The Appellate Tribunal held that the extended period of...

The Appellate Tribunal held that the extended period of limitation for demand of duty could not be invoked as there was no suppression of facts or intent to evade payment of Central Excise duty by the appellants. The manufacture, clearances, and business transactions were duly recorded in books of account maintained by the appellants. The CENVAT credit demand and interest were set aside as the credit was reversed without utilization. No penalty was imposable as there was no intention to evade duty. The personal penalty on the partner was also set aside, following jurisdictional High Court precedents that separate personal penalties on partners in a firm case are unjustified. Consequently, the appeal was allowed.