Issues involved: Show cause notice for denial of refund claim u/s 11B of Central Excise Rules and Act, 1944 for deposit made under Section 35F for appeal remedy.
Summary: The High Court of Bombay heard a case where a show cause notice was issued by the Superintendent (Tech.) Central Excise to the petitioner, questioning the refund claim for Excise Duty and Redemption fine paid amounting to Rs. 14,07,410, deposited under Section 35F for appeal remedy. The Appellate Tribunal had allowed the petitioner's appeal with consequential relief, but the refund of the deposited amount was denied, leading to the issuance of the impugned show cause notice under Section 11B. The Court found the Department's claim in the notice to be dishonest and baseless, stating that Section 11B cannot be applicable to a deposit made under Section 35F, as it is not a payment of Duty but a pre-deposit for appeal rights, mandating refund upon appeal success.
Regarding the deposit under Section 35F, the Court held that the doctrine of unjust enrichment does not apply. Consequently, the petition was successful, and the impugned show cause notice was quashed. The respondents were directed to refund the deposited amount of Rs. 14,07,410 along with 15% interest per annum from the date of the Appellate Tribunal's order on 30th November 1993. The rule was made absolute in the stated terms, and the respondents were ordered to pay the petitioners the costs of the petition.
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