The assessee's request for fixation of special rate of...

The assessee's request for fixation of special rate of brand-rate drawback was rejected due to non-fulfilment of basic requirements and time limitation. The assessee exported six consignments in 2006 under the claim of drawback at brand-rate and claimed to have filed an application for fixation of special rate u/r 6(1)(a) of the Drawback Rules, 1995. However, the assessee could not produce evidence of filing the application with the Commissioner of Central Excise within the stipulated time-limit u/r 6(1)(a). The application was filed before the proper authority only in 2012, while the exports were made in 2006. The time-limit prescribed u/r 6(1)(a) is a mandatory condition for consideration of the application. Since the assessee did not file the application within the mandatory time-limit or the condonable period, the adjudicating authority rightly rejected the application. The appellate tribunal upheld the order and dismissed the appeal.