Modvat credit cannot be denied for typewritten invoice serial numbers where the documents otherwise substantiate the transaction.

Modvat credit cannot be denied solely because invoice serial numbers are typewritten rather than printed, where the invoices otherwise evidence a valid transaction. The Tribunal treated this as a mere clerical defect that did not affect the admissibility of credit and followed its earlier view that typewritten numbers are to be regarded as equivalent to printed numbers for this purpose. On that basis, the credit remained admissible and denial based only on the invoice format was not justified.

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Issues: Whether Modvat credit could be denied merely because the invoice serial number was typed and not printed.

Analysis: The only ground for disallowance was that the serial numbers in the invoices were not printed but were typewritten. The Tribunal followed its earlier view that typewritten serial numbers are to be treated as printed numbers and that such a defect does not justify denial of credit when the documents otherwise support the transaction. The defect was treated as not affecting the admissibility of credit.

Conclusion: Modvat credit was held admissible, and the assessee succeeded.

Ratio Decidendi: Modvat credit cannot be denied solely on the ground that invoice serial numbers are typewritten rather than printed, if the invoices are otherwise valid.

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