(ii) In paragraph 2.1, -

(a) for sub-paragraph (1),the following shall be substituted, namely:-

“ (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2, the manufacturer shall have the option not to avail the rates specified in the said Table and apply to the Commissioner of Central Excise or the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, as the case may be, having jurisdiction over the manufacturing unit of the manufacturer for fixation of a special rate representing the actual value addition in respect of any goods manufactured and cleared under this notification, if the manufacturer finds that the actual value addition in the production or manufacture of the said goods is at least 115 per cent of the rate specified in the said Table and for the said purpose, the manufacturer may make an application in writing to the Commissioner of Central Excise or the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, as the case may be, not later than the 30th day of September in a financial year for determination of such special rate, stating all relevant facts including the proportion in which the material or components are used in the production or manufacture of goods:

Provided that the Commissioner of Central Excise or the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, as the case may be, may, if he is satisfied that the manufacturer was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application within the aforesaid time, allow such manufacturer to make the application within a further period of thirty days:

Provided further that the manufacturer supports his claim for a special rate with a certificate from his statutory Auditor containing a calculation of value addition in the case of goods for which a claim is made, based on the audited balance sheet of the unit for the preceding financial year:

Provided also that a manufacturer that commences commercial production on or after the 1st day of April, 2008 may file an application in writing to the Commissioner of Central Excise or the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, as the case may be, for the fixation of a special rate not later than the 30th day of September of the financial year subsequent to the year in which it commences production.

(1A) Nothing contained in sub-paragraph (1) shall apply to a unit manufacturing goods falling under Serial Nos. 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the Table.”

(b) in sub-paragraph (2), for the words ”six months”, the words “three months” shall be substituted;

(c) for sub-paragraph (5), the following sub- paragraph shall be substituted, namely:-

“(5) The manufacturer shall be entitled to refund at the special rate fixed under sub-paragraph (2) in respect of all clearances of excisable goods manufactured and cleared under this notification with effect from the 1st day of April of the year in which the application referred to at sub-paragraph (1) was filed with the Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs, as the case may be:

Provided that in cases where the application referred to in sub-paragraph (1) had already been filed prior to the 10th day of June, 2008, the manufacturer shall be entitled to refund at the special rate fixed under sub-paragraph (2) in respect of all clearances of excisable goods manufactured and cleared under this notification with effect from the 1st day of April, 2008.”

(d) after sub-paragraph (5), the following shall be inserted, namely:-

“(5A) A manufacturer who commences commercial production on or after the 1st day of April, 2008, shall be entitled to refund at the special rate fixed under sub-paragraph (2) against his first application in respect of all clearances of excisable goods manufactured and cleared under this notification with effect from the date of commencement of such commercial production and the difference between the refund payable at such special rate and the actual refund paid to him from the date of commencement of commercial production till the date of fixation of special rate, during the period shall be refunded to him.”

(iii) after paragraph 2.1, the following shall be inserted, namely:-

“2.2 (1)In case the total amount of refund paid or payable to a manufacturer in respect of goods cleared from a unit during a financial year is less than the total duty paid by him on the said goods, other than the amount paid by utilization of CENVAT credit, for the year, the differential amount, if any, shall be refunded to him subject to the condition that the total refund made to him during the year, including the aforesaid differential amount, does not exceed the total duty payable on value addition whether at the rate specified in the Table or at the special rate fixed under paragraph 2.1.

(2) The Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, shall refund the differential amount, if any, to the manufacturer not later than the 15th day of May in the subsequent financial year. “

(Unmesh Wagh)
Under Secretary to the Government of India.
[F. No. 334/1/2008-TRU]

Note:- The principal notification No. 57/2002-Central Excise, dated the 14th November, 2002 was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 765 (E), dated the 14th November, 2002 and was last amended vide notification no. 22/2008-Central Excise, dated the 27th March, 2008 vide number G.S.R. 227(E), dated the 27th March, 2008.