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1996 DIGILAW 1003 (MAD)

Grasim Industries Limited v. Customs Excise Gold Appellate Tribunal, Madras

1996-09-27

S.M.ALI MOHAMED

body1996
Judgment :- By consent of parties, this writ petition itself is taken up for final hearing. 2.The Petitioner M/s. Grasim Industries Limited which is a public limited company has approached this Court against the order of the Customs Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal made under proviso to Section 35F of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 3.Mr. Arvind P. Datar, learned Counsel for the petitioner company strenuously urged that there is an infirmity in the impugned order and the first respondent without considering the rulings cited in favour of the petitioner, has passed the impugned order. Therefore, the impugned order is not sustainable. Mr. Datar further contended that a perusal of Rule 57D of the Central Excise Rules, 1944 clearly shows that the facts of the petitioner's case squarely come under the Rule 57D(1). 4.On the other hand, the learned Counsel for the respondents, Mr. K. Jayachandran submitted that the facts of the petitioner's case will come under Rule 57F(iv) last proviso of the said Rules and therefore there is no infirmity in the impugned order of the first respondent. 5.I have carefully considered the contentions of the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Central Government Standing Counsel for the respondents. In the instant case, the point for consideration is whether the first respondent has exercised its discretion under proviso to Section 35F of the Act, in accordance with law with regard to pre-deposit amount for entertaining the appeal under Section 35B of the Act. I am of the view that under proviso to Section 35F of the Act, the Appellate Tribunal is given a very wide discretion with regard to pre-deposit of duty demanded or penalty levied and the exercise of discretion must be in accordance with law and proper. Even the perusal of the impugned order, it is clear that the first respondent has exercised its discretion taking into considerationprima faciecase of the petitioner and it was of the view that the decision cited by the petitioner company will be considered at the time of final hearing of the appeal and as such there is proper exercise of discretion. On the ground of hardship, the second respondent has made a demand of Rs. 4, 11, 45, 816/- and a penalty of Rs. 20, 00, 000/- whereas the Appellate Tribunal has directed the petitioner company to pre-deposit a sum of Rs. On the ground of hardship, the second respondent has made a demand of Rs. 4, 11, 45, 816/- and a penalty of Rs. 20, 00, 000/- whereas the Appellate Tribunal has directed the petitioner company to pre-deposit a sum of Rs. 1, 00, 00, 000/- (Rupees one crore only). However, pre-deposit of a sum of Rupees one crore in one lump sum upon the facts and circumstances of the instant case will result in undue hardship to the petitioner company. On this aspect of the matter, I feel that ends of justice will be served by directing the petitioner company to pay a sum of Rupees one crore in four equal instalment of Rs. 25, 00, 000/- from 1-11-1996. The first instalment of Rs. 25, 00, 000/- shall be paid on 1-11-1996, second instalment of Rs. 25, 00, 000/- shall be paid on 1-12-1996, third instalment of Rs. 25, 00, 000/- shall be paid on 1-1-1997 and the last instalment of Rs. 25, 00, 000/- shall be paid on 1-2-1997. On the payment of total instalments of Rupees one crore, the first respondent shall hear the appeal. It is open to the petitioner company to pay the above said amount in one lump sum if its financial resources improve. On the payment of the entire amount of Rupees one crore pre-deposited money, the first respondent-Tribunal shall hear and dispose of the appeal, in accordance with law within four weeks. This writ petition is ordered accordingly. Consequently, no order is necessary in W.M.P. No. 17611 of 1996.