Jay Mahakali Rolling Mills v. Union of India and Ors.

Judgment

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5109 of2002. From the Judgment and Order dated 15.1.2002 of the High Court of Gujarat, at Ahmedabad in S.C.A. No. 2816 of 200 l. WITH Civil Appeal No. 855 of2006. A.n Maru, Bhargava V. Desai, Rahul Gupta, Reema Shanna for the Appellant. B. Krishna Prasad for the Respondent. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by DR. ARIJIT PASA VAT, J.

1Challenge in these appeals is to the order passed by the Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court dismissing the writ petition filed against the orders of the Cus.toms, Excise & (Gold) Control AppeUateTribunal, West Regional Bench, at Mumbai (in short 'CEGAT).

2Background facts in Civil Appeal No.5109 of 2002 in a nutshell are as follows: A s~ow-cause notice was issued to the appellant alleging that the appellant was not entitled to the exemption un.der Notification No.208/83-CE dated l.8.1983 on the final product falling under Tariff Item No.25(9)(ii). Allegation was that the appellant M/s Jay Mahakali Rolling Mills had contravened the provisions of Rule 174 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944 (in short the 'Rules') read with Section 6 of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 JAY MAHAKALI ROLLING MILLSv. U.0.1. [PASA VAT, J.] (in short the 'Act) and Rules 173-B; 53 read with 173-G( 4); 9( 1 ), 49, 52-A read A with 173-G(l), 173-G(2)and 174-F; 54 read with 173-F(3) of the Rules and thereby committed the offence of the nature described in clauses (a), (b), (c) & (d) of sub rule (1) of Rule 173(Q) of the Rules by reasons of wilful misstatement, suppression of facts with intent to evade payment of central excise duty.

The appellant was, therefore, asked to show-cause as to why Central Excise Duty amounting to Rs.12,67,006.19, on 3473.705.2.2 MT excisable B goods i.e. rolling products manufactured and cleared by it without payment of duty for the period 23.8.1984 to 31.8.1987 should not be recovered from it under Rule 9(2) of the Rules read with proviso to sub-section(l) of Section 11-A of the Act. They were also required to show-cause•as to why penalty should not be imposed under clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of sub Rule (1) of C Rule 173-Q and Rule 9(2) of the Rules. In response, appellant submitted that in Notification No.101/87-C.E. dated 27.3.1987 materials were specified as inputs in view of the amendment. It was submitted that there was no illintention or suppression of facts and/or intention to evade duty. Therefore, penalty cannot be imposed. The Adjudicating Authority rejected the contention and held that duty and penalty were leviable.

The order was challenged D before the CEGA T which dismissed the appeal. It was held that the amendment made to the notification on 27.3 .1987 has prospective application and has no retrospective application as contended by the appellant. It was further held that items which were earlier included were specified. Therefore, the stand that the amendment was merely clarificatory is without any substance. It was E held that duty liable was to be reduced by the duty payable from 27 .3.1987 to 31.8.1987 amounting to Rs.2,28.898.80. The penalty was reduced to Rs.75,000/

3In the appeal before the High Court stands taken before the Adjudicating Authority and CEGA T were reiterated. The High Court by the f impugned order held that there was no basis to accept the contention that the notification was intended to be given retrospective effect. The writ petition was dismissed.

4In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the view of the authority, the CEGA T and High Court cannot be maintained. G The amendment brought about by Notification No. IO 1/87-C.E. dated 27.3.1987 was merely clarificatory. The CEGA T wrongly held that the said notification was operating with prospective effect. Material on record pointed to the contrary. Learned counsel for the respondents supported the orders of the courts below and the High Court.

5Circular dated 31.3 .l 987 reads as follows: "C.B.S.E. CIRCULARS & CLARIFCA TIONS ON EXCISE & CUSTOMS CUSTOMS CIRCULARS F.No.374/71/86-TRU Dated: 31.3.1987 M.O. Fin. (Deptt. Of Rev.) Subject: Changes in the customs duty structure in respect of ships for breaking up falling under heading No.89.08 and tne excise duty structure in respect of ship breaking scrap falling under heading Nos. 72.15 and 73.09 regarding. In accordance with the customs Notifications Nos. 142/87 to 143/87 and central excise Notification Nos: 101/87 and 103/87, all dated the 27th March, 1987 certain changes have been made in the customs duty structure relating to ships-for breaking and excise duty structure in respect of ship breaking scrap. xxx

6Thus, various products like bars and rods made from such ship breaking scrap would now be exempt from excise duty.

7A bare reading of the circular clearly shows that it was intended to have prospective effect.

8It is to be noted that in the Circular dated 31.3.1987 it has been stated that the "products like bars and rods made from such ship breaking scrap would "now" exempt from excise duty". The effect of the word "now" is that it is to operate henceforth. If the intention was to give retrospective·effect, it would have been stated to be so soecifically.

9"Retrospective" means looking backward, contemplating what is ·past, having reference to a statute -or things existing before the Statute in question. Retrospective law means a law which looks backward or contemplates the past; one, which is made to affect acts or facts occurring, or rights occurring, before it comes into force. Retroactive statute means a statute, which creates a new obligation on transactions or considerations or destroys or impairs JAY MAHAKALI ROLLING MILLS v. U.0.1. [PASAYAT, J.] vested rights.

10By the amendment relatable to Notification on 27.3.1987, items which were earlier not included were specified as inputs have been included. That being so, the contention that the amendment merely clarified the notification as it stood prior to the amendment, is untenable. I I. Looked at from any angle the High Court order does not suffer from any infirmity to warrant interference. The appeal is dismissed.

12In view of dismissal of Civil Appeal No.5109 of2002, Civil Appeal No.855 of 2006 is dismissed. B.B.B. Appeals dismissed.