CESTAT allowed appellant's refund claim for EC and SHEC paid...

CESTAT allowed appellant's refund claim for EC and SHEC paid during July 2004 to December 2013, overruling time limitation under Section 11B of Central Excise Act, 1944. The Tribunal determined that amount was paid under mistake of law, rendering statutory one-year limitation period inapplicable. Relying on precedential rulings from jurisdictional HC, the Tribunal held that refund claim cannot be dismissed as time-barred when payment was made erroneously. The impugned order was set aside, effectively granting the appellant's refund petition.