Hasmukh Tobacco Products vs Ahmedabad-Ii on 7 February, 2023
6. Being aggrieved, Revenue filed the present appeal on the ground that under
the erstwhile Section 35FF (as substituted by way of amendment w.e.f. 6-8-2014),
interest is payable on filing of refund claim, if not granted within three months from the
date of receipt of the appellate order. As the show cause notice was issued to the
assessee prior to 6-8-2014, the erstwhile Section 35FF will be applicable. It is further
urged that the amount deposited in the year 2015 is not by way of pre-deposit, as
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Excise Appeal Nos. 10828 & 10957 of 2021-SM
defined in Section 35F of the Act. Reliance is placed on the ruling of Hon'ble Gujarat
High Court in the case of Ajni Interiors v. UoI, wherein it has been held that if any
payment is made as a pre-condition for exercising the statutory right, it can be termed
as pre-deposit. However, it cannot be equated with voluntary deposit of Excise duty
paid even during the course of investigation and prior to show cause notice or
adjudication to assert that it is pre-deposit. Further, reliance is placed on the finding of
the Adjudicating Authority.