Customs Must Refund Excess Ilmenite Duty Paid Under Protest: Madras HC

Industrial Mineral Company Vs Commissioner of Customs (Madras High Court) Chennai: In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has directed the Commissioner of Customs to refund export duty paid under protest by Industrial Mineral Company (IMC) on processed and upgraded ilmenite. The court held that the company was entitled to the refund based on a binding decision by the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in an identical case, despite the department’s appeal pending before the Supreme Court. The dispute centered on the classification and applicable export ...