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Supreme Court of India
Union Of India vs M/S. Associated Container … on 14 February, 2020Author: L. Nageswara Rao
Bench: L. Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4490 OF 2008
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. …..APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
M/S. ASSOCIATED CONTAINER TERMINAL LTD. …..RESPONDENT(S)
JUDGMENT
HEMANT GUPTA, J.
1. The order dated 28th November, 2007 passed by the High Court of
Delhi is the subject matter of challenge in the present appeal. Vide
the aforesaid order, the writ petition filed by the respondent was
allowed and the demand raised by the appellants vide letters
dated 17th February, 2005 and 19th April, 2005 were found to be
without authority of law and, thus, the appellant was directed to
refund a sum of Rs.27,47,146/- together with interest @12% per
annum.
2. One M/s. Kushang Apparel Ltd. had imported CTV kits and filed six
Bills of Entries, all dated 9th February, 2001. Such goods were
permitted by the Custom Department to be kept in warehouse for
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one year in terms of Section 59 of the Customs Act, 1962 1 at ICD,
Faridabad. The Bond period expired on 28 th February, 2002 but the
importer did not clear the imported goods and also did not pay the
rent for the warehouse. The warehouse issued notices for the
recovery of its dues failing which it will be constrained to sell the
imported goods by public auction/tender sale. With the approval of
custom authorities, the imported goods were put for sale through
auction under Section 63(2) of the Act with a valuation of imported
goods at Rs.1,52,04,176/-. However, the goods could not be
successfully sold. The valuation was reduced for the second
auction held on 4th September, 2002 to Rs.1,36,83,759/- and
further reduced in the third auction held on 7th May, 2003 to
Rs.54,44,650/-. The highest bid of Rs.35 lakhs alone was received.
The auction was not confirmed.
3. Thereafter, tender sale was resorted to dispose of the goods in the
warehouse. The valuation of the imported goods in the warehouse
was fixed at Rs.33 lakhs for which tenders were invited upto 3 rd
December, 2003. Later, the valuation was reduced to Rs.30 lakhs
in the second tender sale up to 31 st August, 2004. In this sale
process, the highest bid received was of Rs.41,44,555/-. The
Assistant Commissioner passed an order on 12 th October, 2004
that the goods will not be cleared on ex-bond Bill of Entry as it is
not a case of clearance under Section 68 of the Act but on
realization of charges under Section 72 of the Act in terms of the
1 for short, ‘Act’
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judgment of this Court in Kesoram Rayon v. Collector of
Customs, Calcutta2. The sale proceeds will be appropriated as
per Section 105 of the Act.
4. Subsequently, on 2nd February, 2005, the Assistant Commissioner
of Customs permitted the auctioned goods to be released to
auction purchaser on furnishing of bank guarantee in the sum of
Rs.27,47,146/- after paying a sum of Rs.2,05,329/- as expenses of
sale and payment of Rs.11,92,080/- as duty. The respondent
deposited the amount of duty and also furnished the bank
guarantee. Subsequently, on 4th March, 2005, the respondent was
called upon to deposit remaining amount of Rs.27,47,146/-
immediately failing which the bank guarantee was intended to be
invoked. Subsequently, on 19th April, 2005, the Additional
Commissioner informed the respondent that Chief Commissioner of
the Central Excise is of the view that the matter stands settled with
the Board’s clarification of 17th February, 2005 and the outstanding
arrears of custom duty is required to be recovered. The bank
guarantee was sought to be invoked which led the respondent to
invoke the writ jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court.
5. The High Court allowed the writ petition with the following findings:
“16. It appears that on the facts of the present case
the occasion to invoke Section 72 (1)(d) would arise
only if the goods in respect of which a bond has been
executed has not been cleared for home consumption.
In such event, the owner of the goods can be asked to
pay the entire duty. This obviously does not apply to the
warehouse-keeper like the petitioner and no demand of
2 (1996) 5 SCC 576
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payment for customs duty can be made against the
petitioner.
xx xx xx
20. We therefore hold that the Petitioner was justified
in recovering the warehousing charges due to it from
the auction sale proceeds in terms of Section 63 (2) of
the Act. The balance amount deposited with the
Government Treasury can be adjusted by the customs
department towards part payment of customs duty as
computed by it.”
6. The argument of the learned counsel for the Revenue is that the
distribution of sale proceeds has to be in accordance with Section
150 of the Act as there is a specific provision concerning custom
duty charges which will have precedence over recovery of
warehouse charges under 150(2)(e) of the Act.
7. Before this Court, learned counsel for the appellants relied upon
the judgment of this Court in Kesoram. This Court considered
Section 15(1)(d) of the Act that if the goods which are not removed
from a warehouse within the permissible period (in terms of Section
61) are treated as goods improperly removed from the warehouse.
Such improper removal takes place when the goods remain in the
warehouse beyond the permitted period or its permitted extension.
The importer of the goods may be called upon to pay customs duty
at the rate applicable on the date of their deemed removal from
the warehouse. This Court held as under:
“13. Goods which are not removed from a warehouse
within the permissible period are treated as goods
improperly removed from the warehouse. Such
improper removal takes place when the goods remain in
the warehouse beyond the permitted period or its
permitted extension. The importer of the goods may be
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called upon to pay customs duty on them and,
necessarily, it would be payable at the rate applicable
on the date of their deemed removal from the
warehouse, that is, the date on which the permitted
period or its permitted extension came to an end.
14. Section 15(1)(b) applies to the case of goods
cleared under Section 68 from a warehouse upon
presentation of a bill of entry for home consumption;
payment of duty, interest, penalty, rent and other
charges; and an order for home clearance. The
provisions of Section 68 and, consequently, of Section
15(1)(b) apply only when goods have been cleared from
the warehouse within the permitted period or its
permitted extension and not when, by reason of their
remaining in the warehouse beyond the permitted
period or its permitted extension, the goods have been
deemed to have been improperly removed from the
warehouse under Section 72.
xx xx xx
17. The consequence of non-removal of warehoused
goods within the permitted period or the permitted
extension is, by virtue of the terms of Section 72,
certain. The date on which it comes to end is the date
relevant for determining the rate of duty. When the duty
is in fact demanded is not relevant. The alternative
submission on behalf of the appellants must, therefore,
also be rejected.”
8. On the basis of the said judgment, it is contended that the duty
payable on the goods imported has to be assessed on the date of
deemed removal of goods from the warehouse for home
consumption i.e. on the expiry of one year of the warehouse period
i.e. 28th February, 2002. Therefore, the custom duty leviable as on
that day is to be recovered from the sale proceeds and in terms of
Section 150(2) of the Act, the custom duty has to be paid in
preference to the warehouse charges. Some of the relevant
provisions of the Act read as under:
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“Section 63 . Payment of rent and warehouse
charges. – (1) The owner of any warehoused goods
shall pay to the warehouse-keeper rent and warehouse
charges at the rates fixed under any law for the time
being in force or where no rates are so fixed, at such
rates as may be fixed by the Principal Commissioner of
Customs or Commissioner of Customs.
(2) If any rent or warehouse charges are not paid within
ten days from the date when they became due, the
warehouse -keeper may, after notice to the owner of
the warehoused goods and with the permission of the
proper officer cause to be sold (any transfer of the
warehoused goods notwithstanding) such sufficient
portion of the goods as the warehouse-keeper may
select.
xx xx xx
Section 71. Goods not to be taken out of
warehouse except as provided by this Act. – No
warehoused goods shall be taken out of a warehouse
except on clearance for home consumption or export or
for removal to another warehouse, or as otherwise
provided by this Act.
xx xx xx
Section 150. Procedure for sale of goods and
application of sale proceeds. – (1) Where any goods
not being confiscated goods are to be sold under any
provisions of this Act, they shall, after notice to the
owner thereof, be sold by public auction or by tender or
with the consent of the owner in any other manner.
(2) The proceeds of any such sale shall be applied –
(a) firstly to the payment of the expenses of the sale,
(b) next to the payment of the freight and other
charges, if any, payable in respect of the goods sold, to
the carrier, if notice of such charges has been given to
the person having custody of the goods,
(c) next to the payment of the duty, if any, on the goods
sold,
(d) next to the payment of the charges in respect of the
goods sold due to the person having the custody of the
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goods,
(e) next to the payment of any amount due from the
owner of the goods to the Central Government under
the provisions of this Act or any other law relating to
customs, and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the
owner of the goods.”
9. Learned counsel for the respondent refers to Chapter 21 of Central
Board of Excise and Customs Manual relating to disposal of
unclaimed/uncleared cargo. The relevant clauses from the Manual
read as under:
“7. Once the goods are sold, the Customs duty on the
goods is calculated. For calculation of Customs duty,
the sale proceeds from the sale of unclaimed/uncleared
goods is taken as cum-duty price (value + duty) and
customs duty is calculated working backwards on the
price realised.
Apportionment of sale proceeds of goods:
8. On the unclaimed/uncleared goods, liabilities towards
customs duty as well as carrier’s charges and storage
charges arise, which are to be recovered from the sale
proceeds. In addition, sales expenses incurred on sale
of such goods are to be recovered. In most of the
cases, the sale proceeds of such goods may not be
sufficient to meet liabilities of all the agencies. In such
cases, question arises as to which liability is to be met
first. To take care of such a situation, provisions have
been made in section 150(2) of the Customs Act. The
sale proceeds of any such sale of unclaimed/uncleared
goods is to be applied in following manners:
(a) first, to the payment of the expenses of the sale,
(b) next to the payment of the freight and other
charges, if any, payable in respect of the goods sold, to
the carrier, if notice of such charges has been given to
the custodians,
(c) next to the payment of the duty, if any, on the goods
sold,
(d) next to the payment of the charges in respect of the
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goods sold due to the person having the custody of the
goods,
(e) next to the payment of any amount due from the
owner of the goods to the Central Government under
the provisions of this Act or any other law relating to
Customs.
After making above-said payments, if any balance
remains, that is to be paid to the owner of the goods.”
10. Reference is made to another Circular dated 28 th November, 2001
issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. The Circular
reads as under:
“A reference was received from the Container
Corporation of India (CONCOR) stating that there is a
divergence of practice in Custom Houses with regard to
apportionment of sale proceeds from disposal/sale of
unclaimed/uncleared goods under section 150 of the
Customs Act, 1962. It was reported that some Custom
Houses determine the Customs duty payable on
auctioned goods after deducting the sales expenses
from the sale proceeds of the goods whereas other
Custom Houses are determining duty on the basis of
sale proceeds without allowing any deduction.
2. The matter has been examined. It is clarified that –
(a) the Customs duty shall be determined by backward
calculation considering the sale proceeds of
unclaimed/uncleared goods as the cum-duty price. For
calculation of duty, total sale proceeds without allowing
any deduction towards sales expenses or any other
charge is to be taken as cum duty price.
(b) After determination of the Customs duty, sale
proceeds of unclaimed/uncleared goods is to be
appropriated in the manner as provided in section
150(2) of the Customs Act, 1962.
3. These instructions may be brought to the notice of
all concerned by way of issuance of suitable Public
Notice/Standing Order.
4. Difficulties, if any, in implementation of these
instruction, may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Circular.”
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11. The issue required to be examined in the present appeal is whether
the calculation of the custom duty would be assessed as on the
date of the deemed removal of goods from the warehouse in terms
of Section 61 as interpreted by this Court in Kesoram or on the
date of sale for the reason that the importer has failed to seek
clearance of the goods imported.
12. As per the appellants, the right to recover customs duty is superior
to the right to recover warehouse charges in terms of Section 150
of the Act and that sale was conducted under Section 72 and not
under Section 63 of the Act. If the contention of the Revenue is to
be accepted, the custom duty will be much more than the price
received in tender sale. However, if the date of calculation of
custom duty is treated to be the date of sale, the demand of sum of
Rs.27,47,146/- would be untenable.
13. The appellants have referred to a communication dated 16 th April,
2004 wherein the respondent was called upon to clear the goods
after the expiry of extended period failing which payment of full
amount of duty will be payable together with all rent, penalties,
interest and other charges.
14. Kesoram is a case where the importer claimed levy of custom
duty which remained in bonded warehouse beyond the permitted
period claiming that the duty as is applicable on the date the goods
were sought to be removed for home consumption, will be
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chargeable. This Court found that the goods can be kept in a
warehouse in terms of the period specified under Section 61 of the
Act and, therefore, Section 68 and Section 15(1)(b) apply only
when the goods were cleared from the warehouse within the
permitted period or with permitted extension and not beyond the
permitted period or permitted extension.
15. The present case is not a case of levy of custom duty on the
importer. The importer has not sought the release of goods within
the permitted period of warehouse. Therefore, the judgment in
Kesoram will not be applicable in respect of the goods to be
auctioned on account of failure to seek the release of imported
goods by the importer though after the permission from the proper
officer.
16. Section 63 of the Act compels the owner of the warehoused goods
to pay rent and warehouse charges at the rates fixed under any law
for the time being in force or at such rates as may be fixed by the
Commissioner of Customs. If the rent or warehouse charges are
not paid, the warehouse-keeper is competent to sell the goods or
such sufficient portion of the goods as the warehouse-keeper may
select after permission from the proper officer. Section 63, thus, is
to ensure that the warehouse-keeper recovers the rent or
warehouse charges from the importer.
17. Section 150 deals with the distribution of sale proceeds if the goods
other than the confiscated goods are sold under any provision of
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the Act. The Central Board of Excise & Customs had issued a
clarification on 28th November, 2001 keeping in view divergence of
practice with regard to apportionment of sale proceeds from
disposal/sale of unclaimed/uncleared goods under Section 150 of
the Act. It was communicated that the custom duty shall be
determined by backward calculation considering the sale proceeds
of unclaimed/uncleared goods as the cum-duty price. For
calculation of duty, total sale proceeds without allowing any
deduction towards sales expenses or any other charge is to be
taken as cum-duty price.
18. In view of the Circular issued by the Central Board of Excise &
Customs, the custom duty is to be calculated on the sale price and
not on the duty as is payable on the date of deemed expiration of
permitted period of warehouse. Such Circular of the Board is
binding on the Revenue. Therefore, the custom duty has to be paid
on the basis of sale proceeds realised from the sale of the goods
kept in a warehouse and not on the basis of the custom duty
payable at the time of filing the Bill of Entry or on the date of expiry
of permitted period of warehouse.
19. Consequently, the present appeal is disposed of with directions to
ascertain the customs duty keeping in mind the dispensation
indicated in the enabling provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and
Chapter 21 of Central Board of Excise and Customs Manual read
with circular dated 20th November, 2011 and adjust the same as
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per the priority specified in Section 150(2) of the stated Act.
Further, if the bank guarantee in the sum of Rs. 27,47,146/-
(Rupees twenty seven lakhs forty seven thousand one hundred
forty six only) has already been invoked by the appellants, the said
amount shall be made over to the respondent in terms of the
directions given by the High Court within three months from today
after making due adjustments of the proceeds of sale as indicated
hitherto.
20. The appeal is disposed of in the above terms with no order as to
costs.
………………………………………J.
(A.M. KHANWILKAR)
………………………………………J.
(HEMANT GUPTA)
………………………………………J.
(DINESH MAHESHWARI)
NEW DELHI;
FEBRUARY 14, 2020.
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