CESTAT New Delhi Sets Aside Penalty On Time Avenue, Finds No Link To Importer's RSP Misdeclaration

The New Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on 10 April set aside a penalty of Rs. 20,000 imposed on Time Avenue Pvt. Ltd. under Section 112(b) of the Customs Act. A Bench comprising President Justice Dilip Gupta and Technical Member Hemambika R. Priya held that the penalty under Section 112(b) could not be sustained in the absence of proof that the appellant knew the goods were liable to confiscation. The Tribunal observed: “There is no...

CESTAT Ahmedabad Upholds Fabric Reclassification Based On CRCL Test, Remands Valuation, SEZ Exemption

The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Ahmedabad Bench, has upheld the reclassification of imported synthetic fabrics, holding that laboratory test results clearly disproved the importer's declaration and rejecting a retesting plea raised after 11 years, while remanding valuation and SEZ exemption issues for fresh adjudication.A bench of Judicial Member Somesh Arora and Technical Member Satendra Vikram Singh allowed the Revenue's appeal against relief granted to Om...

AIFTA Duty Exemption For Scrap Cannot Be Denied To Jindal Aluminum For No Country of Origin Markings: CESTAT Chennai

The Chennai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has recently granted relief to Jindal Aluminium Ltd., holding that exemption under the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) cannot be denied merely due to the absence of country-of-origin markings on imported scrap goods.The Bench comprising Judicial Member Ajayan T.V. and Technical Member M. Ajit Kumar allowed the appeal filed by Jindal Aluminium Ltd. and set aside the order of the...

CESTAT New Delhi Sets Aside ₹51.8 Lakh Customs Duty On CONCOR, Finds No Proof of Pilferage Or Seal Tampering

The New Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that, in the case of CONCOR, a custodian cannot be fastened with customs duty liability under Section 45 of the Customs Act, 1962 in the absence of evidence showing pilferage during its custody or tampering of seals of imported goods. Section 45 of the Customs Act, 1962, mandates that all imported goods unloaded in a customs area remain under the custody of an approved custodian until they are...

'Suspicion, Howsoever Grave, Cannot Replace Proof': CESTAT Hyderabad Sets Aside Export Undervaluation Demand

The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Hyderabad, has held that allegations of export undervaluation and demand of differential duty cannot be sustained in the absence of cogent and admissible evidence establishing receipt of additional consideration, setting aside the order against M/s Temple City Developers Pvt. Ltd. and others. The Bench comprising Judicial Member Angad Prasad and Technical Member A.K. Jyotishi observed, “While there is no denial that charges of...

Importer Not Liable For Post-Sale RSP Revision By Dealers: CESTAT New Delhi

The New Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on 9 April, held that an importer cannot incur liability for differential customs duty based on a post-sale upward revision of Retail Sale Price (RSP) by independent dealers, once the parties complete the sale on a principal-to-principal basis. A Bench comprising President Dilip Gupta and Technical Member Hemambika R. Priya set aside the demand raised against Richemont India Pvt. Ltd., holding that the...

Kerala High Court Quashes 25 kg Gold Confiscation, Holds Denial Of Cross-Examination Vitiates Proceedings

The Kerala High Court on 3 March quashed a customs confiscation order involving 25 kilograms of gold, holding that denying the petitioners an effective opportunity to adduce evidence and cross-examine witnesses caused prejudice and violated principles of natural justice. Justice Ziyad Rahman A A, sitting as a Single-Judge Bench, allowed writ petitions challenging the Order-in-Original passed by the Customs authority, which had confiscated the gold and imposed penalties. He observed: “The...

CESTAT Hyderabad Remands Iron Ore Export Valuation Dispute After AO Ignored Contract Addendum

The Hyderabad Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on 2 April, held that the assessing authority must consider contractual modifications and supporting documents while finalizing export valuation and refund claims. A Division Bench comprising Technical Member A.K. Jyotishi and Judicial Member Angad Prasad set aside the order of the Commissioner (Appeals) and remanded the matter for fresh assessment, observing that it had failed to appreciate modifications to...

Supreme Court Dismisses Patanjali Foods' Appeal Against Kerala High Court's “Out of Charge” Order

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a special leave petition filed by Patanjali Foods Ltd, refusing to interfere with the Kerala High Court's judgment which held that customs duty is to be determined based on the date of issuance of the “out of charge” order. A Division Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan found no valid grounds to challenge the High Court's decision.The Kerala High Court had allowed Patanjali Foods' appeal, holding that the relevant date for calculating...

CESTAT Chennai Dismisses Western Farm Fresh Appeal, Rules Exemption Not Available For Imported Sausages

The Chennai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on 30 March, held that a claim for exemption under a customs notification cannot succeed when the goods are specifically excluded and prescribed conditions are not met. A Bench comprising Judicial Member P. Dinesha and Technical Member Vasa Seshagiri Rao (Technical Member) dismissed the appeal filed by Western Farm Fresh (P) Ltd. against the Department. The Tribunal stated: “We find that there is no dispute...

CESTAT Chennai Upholds Customs Duty On Imported Natural Rubber, Dismisses MRF's Appeal

The Chennai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) on 30 March, held that the levy of Additional Duty of Customs equivalent to Rubber Cess on imported natural rubber is legally sustainable. A Bench comprising Judicial Member P. Dinesha and Technical Member Vasa Seshagiri Rao dismissed the appeal filed by MRF Limited, noting that the issue stands covered against the taxpayer by coordinate Bench and Larger Bench decisions. . The Tribunal observed: “…as on...

Boronated Calcium Nitrate Not Eligible For Concessional Duty As 'Calcium Nitrate': CESTAT Ahmedabad

On 1 April, the Ahmedabad Bench of the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) held that “Boronated Calcium Nitrate” is a distinct product from “Calcium Nitrate” and is therefore not eligible for concessional customs duty under Notification No. 50/2017-Cus. A Bench comprising Judicial Member Dr. Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha and Technical Member Satendra Vikram Singh dismissed three appeals filed by Yara Fertilizers India Pvt. Ltd., holding: “Boronated Calcium Nitrate imported...