1991 (1) TMI 144

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....nion of India, to forbear from collecting excise duty in excess of 50% of the normal duty payable under Tariff Item No. 23 of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 for a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of production of cement by the petitioner-company. 2. Mr. K. Doraisami, learned Senior Counsel, appearing for the petitioner relies on a Press Note issued by the Department of In....

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.... would also rely on the averments in paragraph 9 of the affidavit wherein the petitioner has stated that since the Press Note did not specify as to from what date the concession for a period of 5 years would be made available, an un-starred question was raised in the Lok Sabha on 23-12-1981 to which the Hon'ble Minister for Industry specifically stated on the floor of the House that the period of ....

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.... indication of the policy decision taken by the Government. The liability for payment of excise duty is governed by the provisions of the Central Excises and Salt Act and the rules framed thereunder. Cement is an excisable commodity. Under Item No. 23, the rate of excise duty is specified. The Government is also enabled to grant exemption. Therefore, in keeping with the Press Note, an exemption no....

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....also took care to mention that the concession shall be in force up to and inclusive of 31st March, 1984. 5. The petitioner's factory admittedly commenced production only in September, 1985 by which time there was no exemption notification in force. In the absence of any such exemption notification, the petitioner cannot claim, as a matter of right, that it is entitled to pay excise duty only at....