TMI Blog2007 (11) TMI 276X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... eddy, JJ. [Order] .- The short question which arises for determination in these civil appeals filed by the Department under section 35L of Central Excise Act, 1944 is : Whether Lean Gas produced by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is a manufactured marketable final product or by-product? 2. On April 1, 1999, show cause notice was issued to the assessee by the Superintendent, Central Excise, in which it was alleged by the Department that the notice (assessee) had cleared Lean Gas in bulk to M/s. Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL), M/s. Vikram Ispat Ltd., and M/s. Ispat Industries as Natural Gas under Chapter Heading 2611.21 claiming nil rate of duty. In the said show cause notice, however, the allegation was based ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... inputs have become waste during the course of manufacture of the final product, whether or not such waste or refuse or by-products exempt from the whole of the duty of excise leviable thereon or chargeable to nil rate of duty or is not specified as a final product under Rule 57A. (2) Credit of specified duty shall also not be denied or varied in case any intermediate products have come into existence during the course of manufacture of final products or the inputs are used in the manufacture of capital goods as defined in Rule 57Q and such intermediate products or capital goods are not chargeable to duty of excise." 4. On the other hand, the Department contended that since Lean Gas was itself a final product, the assessee was not ent ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... t possible for any reason, the amount shall be paid in cash by the manufacturer availing of credit under Rule 57A. (3) The provisions of sub-rule (1) shall not apply to final products falling under Chapters 50 to 63 of the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act 1985 (5 of 1986). (4) The provisions of sub-rule (1) shall also not apply to - (a) Articles of plastics falling within Chapter 39; (b) Tyres of a kind used on animal drawn vehicles or handcarts and their tubes, falling within Chapter 40; (c) Black and White television sets, falling within Chapter 85; and (d) Newsprint, in rolls or sheets, falling within Chapter heading No. 48.01; which are exempt from the whole of the duty of excise leviable thereon or chargeable to ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... aid on such inputs." 5. Therefore, the short question which arises for determination before this Court is whether Lean Gas was a by-product or a final product. If it is a byproduct then the assessee would be entitled to the benefit of Rule 57D. On the other hand, if Lean Gas is a final product, then the assessee would not be entitled to the benefit of Rule 57D in view of the provisions of Rule 57CC as it refers to set off/adjustment of duty payable. 6. We are not required to examine the above issue for the simple reason that on the facts of the present case, as can be seen from the extract quoted from the show cause notice, which is the foundation of the Demand made by the Department, Lean Gas is a by-product which emerges when LPG ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... his Court directed the Government of India to set up a Committee consisting of representatives from Ministry of Industry, Bureau of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Law to monitor disputes between Ministry and Government of India, Ministry and Public Sector Undertaking and Public Sector Undertakings in between themselves to ensure that no litigation comes to Court or Tribunal without the matter being first examined by the Committee. In the present case, the Tribunal has recorded that clearance was given to GAIL to prefer an appeal to the Tribunal against the order passed by the adjudicating authority and Commissioner Appeals. However, no such clearance has been given in favour of the Central Government which had preferred the present civi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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