Penalty equal to duty not leviable under Customs Act when duty paid before issue of notice
AIT News Network
NEW DELHI. Larger Bench of Customs Excise & Service Tax Tribunal vide a recent landmark ruling AIT-2006-47-CESTAT-LB has ruled that Penalty equal to duty is not leviable under Section 114A of Customs Act as the decision of Larger Bench in case of Machino Montell AIT-2004-12-CESTAT-LB would also apply to Customs Act as decided in the case of Jindal Vijayanagar Steel AIT-2004-13-CESTAT
Larger Bench also observed the full bench of Apex Court in the case of State of Madhya Pradesh Vs Bharat Heavy Electricals AIT-1998-01-SC have laid down that the penalty of ten times the amount of tax stipulated therein is only the maximum amount which could be levied and the assessing authority has the discretion to levy lesser amount, depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case
( Download full text of ruling by clicking on the link below)
AIT-2006-47-CESTAT-LB