19. The first fundamental issue is whether the Commission has at all jurisdiction to deal with this case which involves search assessments where block assessments are to be completed u/s 158BC. The arguments of the learned CIT(DR)s appear quite weighty and persuasive. However, the arguments of” the learned AR of the applicant are logical and convincing
Yes. As discussed supra. A return of production, clearance and duty paid in the prescribed manner, is a statutory requirement. In the absence of a specific reference in Section 32E to ER1/ER3 i.e. monthly/quarterly returns prescribed under Rule 12 of the Central Excise Rules, since the ‘declaration’ filed by a small scale manufacturer also contains the basic particulars of estimated production and clearances though not the duty paid, as the product is totally exempt, and keeps the Department aware of the bona fide existence of the applicant, the yearly declaration can be deemed to serve the purpose of ‘return’, in so far as Sec. 32E(1) of the Central Excise Act is concerned.
