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Issues:
1. Classification of imported goods as books under Tariff Heading 49.01 or 49.11 and eligibility for duty exemption. 2. Challenge against duty imposition and penalty for importing books. 3. Appeal by the Revenue to enhance penalty imposed on the appellant. 4. Interpretation of previous Tribunal decisions regarding the classification of imported printed materials as books for duty exemption. Detailed Analysis: 1. The appeals involved the classification of imported goods as books under Tariff Heading 49.01 or 49.11 and the eligibility for duty exemption. The appellants, including M/s. Pearl Engineering Polymers, imported books from M/s. Zimmer, Germany, under an agreement for setting up Polyethyleme Terephthalic Chips. The issue was whether the imported goods qualified as books under Chapter 49 of the tariff entry and were exempt from duty under specific notifications. The adjudicating authority initially rejected the contention, leading to duty imposition and penalty, which was challenged in the appeal. 2. In a similar case involving M/s. Gujarat Perstorp Electronics Ltd., the facts and issues regarding the liability to duty on imported books and the applicability of exemption notifications were reiterated. The main focus was on whether the imported items could be considered as books for duty exemption purposes. 3. An appeal by the Revenue (C/466/97-D) aimed to enhance the penalty of Rs. 50 Lacs imposed on the appellant in appeal C/417/97-D. The dispute revolved around the adequacy of the penalty imposed, indicating a disagreement between the Revenue and the appellant regarding the penalty amount. 4. The Tribunal referred to a previous decision in Parasrampuria Synthetics Ltd. v. Commissioner of Customs, New Delhi, which questioned the correctness of the law established in earlier cases. The Larger Bench of the Tribunal concluded that printed materials imported as books fell under Tariff Heading 49.01 and were entitled to complete exemption from customs duty as "printed books." This decision was considered binding, emphasizing that no duty was leviable on the imported printed books. Consequently, the appeals by the assesses were allowed, overturning the duty and penalty orders. In conclusion, the Tribunal ruled that the imported goods were classified as books not subject to duty, leading to the dismissal of the Revenue's appeal for enhancing the penalty. Any deposited amounts were to be returned to the parties promptly in accordance with the Customs Act.
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