the Commissioner (Appeals).

2. The lower authority's main reason for denying the credit was the discrepancy in the dates of dispatch and credit availing. The appellant argued that they had taken credit two days after dispatch, not on the same day as claimed by the lower authority. The appellant cited various decisions to support their case that when the invoice is addressed to a different unit, modvat credit should not be denied. After hearing the arguments, the Member (T) found sufficient evidence to establish that the credit had not been irregularly availed. The dealers also acknowledged the mistake in addressing the invoices. Consequently, the impugned order was set aside, and the appeal was allowed with consequential relief.

3. The issue of the applicability of case laws regarding denial of modvat credit when the invoice is addressed to a different unit was crucial in this judgment. The Member (T) considered the arguments presented by the appellant's counsel along with the cited case laws to determine that the credit had not been improperly availed. The decisions referenced by the appellant supported the position that when the invoice is addressed to a different unit of the appellants, denial of modvat credit is not justified. This analysis played a significant role in overturning the lower authority's decision and providing relief to the appellant.

This detailed analysis of the judgment highlights the key issues involved, the arguments presented by the parties, and the legal principles applied by the Appellate Tribunal in reaching its decision.