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2018 (2) TMI 35 - HC - CustomsRefund of SAD - payment of interest on late refund of SAD in terms of Section 27A of the Customs Act - contention of the respondents is that Section 27A is not applicable to refunds of SAD as Notification No.102/2007-Cus. dated 14th September, 2007, has been issued under sub-section (1) to Section 25 of the Customs Act and not under Section 27A of the Customs Act. Held that: - N/N. 102/2007-Cus. has been issued in exercise of power conferred by Section 25 of the Customs Act. As noticed above, it exempts goods falling within the First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, from the whole of SAD leviable under sub-section (5) of Section 3 of the Customs Act, when imported into India for subsequent sale, subject to the conditions in paragraph 2 of notification being fulfilled. Paragraph 3 of the said notification states that jurisdictional customs officer shall sanction refund on being satisfied that conditions referred to in paragraph 2 are fulfilled. It is not disputed that conditions mentioned in paragraph 2 of the notification in respect of 38 Bills of Entry are fulfilled. The orders passed by the jurisdictional customs officer, appellate authority and the Tribunal have attained finality. As a sequitor, it follows that SAD refundable was a duty paid by the petitioner under the Customs Act in respect of which exemption vide N/N. 107/2007-Cus dated 14th September,2007 has been granted by the Central Government. Section 27A states that duty directed to be refunded under sub section 2 to Section 27, if not paid within three months from date of receipt of application under sub section 1 to section 27, interest would be paid by the authorities as per the rate specified. In other words, if the refund is paid within three months of date of receipt of application under sub section 1 to Section 27, no interest is payable. Interest is payable on delayed refunds after three months post the application for refund till the date of refund. Section 27A therefore ensures prompt decision and payment of refunds, when due and payable under sub section 2 of Section 27 of the Act. Interest would be payable in terms of Section 27A of the Customs Act on refund of SAD payable in terms of N/N. 102/2007. Petition allowed.
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