HARESH SURESH DEORA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard. Admit on the following substantial questions of law, which are common in all the appeals.

(2.) The dispute in these appeals relate to the order of CESTAT, whereby the appeals filed by the appellants have been dismissed on the ground that the appellants have failed to comply with the pre-deposit order passed by the Tribunal.

(3.) In the present case, by a common order-in-original dated 21st January, 2008, penalties were imposed on the appellants as well as several other parties. Against the levy of penalty, the appellants as well as other parties filed separate appeals along with stay applications before the CESTAT. By a common order dated 14th November 2008 [2008 (232) E.L.T. 210 (Tri.-Mumbai)], the CESTAT disposed off the stay applications filed by the appellants along with other appellants. In the said order, the CESTAT granted waiver of pre-deposit subject to one of the appellants, namely Shrishti Impex Private Limited depositing a sum of Rs. 15 crores. Perusal of the said order of CESTAT clearly shows that there was no direction to the appellants to make any pre-deposit of penalty imposed. In such circumstances, the CESTAT could not have dismissed the appeals filed by the appellants on 8th March 2010 on the ground that the appellants have not complied with the stay order dated 14th November 2008 when in fact there was no such order directing the appellants to make any pre-deposit. In the absence of any order directing the appellants to make pre-deposit, the appeals filed by the appellants could not be dismissed on the ground that Shrishti Impex Private Limited had failed to make pre-deposit.