SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES LTD Vs. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This application has been made for refund of money deposited by the petitioner under Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962. The dispute is as to the dutiability of two sets of Automatic Compression Reverters with quick return mechanism. The machines are used for manufacturing audio cassettes. The petitioner is engaged in the business of manufacturing cassettes popularly known in the market as T-Series Audio Cassettes'. The petitioner claims that the machinery imported by the petitioner falls under Tariff Heading No. 84:44.48. The contention of the Customs Department was that the cassettes were classifiable under Tariff Item No. 81.59. The petitioner went up on appeal against the aforesaid order dated October 15, 1984 passed by the Collector of Customs, Calcutta. The Appellate Tribunal ultimately held that there was no justification for classifying the goods in question under Item 84.58.

(2.) As a pre-condition for filing the appeal, the petitioner had made a deposit of the disputed amounts under the provisions of Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962. The petitioner now claims for refund of the said amount and also the amount of penalty deposited by it. The total amount deposited by the petitioner was Rs. 2,34, 802.21. Pursuant to the Order of the Tribunal the petitioner claims an amount of Rs. 1,20,157.39 has become refundable to the petitioner. The respondents, however, have not refunded the said amount. The contention of the petitioner is that the amount of money claimed must be refunded to the petitioner. There is no contradiction to any of the allegations of facts made out on the petition by the respondents. Moreover, the case of the petitioner is that the petitioner has fulfilled the conditions laid down in proviso to Sub-section (2) of Section 27 of the Customs Act and, therefore, there is no reason why the amount should not be refunded to the petitioner. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner purchased the two machines for its own use and has not passed on the incidence of duty paid to the consumers. The reverters were imported for manufacturing audio cassettes and were not meant to be re-sold and there was no question of passing of incidence of duty on any other person.

(3.) In my judgment the contention of the petitioner must be upheld.