Custom, Excise & Service Tax Tribunal
M/S. Sahithi Enterprises vs Commissioner Of Customs, Imports, ... on 3 November, 2017
IN THE CUSTOMS, EXCISE & SERVICE TAX
APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
SOUTH ZONAL BENCH, CHENNAI
C/288/2010
(Arising out of Order-in-Appeal C.Cus. No. 266/2010 dated 5.3.2010 passed by the Commissioner of Customs (Appeals), Chennai)
M/s. Sahithi Enterprises Appellant
Vs.
Commissioner of Customs, Imports, Chennai Respondent
Appearance Shri N. Viswanathan, Advocate for the Appellant Shri B. Balamurugan, AC (AR) for the Respondent CORAM Honble Ms. Sulekha Beevi C.S., Member (Judicial) Honble Shri Madhu Mohan Damodhar, Member (Technical) Date of Hearing / Decision: 03.11.2017 Final Order No. 42597 / 2017 Per Bench The appellant had imported old & used digital multifunctional printers and copying machines. The value of the goods was enhanced to Rs.11,57,000/- in terms of Rule 9 of the Customs Valuation Rules, 2007. The lower authority held that these are restricted items and confiscated the goods under section 111(d) of the Customs Act, 1962 for policy violation and mis-declaration. However, he allowed the goods to be redeemed on payment of fine and imposed penalty. In appeal, Commissioner (Appeals) modified the adjudication order to the extent of reducing the imposition of fine and penalty. Hence this appeal.
2. The learned counsel Shri N. Viswanathan submitted that the appellant is not contesting the enhancement of value and that the contest is confined only to imposition of redemption fine and penalty on the ground that the old and used digital multifunctional printers are not restricted goods, hence redemption fine and penalties imposed are without basis as the adjudicating authority has not considered the margin of profit or the comparable goods in order to ascertain the market value.
3. The learned AR Shri B. Balamurugan reiterated the findings in the impugned order.
4. We have heard the submissions made by both sides. We find that the used digital multifunctional printers are not liable for confiscation under section 111(d) of the Customs Act as they are not restricted goods, hence not liable for confiscation and no redemption fine or penalty is imposable. As far as old and used photocopiers are concerned, these being restricted goods are liable for confiscation. As seen from the value enhanced as well as the redemption fine and penalty imposed, we are of the opinion that the redemption fine and penalty is high and requires interference.
5. In the result, taking into consideration the facts and appreciating the evidence before us, we reduce the redemption fine from Rs.1,74,000/- to Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) and penalty from Rs.58,000/- to Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only).
6. In the result, the appeal is partly allowed with the above observation without interfering in the enhancement of value. The appellant is eligible for consequential relief, if any, as per law.
(Operative portion of the order was
pronounced in open court)
(MADHU MOHAN DAMODHAR) (SULEKHA BEEVI C.S.)
Member (Technical) Member (Judicial)
Rex
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