L.T. Foods Ltd., Sonepat vs C.C.E., Delhi Iii
- CitationService Tax Appeal No.50814 of 2014
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where an order under section 85 of the Finance Act, 1994 relates to a service that has been exported and concerns the grant of rebate of service tax on input services, or of duty paid on inputs used in providing such service, the order is to be dealt with in accordance with section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944, by virtue of the first proviso to section 86(1) of the Finance Act, 1994 as inserted with effect from 14.5.2015. Appeals pending before the Appellate Tribunal on such matters, filed after the coming into force of the Finance Act, 2012 and pending up to the date of the President's assent to the Finance Act, 2015, are to be transferred and dealt with under section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944, by virtue of the second proviso to section 86(1); section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 applies the provisions of section 35EE to proceedings under that Act. Accordingly, where an appeal falls within these provisos, the Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to decide it on its merits and must transfer it to the Central Government for disposal as a revision under section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Arising out of the order in appeal No.305/SVS/RTK/2013-14 dated 16.7.2013 passed by the Commissioner (Appeals), Central Excise, Delhi III.
For approval and signature:
Honble Mr. Justice G. Raghuram, President
1 Whether Press Reporter may be allowed to see the Order for publication as per Rule 26 of the CESTAT (Procedure) Rules, 1982?
2 Whether it should be released under Rule 26 of CESTAT (Procedure) Rules, 1982 for publication in any authoritative report or not?
3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the Order?
4 Whether Order is to be circulated to the Departmental authorities?
L.T. Foods Ltd., Sonepat Appellant
Vs.
C.C.E., Delhi III . Respondent
Appearance:
Present Shri A.K. Batra, C.A. with Shri Varun Gaba, Advocate for the appellants
Present Shri Amresh Jain, A.R. for Revenue
Coram: Honble Mr. Justice G. Raghuram, President
Final Order No. 51679/2015
Per Justice G. Raghuram:
The brief facts may be noted. The appellant is engaged in export of rice, agro and non-agro products and received services as specified under Notification No.17/2009-ST, dated 7.7.2009 which were utilized for the exports.. The assessee filed a refund claim in respect of service tax remitted by the provider of services in terms of Notification No.17/2009-ST.The refund claim was rejected by the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, Sonepat. Aggrieved, the assessee preferred an appeal which was also rejected by the Commissioner (Appeals), New Delhi. The Appellate order is impugned herein.
2. The Finance Act, 2015 introduced two provisos to Section 86(1) of the Finance Act, 1994 w.e.f. 14.5.2015, being the date of the assent of the President to the Act. This provision enjoins that where an order, relating to a service which is exported, has been passed under section 85 and the matter relates to grant of rebate of service tax on input services, or rebate of duty paid on inputs, used in providing such service, such order shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944. The second proviso enjoins that all appeals filed before the Appellate Tribunal in respect of matters covered under the first proviso, after the coming into force of the Finance Act, 2012, and pending before it up to the date on which the Finance Bill, 2015 receives the assent of the President, shall be transferred and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944. Section 35EE confers a revisional power on the Central Government in respect of matters specified therein. Section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 enacts that provisions of Section 35EE of the 1944 Act are application to proceedings under the Finance Act, 1994.
3. On an interactive application of the provisions of Section 35EE of the 1944 Act read with Section 83 and the first and second provisos to Section 86(1), of the Finance Act, 1994, this appeal preferred against the order rejecting the appellants claim for rebate, under Notification No.17/2009-ST dated 7.7.2009, requires to be transferred to the Central Government for determination as a Revision under provisions of Section 35EE of the 1944 Act.
4. In the circumstances above, this appeal shall be transferred to the Central Government to be disposed of as a Revision preferred under Section 35EE of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
(Justice G. Raghuram)
President
scd/
1
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