TMI Blog2013 (10) TMI 1369X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... coal for power generation. The coal is imported into the country from Indonesia. The petitioner claims the benefit of simultaneous exemption in terms of two exemption Notifications, more particularly, Notification No. 12/2013-Cus., dated 1-3-2013, by which the effective rate of basic duty of Customs on the imported steam coal has been fixed at 2% BCD + 2% VCD and of Notification No. 64/2012-Cus., dated 31-12-2012, by which complete exemption from BCD has been extended to steam coal of Indonesian origin. 2. The immediate provocation for filing this writ petition appears to be the stand taken by Customs Department, that simultaneous availing of concessional CVD at 2% under Notification No. 12/2012 and BCD exemption on steam coal under FTA ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ial BCD @ 0% under S. No. 207 of Notification No. 46/2011-Customs, dated 1st June 2011 (India-ASEAN FTA). In this connection, a doubt has been raised whether an importer, while availing of the BCD exemption @ 0% under FTA (notification No. 46/2011-Customs), can simultaneously avail of the concessional CVD @ 2% as per Notification No. 12/2012-Customs, or he has to pay the CVD at 6%, which is the rate of excise duty applicable on Steam Coal when Cenvat facility has not been availed of. 3. The matter has been examined by the Ministry. Under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the preference/concession is extended only in respect of BCD. All other duties, including CVD are charged as applicable to similar imports from other countries. The CVD on ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... he Customs Department, on instructions submitted that the issue raised by the petitioner is now covered by Circular No. 41/2013, dated 21-10-2013. 7. Since the Government of India have made it very clear that the importer is eligible to avail the concessional CVD at 2% under Notification No. 12/2012-Cus. simultaneous with BCD exemption on steam coal under FTA Notification No. 46/2011-Cus., necessarily the writ petition should be allowed. 8. In the result, a writ in the nature of a writ of mandamus is issued directing the respondents to extend the benefit of Notification No. 12 of 2012 and Notification No. 46 of 2011 simultaneously, in the light of Circular No. 41/2013 issued by the Ministry of Finance, dated 21st October 2013. 9. T ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
|