AGARWAL TRADING CO. Vs. COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellants in this case are rendering service of clearing and forwarding agent and were liable to service tax. However, there has been consistent delay in payment of the Service Tax and accordingly besides the amount of service tax, a penalty of Rs. 5,000/ - under Section 76 and Rs. 1,000/ - under Section 77 of the Finance Act, 1944 was imposed on the appellants by the Assistant Commissioner. This order was reviewed by the Commissioner, who enhanced the penalty from Rs. 5,000/ - to Rs. 1,24,285/ - on the ground that the appellants have not been able to show any justifiable reason for delay in payment of Service Tax.

(2.) LD . Advocate appearing for the appellants submits that the Commissioner (Appeals) was not justified in enhancing the penalty. In any case, submits the Ld. Advocate that the delay has not been correctly calculated by the original adjudicating authority. Drawing my attention to the first entry in the table re -produced in the said letter, he submits that the duty date was 26/01/2000 and this was paid on 28/04/2000. As such, there was a delay of 94 days, whereas the Assistant Commissioner has considered the said delay as four months. As such, he submits that the delays arrived at by the Assistant Commissioner are higher than the actual days of delay in depositing the Service Tax.

(3.) LD . DR appearing for the revenue draws my attention to the Larger Bench's decision of the Tribunal in the case of ETA Engineering Ltd., v. CCE, Chennai , laying down that the minimum penalty under Section 16 of the Finance Act is Rs. 100/ - per day. Inasmuch as Section 80 of the Finance Act is not attracted in the present case, minimum penalty of Rs. 100/ - per day should have been imposed. He, however, seeks imposition of maximum penalty of Rs. 200/ - per day.