<h1>Supreme Court stays order blocking Rs 256 crore refund, says high courts not revenue custodians</h1> The Supreme Court stayed a Bombay High Court order that had blocked a tribunal's direction for a Rs 256.45 crore refund to a firm. The apex court observed that high courts are not 'custodians' of the revenue department and noted the high court improperly stayed the refund order after dismissing the revenue department's appeal as not maintainable. The case involved a Service Tax appeal under the Central Excise Act where the tribunal had allowed the firm's appeal in January. The Supreme Court issued notice to the revenue department and scheduled the matter for further hearing, while clarifying that its stay order would not prevent the department from filing an appeal.