1999 (12) TMI 456 - AT - Central Excise

Summary

Issues Involved:
Condonation of delay in filing cross-objections due to postal delay; Department's appeal against dropping of Show Cause Notices demanding duty based on weight discrepancies between place of purchase and place of manufacture.

Condonation of Delay:
Two condonation applications filed for excusing an 8-day delay in filing cross-objections due to postal delay. The delay is condoned considering the explanation provided.

Department's Appeal - Duty Demand Dispute:
Department filed appeals against dropping of Show Cause Notices seeking duty on weight differences between material weighed at purchase place and inputs weighed at manufacture place. Adjudicating authority dropped demands based on replies to the notices, which were accepted by the department. Board criticized the authority for not considering cases of excess or shortage in material received, affecting duty payment and Modvat credit. The Collector's failure to assess notices individually and lack of application of mind were highlighted.

Weight Discrepancy and Modvat Credit:
In the case involving metal inputs, discrepancies in weighing machines (weigh bridges) were acknowledged. The existence of errors in weighment was supported by the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, allowing a margin of error up to 1% for goods weighing over 15000 gms. Reference was made to a Tribunal judgment accepting similar arguments on Modvat credit in cases of weight differences not affecting duty payment nature or use of goods.

Judgment and Dismissal:
Based on the Tribunal's precedent and the acknowledgment of weighing errors, the ground of weight difference between procurement and usage places not justifies disallowance of Modvat credit. The appeals were deemed meritless and dismissed. Cross-objections were treated as replies to the appeals and disposed of accordingly.