Custom, Excise & Service Tax Tribunal
M/S. Wpil Ltd vs Commissioner Of Central Excise, ... on 19 May, 2017
IN THE CUSTOMS, EXCISE & SERVICE TAX APPELLATE
TRIBUNAL, KOLKATA
EASTERN ZONAL BENCH: KOLKATA
Appeal No. E/75746/16
(Arising out of Order-in-Appeal No.06/KOL-V/2016 dated 15.02.2016 passed by the Commissioner(Appeal-I) of Central Excise, Kolkata.)
M/s. WPIL Ltd.
Applicant (s)/Appellant (s)
Vs.
Commissioner of Central Excise, Kolkata-V
Respondent (s)
Appearance:
Shri N.K.Choudhary, Advocate for the Appellant Shri S. Dasgupta, DC(AR) for the Revenue CORAM:
Honble Shri P.K.Choudhary, Member(Judicial) Date of Hearing/Decision :- 19.05.2017 ORDER NO.
Per Shri P.K.Choudhary.
These appeal has been filed by the appellant against Order-in-Appeal No. 06/KOL-V/2016 dated 15.02.2016 passed by the Commissioner(Appeal-I) of Central Excise, Kolkata.
2. Under the above Order-in-Appeal dated 15.02.2016, inter alia, First Appellate Authority has disposed of the appeal filed by the appellant on the ground that mandatory deposit of duty required to be made under Section 35F (i) of the Central Excise Act, 1944 has been paid from the CENVAT Account maintained by the appellant.
3. Shri N.K.Choudhary, Advocate appeared for the appellant. It is their case that there is no bar in amended Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944, that the deposit has to be made in cash only and not from CENVAT Credit Account.
4. Shri S.Dasgupta, DC(A.R) appeared on behalf of the Revenue and reiterated the findings given by the First Appellate Authority.
5. Heard both sides and perused the appeal records. The issue involved in the present proceedings is whether mandatory deposit of seven and half percent as per Section 35F (i) of the Central Excise Act 1944, is required to be paid in cash or the same can be paid from CENVAT Credit Account maintained by the appellants. Relevant Section is reproduced below:
SECTION 35F. Deposit of certain percentage of duty demanded or penalty imposed before filing appeal-The Tribunal or the Commissioner (Appeals), as the case may be, shall not entertain any appeal-
(i) under sub-section (1) of section 35, unless the appellant has deposited seven and a half per cent. Of the duty, in case where duty or duty and penalty are in dispute, or penalty , where such penalty is in dispute, in pursuance of a decision or an order passed by an officer of Central Excise lower in rank that the [Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise 5.1 It is observed from the above provisions that it is not specifically mentioned that amount has to be deposited only by way of cash payment. First Appellate Authority in para 3.1 of Order-in-Appeal dated 15.02.2016 has discussed Rule 3 (4) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 indicating the situation where CENVAT Credit can be utilised. In a case of dispute about admissibility of CENVAT Credit, ultimate action against an assesse, if found to be inadmissible to CENVAT Credit, will be to reverse CENVAT Credit taken. In such a case there may not be any need to make pre deposit in cash. Similarly, in the case of demand of duty, if CENVAT Credit is permissible for payment of tax, the same can always be debited from CENVAT Account of an assesse. As per procedure followed by CESTAT Registry at Kolkata, payments made from CENVAT Credit Account are considered as due payments for considering as deposit under Section 35F (ii) and (iii) of Central Excise Act, 1944. First appellate authority could have a view if debit of mandatory deposit was with respect to personal penalty or payment of interest.
6. In view of the above observations the view taken by the First Appellate Authority, that deposit under Section 35F (i) cannot be made from CENVAT Credit Account, is not the correct appreciation of law so long as the CENVAT Credit is permissible for utilisation as per Rule 3(4) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004. Accordingly, appeal filed by the appellant is allowed by way of remand to the First Appellate Authority with directions to decide the appeal on merits without insisting on any further pre-deposit. A reasonable opportunity of hearing be granted to the Appellant. All issues are kept open. Both sides are at liberty to produce evidences in their favour. Appeal filed by the appellant is allowed by way of remand.
(Operative part of the order was pronounced in the open court.) (P.K.CHOUDHARY) MEMBER(JUDICIAL) ss