Accumulated Compensation Cess ITC on coal used to manufacture...

Accumulated Compensation Cess ITC on coal used to manufacture leather products supplied domestically is refundable only where the statutory conditions for an inverted tax structure refund are independently met. Eligibility to avail the credit, including the absence of a blocked-credit restriction, does not itself establish entitlement to a cash refund. Although Compensation Cess credit is usable only against cess liabilities, its inability to be utilised against other liabilities creates no separate refund right. Clarifications and precedents concerning zero-rated or export supplies do not support domestic-supply refund claims. The order granting refund was set aside and the original refund rejections were restored.