Section 132 - Validation of certain action taken - Finance Act, 2001

132. Validation of certain action taken Any action taken or anything done or omitted to be done or purporting to have been taken or done or omitted to be done under any rule, notification or order made or issued under the Central Excise Act, or any notification or order issued under such rule at any time during the period commencing on and from the 28th day of February, 1944 and ending with the day the Finance Bill, 2001 receives the assent of the President shall be deemed to be and to always have been, for all purposes, as validly and effectively taken or done or omitted to be done as if the amendment made by section 131 of the Finance Act, 2001 had been in force at all material times and, accordingly, notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority,- (a) any action taken or anything done or omitted to be done, during the said period in respect of any excisable goods under any of such rule, notification or order, shall be deemed to be and shall be deemed to always have been, as validly taken or done or omitted to be done as if the amendment made by section 131 of the Finance Act, 2001 had been in force at all material times; (b) no suit or other proceedings shall be maintained or continued in any court, tribunal or other authority for any action taken or anything done or omitted to be done, in respect of any excisable goods under any of such rule, notification or order, and no enforcement shall be made by any court, of any decree or order relating to such action taken or anything done or omitted to be done as if the amendment made by section 131 of the Finance Act, 2001 had been in force at all material times; (c) recovery shall be made of all such amounts of duty or interest or penalty or fine or credit of duty in respect of inputs or capital goods or other charges which have not been collected or, as the case may be, which have been refunded, as if the amendment made by section 131 of the Finance Act, 2001 had been in force at all material times. Explanation- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no act or omission on the part of any person shall be punishable as an offence which would not have been so punishable if this section had not come into force.