JUDGEMENT
S.J.MUKHOPADHAYA, J. -
(1.)THIS petition under Sec.35 H(1) of the Central Excise Act, 1944 has been preferred on behalf of the Revenue raising a doubt relating to legality and propriety of the order dated 30th April, 2002,
passed by the Customs, Excise & Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, Eastern Bench, Kolkata
(hereinafter to be referred as 'CEGA Tribunal ') in Appeal No. E -680/2001. By the said
order, the CEGA Tribunal has accepted the stand of the appellant (respondent herein), set aside
the order dated 5th September, 2001, passed by the Commissioner (Appeals), Customs & Central
Excise, Patna and directed the Revenue to refund the amount in cash to the respondent -appellant.
(2.)THE respondent M/s. Ashok Arc, Panchet Road, Chirkunda, District -Dhanbad claimed refund of Rs. 42,503.51 (rupees forty two thousand five hundred three and fifty one paise only) pursuant to
Order Nos. A -598 -599, dated 19th May, 1998, passed by the CEGA Tribunal in 1, 2 Appeals
E -3441, 3442/93. The said amount was debited by the respondent from MODVAT Account under
Sec.35F of the Central Excise & Salt Act, 1944. The Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise, Ranchi,
while sanctioned a sum of Rs. 3,150.00 (rupees three thousand one hundred and fifty only) for
payment through cheque, ordered that the balance amount of Rs. 39,353.51 (rupees thirty nine
thousand three hundred fifty three and fifty one paise only) be made available to CENVAT
Account, it having been debited by the respondent from its MODVAT Account. The respondent
M/s. Ashok Arc, Dhanbad, initially moved in appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals), Customs &
Central Excise, Patna, and prayed for refund of total amount in cash and to set aside the order,
passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise, Ranchi. The appeal was rejected vide order
dated 5th September, 2001, passed by the Commissioner (Appeals), Customs & Central Excise,
Patna, in Appeal 414/JSR/CE/Appeal/2001, which was the impugned order before the CEGA
Tribunal.
We have considered the submissions, made by the Counsel for the Revenue. He particularly relied on Sub -rules (12) and (13) of Rule 57F of the Central Excise Rules, 1944. It has been
submitted that the CEGA Tribunal while passing the impugned order dated 30th April, 2002, has
overlooked the provisions, wherein, it is stipulated that the credit of specified duty allowed in
respect of any inputs may be utilised by manufacturer of the final products towards payment of
duty of excise on any of the following :
(a) On any of the final products in the manufacture of the final products; or
(b) On the waste, if any, arising in the course of manufacture of the final products; or
(c) On the inputs themselves if such inputs are removed as such under Sub -rule(3) to Rule 57F.
(3.)IN this petition, the Revenue has raised the following question for reference: Whether the learned Tribunal has gravely erred in allowing the Appeal and directing the
authority to refund the pre -deposit amount in cash when the same has been deposited
through RG 23A Pt. -II i.e. MODVAT account and under the provisions ofCentral Excise
Rules, 1944 no such refund in cash is permissible?