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2017 (11) TMI 1529 - AT - CustomsBenefit of N/N. 94/96-Cus - DEEC Scheme - goods reimported for reprocessing/reconditioning, claiming Notification No.158/95-Cus - As the subject goods could not be re-exported within the period of six months prescribed in the said notification, they sought extension for re-export - Whether differential duty can be levied on goods re-imported with full duty exemption under Notification No.158/95-Cus. when the repaired/reconditioned goods have been exported only after expiry of the period prescribed in that notification? - Revenue neutrality - Whether the demands made on this score in these appeals can be set aside even on the grounds of revenue-neutrality? - Held that: - A close look at the conditionalities of the notification would reveal that the legislature has sought to clip any possibility of misuse. For example, by requiring that such goods are re-imported not beyond the period of three years from the date of their export. So also, to prevent any misuse of facilitating provisions by way of retention of goods in India, the notification also requires that after reconditioning/repair, the re-import goods shall have to be re-exported within a maximum period of 12 months from the date of such re-import. These time limits prescribed both, for re-importation as well as the re-exportation, in our view, are substantive conditionalities and not merely procedural. It is also not the case that when being required to pay duty forgone in the event of non-compliance of Notification No.158/95-Cus., the importer is left high and dry with no other remedy. Indeed, such importer, even if he has to discharge differential duty liability, provided he eventually re-exports the re-imported goods at some point, will surely be eligible to claim drawback towards the duties suffered on the goods exported - once the substantive post-importation condition of Notification No.158/95-Cus. is not satisfied or complied with, the importer will have no other option but to pay an amount equal to the difference between duty levied at the time of re-import and the duty leviable on such goods at the time of importation, but for the exemption contained in Notification No.158/95-Cus - decided in favor of appellant. Whether the appellants can claim the benefit of another N/N. 94/96-Cus or otherwise? - Held that: - Appellants have contended that since they have missed the bus in respect of Notification No.158/95-Cus., they should be nonetheless allowed to claim the beneficial provisions of Notification No.94/96-Cus. However, in view of the discussions supra regarding Notification No.158/95-Cus. and Notification No.94/96-Cus., we are unable to find much merit in this contention. Both these notifications have been issued for different situations and different reasons. Notification No.94/96 does not require that the re-importation is for the purposes of repair or reconditioning. There is also no requirement in that notification mandating re-export of the goods of the re-imported goods. In other words, Notification No.94/96-Cus. seeks to cover only those situations where the importer does not have any declared intent to immediately re-export the re-imported goods, as long as the duty liability specified in Col.3 of that notification is discharged. The importer can leave the goods undisturbed e.g., in their factory or premises, without any pressing need for their re-export. That however is not the case with Notification No.158/95-Cus which seeks to cover a situation where the goods are re-imported within 3 years, only for repair or reconditioning and proximate re-export thereafter - the contention of the appellants that they can very well claim alternative benefit of Notification No.94/96-Cus is misplaced - decided against appellant. Appeal allowed in part.
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