Delhi High Court
Union Of India vs Association Of Chloromethanes ... on 13 February, 2025
Bench: Prathiba M. Singh, Dharmesh Sharma
$~ 13 to 18, 31, 34 to 37, 39 to 46, 48, 49, 51 to 54
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Date of Decision: 13th February, 2025
+ W.P.(C) 10641/2022, CM APPL. 8734/2025 & CM APPL.
8814/2025
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
M/S APCOTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED .....Respondent
14 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 10781/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
ASSOCIATION OF CHLOROMETHANES MANUFACTURERS
.....Respondent
15 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 11394/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
FORUM FOR ACRYLIC FIBRE MANUFACTURER FORUM
(FAFM) .....Respondent
16 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 11774/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
FORUM OF ACRYLIC FIBRE MANUFACTURERS
FAFM .....Respondent
17 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 12077/2022
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 1 of 13
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S SI GROUP INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED .....Respondent
18 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5185/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JUBLIANT INGREVIA LIMITED .....Respondent
31 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 1324/2023 & CM APPL. 4961/2023
UNION OF INDIA THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
APCOTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED .....Respondent
34 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2461/2023
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY .....Petitioner
versus
M/S. DEEPAK PHENOLICS LIMITED .....Respondent
35 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2820/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S GUJRAT STATE FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS LTD
.....Respondent
36 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2867/2023 & CM APPL. 11110/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 2 of 13
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
M/S GUJRAT STATE FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS LTD
.....Respondent
37 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3390/2023 & CM APPL. 13134/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S UI VR PVT LTD .....Respondent
39 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3598/2023 & CM APPL. 13949/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S GUJRAT FLUOROCHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
40 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3824/2023 & CM APPL. 14884/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
DEEPAK PHENOLICS LTD .....Respondent
41 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3825/2023 & CM APPL. 14887/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED JSHL .....Respondent
42 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4039/2023 & CM APPL. 15745/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 3 of 13
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED JSL .....Respondent
43 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4401/2023, CM APPL. 16944/2023, CM APPL. 16945/2023
& CM APPL. 16946/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED JSHL .....Respondent
44 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4501/2023, CM APPL. 17199/2023, CM APPL. 17200/2023
& CM APPL. 17201/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED (JSL) .....Respondent
45 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4506/2023, CM APPL. 17269/2023, CM APPL. 17270/2023
& CM APPL. 17271/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S IG PETROCHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
46 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4676/2023, CM APPL. 18051/2023 & CM APPL.
18053/2023
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
M/S THIRUMAL CHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
48 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5047/2023 & CM APPL. 19720/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 4 of 13
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED JSL .....Respondent
49 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5145/2023 & CM APPL. 20093/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S OWENS CORNING INDIA PRIVATE
LIMITED .....Respondent
51 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5494/2023, CM APPL. 21428/2023, CM APPL.
25428/2023, CM APPL. 25518/2023, CM APPL. 30799/2023, CM
APPL. 30800/2023, CM APPL. 30801/2023, CM APPL. 30803/2023
& CM APPL. 30804/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS STEEL LIMITED .....Respondent
52 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5681/2023, CM APPL. 22227/2023, CM APPL.
25399/2023, CM APPL. 25404/2023, CM APPL. 25520/2023, CM
APPL. 30798/2023, CM APPL. 30802/2023 & CM APPL.
30805/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED .....Respondent
53 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5924/2023 & CM APPL. 23221/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 5 of 13
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED .....Respondent
54 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 6385/2023
SIJ ACRONI D O O .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED
& ORS. .....Respondents
Presence:
Counsel for the Petitioner(s):
Mr. Anurag Ojha, Sr. SC with Mr. Subham Kumar and Mr. Dipak Raj, Advs.
in Items No. 13 to 18 and 31, 34 to 46, 48, 49, 51 to 54.
Counsel for the Respondent(s):
Mr Abhay Chattopadhyay, Mr. Sarthak Yadav, Mr. Sanjay Notani, Mr.
Ambarish Sathianathan and Ms. Harika Bakaraju, Advs. in Items No. 31, 51
and 52. (M: 9654770189)
Mr. Rajesh Sharma and Mr. Nikhil Sharma, Advs. in Items No. 13-15, 18,
31, 34, 35, 37-54.
Mr. R. Venkat Prabhat, SPC with Mr. Abhinav M. Goel, Ms Kamna Behrani
and Mr. Ansh Kalra, Advs. for UOI in Item No. 54. (M: 9109698880)
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE DHARMESH SHARMA
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. The Respondents in these petitions who are stated to be the domestic industry, had filed their respective applications before the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (hereinafter "DGTR") praying for imposition of Anti- Dumping Duty (hereinafter "ADD") in terms of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (hereinafter "the Act") and Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 6 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12 Collection of Anti-Dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995 in respect of the following products:
Sr. Writ Party Name Product Country of No. Petition No. Name Origin
1. W.P(C) Union of India vs Acrylonitrile Korea RP 10641/2022 M/s Apcotex Butadiene Industries Ltd. Rubber
2. W.P(C) Union of India vs. Methylene China PR 10781/2022 Association of Chloride Chloromethanes Manufacturers
3. W.P(C) Union of India vs. Acrylic Fibre Belarus, 11394/2022 Forum for Acrylic Ukraine, Fibre Manufacturer European Forum Union, Peru
4. W.P(C) Union of India vs Acrylic Fibre Thailand 11774/2022 Forum for Acrylic Fibre Manufacturer Forum 5 W.P(C) Union of India vs Nonyl Phenol Chinese 12077/2022 M/s Si Group India Taipei Private Limited
6. W.P(C) Union of India vs Chlorine China PR 5185/2022 Jubilant Infgrevia Chloride in all Limited forms
7. W.P(C) Union of India vs Acrylonitrile China PR, 1324/2023 Apcotex Industries Butadiene European Limited Rubber Union, Japan, Russia
8. W.P(C) Union of India vs Phenol Thailand, 2461/2023 Deepak Phenolics United States Limited of America
9. W.P(C) Union of India vs Melamine China PR 2820/2023 Gujrat State Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd.Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 7 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12
10. W.P(C) Union of India vs Caprolactam European 2867/2023 Gujrat State Union, Korea Fertilisers & RP, Russia, Chemicals Ltd. Thailand
11. W.P(C) Union of India vs Peroxo- China PR, 3390/2023 M/s UI VR Pvt Ltd sulphates United States (Perulphates) of America
12. W.P(C) Union of India vs Polytetra- Russia 3598/2023 Gujrat fluoroethylene Fluorochemicals (PTEE) Limited
13. W.P(C) Union of India vs Phenol European 3824/2023 Deepak Phenolics Union, Ltd Singapore
14. W.P(C) Union of India vs Flat Products Indonesia 3825/2023 Jindal Stainless of Stainless Hisar Limited Steel
15. W.P(C) Union of India vs Hot Rolled China PR, 4039/2023 Jindal Stainless Flat Products Malaysia and Limited JSL of Stainless Korea RP Steel - 304 grade
16. W.P(C) Union of India vs Hot Rolled China PR, 4401/2023 Jindal Stainless Flat Products Malaysia and Hisar Limited of Stainless Korea RP JSHL Steel - 304 grade
17. W.P(C) Union of India vs Flat Products Indonesia 4501/2023 Jindal Stainless of Stainless Limited JSL Steel
18. W.P(C) Union of India vs Phthalic Japan, 4506/2023 IG Petrochemicals Anhydride Russia Limited
19. W.P(C) Union of India vs Phthalic Russia 4676/2023 Thirumal Anhydride Chemicals Limited
20. W.P(C) Union of India vs Cold-Rolled China PR, Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 8 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12 5047/2023 Jindal Stainless Flat Products Kora PR, Limited JSL of Stainless European Steel of width Union, South 600 nm to Africa, 1250 nm and Taiwan, above 1250 Thailand and mm of non United States bonafide usage of America
21. W.P(C) Union of India vs Glass Fibre China PR 5145/2023 Owens Corning and articles India thereof
22. W.P(C) Union of India vs Flat Rolled China PR, 5494/2023 M/s Jindal Products ofKora PR, Stainless Steel Stainless Steel European Limited Union, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America, Japan, Indonesia, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia
23. W.P(C) Union of India vs Flat Rolled China PR, 5681/2023 M/s Jindal Products of Kora PR, Stainless Hisar Stainless Steel European Union, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America, Japan, Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 9 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12 Indonesia, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia
24. W.P(C) Union of India vs Cold-Rolled China PR, 5924/2023 M/s Jindal Flat Products Korea PR, Stainless Hisar of Stainless European Steel of width Union, South 600 nm to Africa, 1250 nm and Taiwan, above 1250 Thailand and mm of non United States bonafide usage of America
25. W.P(C)6385/ SIJ Acroni DOO vs Flat Rolled China PR, 2023 Jindal Stainless Products of Kora PR, Hisar Limited & Stainless Steel European Ors. Union, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America, Japan, Indonesia, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia
3. Findings were issued in the respective applications by the Designated Authority, DGTR recommending imposition of provisional ADD on the concerned import of goods from certain countries. Thereafter, final findings Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 10 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12 were also notified recommending imposition of ADD. The definitive ADD was then imposed vide respective Customs notifications issued in various cases.
4. After the imposition of the ADD, a sunset review was undertaken by the Designated Authority, DGTR in order to examine the effect of the imposition of ADD. Final findings were rendered in the sunset review, wherein the Designated Authority, DGTR came to the conclusion that the ADD deserves to be continued.
5. However, the Central Government, on this occasion, did not accept the recommendations of the DGTR and hence the ADD was set aside in the respective cases. The various Office Memorandums issued by the Central Government not to continue the ADD, were challenged before Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter "CESTAT") which then set aside the said Office Memorandums.
6. The challenge in these petitions, is to the respective orders of CESTAT, which set aside the respective Office Memorandums, by which the ADD was not accepted by the Central Government.
7. The question of law that has been raised by the Union of India in these cases is whether an Office Memorandum is capable of being assailed before CESTAT.
8. It is submitted by the ld. Counsels for the parties today that similar petitions in respect of certain other products were filed by the Union of India before the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the order passed by CESTAT setting aside the respective Office Memorandums.
9. In that case, being SLP (C) Diary No. 31452/2023 titled as Union of India vs. Plastics Machinery Manufacturers Association of India through Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 11 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12 its Director and Ors., the Supreme Court passed the following order on 9th December, 2024:
"It is pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the domestic industries have given up their right in terms of the recommendation made by the designated authority, as well as, their claims on the basis of the order passed by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi.
In view of the statement made, the special leave petition is dismissed as infructuous."
10. In terms of the submissions made before the Supreme Court, ld. Counsel for the domestic industries who are the Respondents in these cases, submit that they have already written to the Government that they do not press their rights in terms of the recommendation given by the Designated Authority, DGTR.
11. In effect thereof, the domestic industry no longer presses for imposition of ADD. The respective Office Memorandums, therefore, are no longer challenged by the domestic industry.
12. The question of law raised by the Union of India i.e., as to whether CESTAT has jurisdiction to set aside an Office Memorandum or not, would therefore become moot in this background.
13. Under these facts and circumstances, the stand of the Respondents, i.e., the domestic industry is accepted. The present writ petitions are disposed of as having been rendered infructuous, in view of the stand of the Respondents- domestic industry.
Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 12 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:1214. The legal issues raised in these petitions are, however, kept open for adjudication in an appropriate case.
15. The interim orders in all these matters, if any, shall stand vacated.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUDGE DHARMESH SHARMA JUDGE FEBRUARY 13, 2025/gunn/ms Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD KUMAR VATS W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 13 of 13 Signing Date:14.02.2025 16:24:12