M/S Siddachalam
Exports Private Ltd. Vs Commissioner of Central Excise, Delhi-III
J U D G M E N T
D.K. JAIN, J.:
1.
Challenge
in this civil appeal, under Section 130-E(b) of the Customs Act, 1962 (for
short "the Act"), is to the judgment and order dated 14th September, 2006
delivered by the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (for short
"the CESTAT") whereby it allowed the appeal preferred by the revenue,
the respondent herein. Consequently, the customs duty drawback (`49,75,536/-)
claimed by the appellant under the scheme of duty drawback, incorporated in
Chapter X of the Act, read with Customs and Central Excise Duties Draw-back Rules,
1995 (as 1 amended) got disallowed on the ground of mis-declaration of value of
the goods entered for exportation.
2.
The
facts, material for adjudication of the present appeal, may be stated thus: The
appellant viz. M/s Siddachalam Exports Pvt. Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as "the
exporter") was engaged in the exports of ready-made garments, engineering
goods, handicrafts, woollen garments, leather goods, etc. On 24th February,
2003, the exporter filed seven shipping Bills (Nos.J-903000127-129 and J-903000131-134)
for export of goods declared as `ladies tops' valued at `390/- per piece and
`denim shirts' valued at `417/- per piece consigned to one M/s Zao Jainyo
Overseas, Moscow, Russia at a total FOB value of `4,14,63,360/-. The exporter
claimed a duty drawback of `49,75,536/-.
3.
Based
on secret information that the afore-mentioned goods had been over-valued with the
intention of claiming undue draw-back amounts, customs authorities carried out
100% examination of the consignment on 26th February, 2003; drew samples, and
forwarded the same to one M/s Skipper International for their opinion regarding
their market value.
4.
On
27th February, 2003, Mr. Sanjeev Jain, director of the exporter company was
also examined, and in his statement recorded under Section 108 of the Act he
stated that the goods covered by the shipping bills were not manufactured by
his company, but were supplied by one Mr. Gupta. Payments to Mr. Gupta in
respect of the goods were made through cheques. He, however, did not remember
the address or contact number of Mr. Gupta. Mr. Jain also stated that the goods
covered by the seven shipping bills were purchased @ `150/- to `350/- per
piece, however, he had not seen the invoices for the same.
5.
Vide
letter dated 5th March, 2003, the exporter requested for provisional release of
the goods on execution of bond and bank guarantee. On 12th March, 2003, one
Pankaj, claiming to be an authorised representative of the said M/s Skipper
International submitted his valuation letter, opining that samples of `ladies
tops' and `denim shirts' were export surplus and export rejected garments
having poor quality of fabric and stitching, and the market value of the said goods
ranged between `40/- to `70/- per piece. Based on the said report, the customs authorities
formed the opinion that the total value of the consignments was `56,04,000/- as
against the declared FOB value of `4,14,63,360/- and the admissible drawback should
be `3,56,328/- as against the claim of `49,57,536/-. The consignments in
question were seized under Section 110 of the Act. However, subsequently the goods
were released provisionally on execution of bond and bank guarantee by the
exporter.
6.
On
11th September, 2003, Assistant Commissioner of Customs (SIIB), ICD, Tughlakabad,
New Delhi issued a show cause notice to the exporter, inter-alia, alleging that
the FOB value of the goods covered under the seven shipping bills had been grossly
mis-declared by artificially inflating it, thereby rendering them liable for confiscation
under Sections 113(d) and/or (i) of the Act. The exporter was asked to show
cause as to why the draw back on goods covered under shipping Bills No.
J903000134 and J903000129 dated 24th February, 2003 should not be reduced to `3,56,328/-;
draw back amounting to `29,90,280/- on goods covered under the remaining shipping
bills should not be disallowed, and penalty under Section 114 of the Act should
not be imposed on the exporter.
7.
On
7th December, 2004, the said Pankaj, authorised signatory of M/s Skipper International
submitted another letter to the Commissioner (Adjudication Bench) stating that their
earlier letter dated 12th March, 2003 should not be relied upon for any purpose
in as much as the same was prepared by the Customs authorities, and he was merely
asked to transcribe his signature on the same. It was further stated that he was
neither shown any goods nor any documents.
8.
On
14th December, 2004, the exporter replied to the show cause notice denying all the
allegations contained therein. The exporter also questioned the authenticity of
the report dated 12th March, 2003 submitted by M/s Skipper International.
9.
The
Commissioner of Central Excise, Delhi-III adjudicated on said show cause notice
vide Order-in-Original dated 31st January, 2005. Relying on the decisions of
the CESTAT, wherein the market enquiries conducted by the revenue in the
absence of and without notice to the exporter had been held to be invalid, the
Commissioner dropped the proceedings against the exporter, and allowed the draw
back as claimed by the exporter. The Commissioner held as follows: "In the
light of above decisions of Hon'ble Tribunal, I find that the enquiry conducted
from M/s Skipper International, in the absence of and without any notice to the
exporter company or its Director, cannot be assigned any evidential weightage
as it does not depict if the identical garments had ever been purchased by M/s Skipper
International for the given prices. So, being the evidence and the relevant law,
it has to be held that there had been indeed no market enquiry to establish the
present market value. Further, Mr. Pankaj, authorized signatory of M/s Skipper International,
has retracted his statement he made in his certificate dated 12.03.2003 by
which he had given present market value of the samples shown to him. In view of
this conclusion, and in the absence of any other independent evidence relating
to market enquiry, I fail to find corroboration from any other independent
evidence as far as the aspect relating to the present market price and
inflating of FOB value are concerned." Being aggrieved, the Revenue
preferred an appeal before the CESTAT. As afore-mentioned, the CESTAT, vide the
impugned judgment, has allowed the appeal filed by the Revenue, observing thus:
"
We find merit in the
appeal of the revenue. The basic issue in this case was whether the declared export
prices were mis- declarations on account of being over-valuation of the goods under
export. The second issue was whether the Present Market Value of the consignments
were as indicated by M/s Skipper International, thereby denying draw back amount.
While the defence of the respondent is that the export price has been realized,
the declared value remains entirely unsubstantiated. The opinion of M/s Skipper
International, who saw the samples is based on the observation that "these
samples of Ladies Tops and Denims Shirts are export surplus and export rejected
garments having poor Quality of fabric and stitching". There is no contest
raised against the finding regarding poor quality of fabric and stitching. It is
upon this finding that M/s. Skipper International reached the conclusion that the
garments were 'export rejects'. The valuation was also on that basis. Instead of
contesting the factual position noted about the samples, the exporter has
chosen to attack the competence of the opinion giver. This is not acceptable for
two reasons. The first is that the quality of stitching and fabric would be evident
to any one familiar with garment trade and cannot be ruled to be beyond the ken
of an export surplus dealer. There is no rocket science involved in as certainly
quality of fabric or stitching of a garment. Therefore, the attack on the opinion
giver is entirely misplaced. It is also because the opinion itself is not
flawed. Secondly, M/s Skipper International was dealing in (sic.) export surplus
garments, therefore, it had expertise in the market valuation of such goods. If
fabric and stitching are of poor quality, certainly, the items would not be
having the price of prime quality export garments as declared by the exporter.
10.
Another
entirely unacceptable aspect in the appellant's conduct is that it has refused to
place on record the material which it should be in possession of to substantiate
the values declared. The appellant is a merchant exporter and has purchased the
garments, valued over `4 crores from the market. It is to be expected that the appellant
would have taken care to place the order for the goods on competent
manufacturers or traders along with proper specification regarding material,
make, and size and those manufacturers or traders would give the appellant proper
invoices and other documents. Instead of producing such evidence, it has chosen
to state that procurement is through one illusory Gupta, whose particulars are
not known to the appellant. Such abnormal vagueness can only be attributed to
an effort to cover up inconvenient facts. It is well settled that a person in
the possession of clinching evidence on an issue in dispute cannot hope to succeed
by withholding that evidence. Therefore, the Commissioner was clearly in error in
faulting the revenue for relying upon the opinion of M/s Skipper International and
not carrying out investigations on the lines indicated by Shri Jain. The
particulars supplied by Shri Jain were not reliable at all and was intended
only to mislead. Further, issuance of some cheques is no satisfactory evidence about
the correct value of the consignments."Accordingly, the CESTAT confirmed
the reduction of draw back claim in case of consignments covered by Shipping
Bill Nos. J-903000134 and J-903000129 to `3,26,328/- and denial of draw back
claim amounting to 7`29,90,280/- in relation to other consignments as
contemplated in the show cause notice dated 11th September, 2003. The CESTAT
also levied a penalty of `5 lakhs each on the exporter and its Director, Mr. Sanjeev
Jain, respectively.
11.
Hence,
the present appeal by the exporter.
12.
Mr.
Ramji Srinivasan, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the exporter, while
assailing the impugned judgment, contended that the Revenue has failed to
discharge the onus placed on it in as much as it has failed to establish that the
exporter had mis-declared the value of the export goods as was held in Nanya
Imports & Exports Enterprises Vs. Commissioner of Customs, Chennai1. Learned
counsel contended that the show cause notice was vitiated as it was based
solely on the opinion of the said Pankaj, authorised signatory of M/s Skipper International,
who had not even examined the goods in question. Learned counsel asserted that
the procedure for determining value of goods has to be in terms of Sections 2(41)
and 14 of the Act, read with Rule 4 of the Customs Valuation (Determination of Price
of Imported Goods) Rules, 1988 (for short "the 1988 Rules"). Relying
on Varsha Plastics Private 1 (2006) 4 SCC 765 Limited & Anr. Vs. Union of
India & Ors.2, learned counsel argued that the 1988 Rules having been
framed to maintain uniformity and certainty in the matter of valuation of
goods, which is a matter of procedure, these Rules have to be adhered to strictly.
It was also contended that the CESTAT has erred in law in levying penalty on
Mr. Sanjeev Jain who was not even made a party to the appeal filed by the
Revenue.
13.
Per
contra, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue
strenuously urged that the impugned judgment deserves to be affirmed, and the CESTAT
rightly did not consider the effect of retraction by M/s Skipper International,
as the same was not dealt with by the Commissioner as well. Learned counsel urged
that the exporter cannot be allowed to urge this ground at this stage, as the
same was not raised by it before the CESTAT. In support of the contention,
decision of this Court in M/s Builders' Association of India Vs. State of
Karnataka & Ors3. was pressed into service. According to the learned
counsel, since the retraction was tendered after twenty one months of the
submission of original report, it had lost its efficacy and, therefore, had no
bearing on the authenticity of the report. 2 (2009) 3 SCC 3653 (1993) 1 SCC 409
14.
14.It
is trite law that the amplitude of an appeal under Section 130E(b) of the Act,
in relation to the rate of duty of customs or to the value of goods for the
purposes of assessment, is very wide but it is equally well settled that where
the CESTAT, a fact finding authority, has arrived at a finding by taking into
consideration all material and relevant facts and has applied correct legal
principles, this Court would be loathe to interfere with such a finding even
when another view might be possible on same set of facts. Nevertheless, if it
is shown that the conclusion under challenge is such as could not possibly have
been arrived at by a person duly instructed upon the material before him i.e. the
conclusion is perverse or that the CESTAT has failed to apply correct principles
of law, this Court is competent to substitute its own opinion for that of the
CESTAT.
15.
Having
bestowed our anxious consideration to the facts at hand, we are constrained to
observe that the decisions of both the authorities below are unsustainable. In our
opinion, neither the Commissioner nor the CESTAT has examined the issue before
them in its correct perspective and as per the procedure contemplated in law for
determination of the value of the goods for exportation.
16.
It
is settled that the procedure prescribed under Section 14(1) of the Act and particularized
in Rule 4 of the 1988 Rules has to be adopted to determine the value of goods
entered for exports, irrespective of the fact whether any duty is leviable or
not. It is also trite that ordinarily, the price received by the exporter in
the ordinary course of business shall be taken to be the transaction value for determination
of value of goods under export, in absence of any special circumstances indicated
under Section 14(1) of the Act and Rule 4(2) of the 1988 Rules. The initial burden
to establish that the value mentioned by the exporter in the bill of export or the
shipping bill, as the case may be, is incorrect lies on the Revenue. Therefore,
once the transaction value under Rule 4 is rejected, the value must be
determined by sequentially proceeding through Rules 5 to 8 of the 1988 Rules.
(See: Commissioner of Customs (Gen), Mumbai Vs. Abdulla Koyloth4.)
17.
In
Om Prakash Bhatia Vs. Commissioner of Customs, Delhi5, while dealing with a
similar case of fraudulent drawback claim by deliberately over-invoicing
ready-made garments, this Court rejected the plea of the exporter that Section
113(d) of the Act was not applicable to the facts of that case as the goods were
not prohibited goods; (ii) the exporter was 4 JT 2010 (12) SC 2675 (2003) 6 SCC
161 1required to declare the value of the goods expected to be received from
the overseas purchaser and not the market value of such goods in India and
(iii) since in that case, no duty was payable on the export, Section 14 of the
Act could not be applied to determine the value of the goods. It was, inter-alia,
held that the definition of "prohibited goods" in Section 2(33) of
the Act indicates that if the conditions prescribed for import or export of the
goods are not complied with, it would be considered to be "prohibited
goods". It was held that for determining the export value of the goods, it
is necessary to refer to the meaning of the word "value" as defined
in Section 2(41) of the Act and the same must be determined in accordance with the
provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Act. The Court observed
thus: "...For determining the export value of the goods, we have to refer
to the meaning of the word "value" given in Section 2(41) of the Act,
which specifically provides that value in relation to any goods means the value
thereof determined in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of
Section 14. ..... ..... ..... Section 14 specifically provides that in case of assessing
the value for the purpose of export, value is to be determined at the price at
which such or like goods are ordinarily sold or offered for sale at the place
of exportation in the course of international trade, where the seller and the buyer
have no interest in the business of each other and the price is the sole
consideration for sale. No doubt, Section 14 would be applicable for
determining the value of the goods for the purpose of tariff or duty of 1 customs
chargeable on the goods. In addition, by reference it is to be resorted to and
applied for determining the export value of the goods as provided under
sub-section (41) of Section 2. This is independent of any question of assessability
of the goods sought to be exported to duty. Hence, for finding out whether the
export value is truly stated in the shipping bill, even if no duty is leviable,
it can be referred to for determining the true export value of the goods sought
to be exported."
18.
The
opinion expressed in Om Prakash Bhatia (supra) has been reiterated by this
Court in Bibhishan Vs. State of Maharashtra6. It has been held that the
definition of "prohibited goods" in the Act is a broad one and the said
provision not only brings within its sweep an import or export of goods which
is subject to any prohibition under the Act, but also any of the law for the
time being in force.
19.
In
the present case, as stated above, neither the adjudicating authority i.e., the
Commissioner of Central Excise nor the CESTAT has dealt with the matter as per
the procedure prescribed under the Act. At the threshold, instead of first determining
the value of the goods on the basis of contemporaneous exports of identical goods,
the Revenue erroneously resorted to a market enquiry. If for any reason, data
of contemporaneous exports of identical goods was not available, the procedure
laid down in Rules 5 to 8 of the 1988 Rules was required to be followed and
market 6 (2007) 12 SCC 390 enquiry could be conducted only as a last resort. It
is evident that no such exercise was undertaken by the Commissioner and
interestingly he, acting as an appellate authority, proceeded to test the
evidentiary value of the report submitted by M/s Skipper International and
rejected it on the ground that it does not depict if the identical garments had
ever been purchased by the said concern. Observing that in the absence of any other
independent evidence relating to market enquiry, there was no other corroborating
evidence to support the allegation of inflation in FOB value, he dropped the
proceedings initiated vide show cause notice dated 11th September 2003. Similarly,
it is manifest from the CESTAT's order that revenue's appeal has been accepted
mainly on the ground that report of M/s Skipper International was worthy of credence
and the exporter had failed to produce any evidence to establish that export
value stated in the shipping bills was the true export value. In our opinion,
both the said authorities have failed to apply the correct principles of law and
therefore, their orders cannot be sustained.
20.
Resultantly,
for the reasons as enumerated, the appeal is allowed; the orders passed by the
CESTAT and the Commissioner are set aside and the matter is remitted back to the
adjudicating authority for fresh consideration in accordance with law, after affording
adequate opportunity of hearing to the exporter. The entire exercise, in terms
of this order, shall be completed within six months from the date of receipt of
a copy of this judgment. Needless to add that we have not expressed any opinion
on the merits of the opinion rendered by M/s Skipper International or on the conduct
of the exporter in not adducing any evidence in support of the export value stated
in the shipping bills in question.
21.
In
the facts and circumstances of the case, the parties are left to bear their own
costs.
...........................................J.
(D.K. JAIN, J.)
............................................J.
(H.L. DATTU,)
NEW
DELHI;
APRIL
1, 2011.ARS
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