Whereas the Central Government is satisfied that according to a practice that was generally prevalent regarding levy of the duty of excise (including non-levy thereof) under section 3 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), the duty of excise on wire of iron or non-alloy steel, plated or coated with base metals and falling under heading No. 7217.90 of the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (5 of 1986) was not being levied in excess of Rs. 1,000 per tonne under section 3 of the said Act during the period commencing on the 14^th May, 1992 and ending with the 25^th June, 1992.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11C of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that the duty of excise leviable in excess of Rs. 1, 000 per tonne on such wire of iron or non-alloy steel, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid in respect of such wire of iron or non-alloy steel, on which the duty of excise is in excess of Rs. 1,000 per tonne was not levied during the period aforesaid, in accordance with the said practice.