Full Judgment
Accordingly he allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the Assistant Collector. Subsequently, the Central Government issued notice dated 27.5.1981 under Section 36(2) of the Central Excises and Salt Act as it was of the view that the order of the Appellate Collector was not proper, legal and correct. It was of the view that the demand was governed by rule 10-A of the Central Excise Rules and there was therefore no question of time bar. The assessee replied contesting the review notice It is the said proceedings that are, on transfer, now before us as this deemed appeal.
2. We have heard Smt. Dolly Saxena for the Department and Sh. D.N.Kohli, Consultant for the respondents.
3. The finding of the Assistant Collector, which according to the notice of the Government, is correct, is that the rebate granted was provisional and therefore could be later finalized by the Department.
This Tribunal has in the case of M/s. Jagatjit Sugar Mills Company Ltd. (1985 ECR 746) disapproved of this view. It is further held that if a larger amount had been granted by way of rebate the said excess payment would be nothing but erroneous refund of duty and proceedings for recovery thereof would be governed by the appropriate provisions. The rebate had been granted in 1975 but the notice calling for recovery of the alleged excess refund was issued on 11.10.1977. Since the demand for recovery of excess refund was governed at the relevant time by rule 10 of the Central Excise Rules the recourse to Rule 10A under the review notice is not justified. Judged by the time limit under rule 10 the demand for recovery of excess refund was obviously barred by time as held by the Appellate Collector.
4. In the result we hold that the order of the Appellate Collector was correct and accordingly uphold the same, dismiss this appeal and discharge the review notice.