CESTAT allowed the appeal and set aside the adjudicating order...

CESTAT allowed the appeal and set aside the adjudicating order that directed recovery of differential customs duty with interest and imposition of penalties. The Tribunal held that valuation for additional duty under s.3(1) of the Customs Tariff Act must conform to customs valuation rules and that re-determination based on post-import list prices was impermissible. The importer cannot be held liable for post-import alteration or re-affixation of retail selling prices by downstream parties; such adjustments, if any, pertain to excise jurisdiction under the Central Excise Act and Standards of Weights and Measures Act. The adjudicating authority exceeded its powers under the Customs Act; recovery and penalty directions were quashed.

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