1.

In the said notification,-

(i) after opening paragraph, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“1A. In cases where all the goods produced by a manufacturer are eligible for exemption under this notification, the exemption contained in this notification shall be available subject to the condition that, the manufacturer first utilizes whole of the CENVAT credit available to him on the last day of the month under consideration, for payment of duty on goods cleared during such month and pays only the balance amount in cash.”; 

(ii) for the proviso to  clause (b)  of paragraph 2, following proviso shall  be substituted, namely:- 

           “Provided that in cases, where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, such refund shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.”; 

(iii) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“2A. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2,- 

(a) the manufacturer at his own option, may take credit of the amount of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current, maintained in terms of Part V of the Excise Manual of Supplementary Instruction issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Such amount credited in the account current may be utilised by the manufacture for payment of duty, in the manner specified under rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002, in subsequent months, and such payment should be deemed to be payment in cash;  

            Provided that where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, the amount of such credit shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.;  

(b) the credit of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, may be taken by the manufacturer in his account current, by the seventh day of the month following the month under consideration; 

(c) a manufacturer who intends to avail the option under clause (a), shall exercise his option in writing for availing such option before effecting the first clearance in any financial year and such option shall be effective from the date of exercise of the option and shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year;

       Provided that , for the financial year 2003-04, a manufacturer can exercise his option on or before 30^thday of  September 2003. 

(d) the manufacturer shall submit a statement of the duty paid, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, along with the refund amount which he has taken credit and the calculation particulars of such credit taken, to the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, by the 7^th day of the next month to the month under consideration; 

(e) the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, after such verification, as may be deemed necessary, shall determine the amount correctly refundable to the manufacturer and intimate the same to the manufacture by  15^th day of the next month to the month under consideration. In case the credit taken by the manufacturer is in excess of the amount determined, the manufacturer shall, within five days from the receipt of the said intimation, reverse the said excess credit from the said account current maintained by him. In case, the credit taken by the manufacturer is less than the amount of refund determined, the manufacturer shall be eligible to take credit of the balance amount; 

(f)  in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of clause (a) to (e), he shall  forfeit the option, to take credit of the amount of duty during  the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current on his own, as provided for  in clauses (a) and (c); 

(g) the amount of the credit availed irregularly or availed of in excess of the amount determined correctly refundable under clause (e) and not reversed by the manufacturer within the period specified in that clause, shall be recoverable as if it is a recovery of duty of excise erroneously refunded. In case such irregular or excess credit is utilised for payment of excise duty on clearances of excisable goods, the said goods should be considered to have been cleared without payment of duty to the extent of utilisation of such irregular or excess credit. 

Explanation.-For the purposes of this notification, duty paid, by utilisation of the amount credited in the account current, shall be taken as payment of duty by way other than utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002.” .

2.

In the said notification,-

(i) after opening paragraph, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“1A. In cases where all the goods produced by a manufacturer are eligible for exemption under this notification, the exemption contained in this notification shall be available subject to the condition that, the manufacturer first utilises whole of the CENVAT credit available to him on the last day of the month under consideration for payment of duty on goods cleared during such month and pays only the balance amount in cash.”; 

(ii) for the proviso to  clause (b)  of paragraph 2, following proviso shall  be substituted, namely:- 

         “Provided that in cases, where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, such refund shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.”; 

(iii) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“2A. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2,- 

(a) the manufacturer at his own option, may take credit of the amount of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current, maintained in terms of Part V of the Excise Manual of Supplementary Instruction issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Such amount credited in the account current may be utilised by the manufacture for payment of duty, in the manner specified under rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002, in subsequent months, and such payment should be deemed to be payment in cash;  

Provided that where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, the amount of such credit shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.;  

(b) the credit of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, may be taken by the manufacturer in his account current, by the seventh day of the month following the month under consideration; 

(c) a manufacturer who intends to avail the option under clause (a), shall exercise his option in writing for availing such option before effecting the first clearance in any financial year and such option shall be effective from the date of exercise of the option and shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year;

       Provided that , for the financial year 2003-04, a manufacturer can exercise his option on or before 30^thday of  September 2003. 

(d) the manufacturer shall submit a statement of the duty paid, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, along with the refund amount which he has taken credit and the calculation particulars of such credit taken, to the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, by the 7^th day of the next month to the month under consideration; 

(e) the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, after such verification, as may be deemed necessary, shall determine the amount correctly refundable to the manufacturer and intimate the same to the manufacture by  15^th day of the next month to the month under consideration. In case the credit taken by the manufacturer is in excess of the amount determined, the manufacturer shall, within five days from the receipt of the said intimation, reverse the said excess credit from the said account current maintained by him. In case, the credit taken by the manufacturer is less than the amount of refund determined, the manufacturer shall be eligible to take credit of the balance amount; 

(f) in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of clause (a) to (e), he shall forfeit the option, to take credit of the amount of duty during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002,in his account current on his own, as provided for in clauses (a) and (c); 

(g) the amount of the credit availed irregularly or availed of in excess of the amount determined correctly refundable under clause (e) and not reversed by the manufacturer within the period specified in that clause, shall be recoverable as if it is a recovery of duty of excise erroneously refunded. In case such irregular or excess credit is utilised for payment of excise duty on clearances of excisable goods, the said goods should be considered to have been cleared without payment of duty to the extent of utilisation of such irregular or excess credit. 

Explanation.-For the purposes of this notification, duty paid, by utilisation of the amount credited in the account current, shall be taken as payment of duty by way other than utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002.” .

3.

In the said notification,-

(i) after opening paragraph, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“1A. In cases where all the goods produced by a manufacturer are eligible for exemption under this notification, the exemption contained in this notification shall be available subject to the condition that, the manufacturer first utilises whole of the CENVAT credit available to him on the last day of the month under consideration for payment of duty on goods cleared during such month and pays only the balance amount in cash.”; 

(ii) for the proviso to  clause (b)  of paragraph 2, following proviso shall  be substituted, namely:- 

“Provided that in cases, where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, such refund shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.”; 

(iii) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“2A. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2,- 

(a) the manufacturer at his own option, may take credit of the amount of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current, maintained in terms of Part V of the Excise Manual of Supplementary Instruction issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Such amount credited in the account current may be utilised by the manufacture for payment of duty, in the manner specified under rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002, in subsequent months, and such payment should be deemed to be payment in cash;  

Provided that where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, the amount of such credit shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.;  

(b) the credit of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, may be taken by the manufacturer in his account current, by the seventh day of the month following the month under consideration; 

(c) a manufacturer who intends to avail the option under clause (a), shall exercise his option in writing for availing such option before effecting the first clearance in any financial year and such option shall be effective from the date of exercise of the option and shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year;

       Provided that , for the financial year 2003-04, a manufacturer can exercise his option on or before 30^thday of  September 2003. 

(d) the manufacturer shall submit a statement of the duty paid, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, along with the refund amount which he has taken credit and the calculation particulars of such credit taken, to the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, by the 7^th day of the next month to the month under consideration; 

(e) the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, after such verification, as may be deemed necessary, shall determine the amount correctly refundable to the manufacturer and intimate the same to the manufacture by  15^th day of the next month to the month under consideration. In case the credit taken by the manufacturer is in excess of the amount determined, the manufacturer shall, within five days from the receipt of the said intimation, reverse the said excess credit from the said account current maintained by him. In case, the credit taken by the manufacturer is less than the amount of refund determined, the manufacturer shall be eligible to take credit of the balance amount; 

(f) in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of clause (a) to (e), he shall forfeit the option, to take credit of the amount of duty during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002,in his account current on his own, as provided for in clauses (a) and (c); 

(g) the amount of the credit availed irregularly or availed of in excess of the amount determined correctly refundable under clause (e) and not reversed by the manufacturer within the period specified in that clause, shall be recoverable as if it is a recovery of duty of excise erroneously refunded. In case such irregular or excess credit is utilised for payment of excise duty on clearances of excisable goods, the said goods should be considered to have been cleared without payment of duty to the extent of utilisation of such irregular or excess credit. 

Explanation.-For the purposes of this notification, duty paid, by utilisation of the amount credited in the account current, shall be taken as payment of duty by way other than utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002.” .

4.

In the said notification,-

(i) after opening paragraph, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“1A. In cases where all the goods produced by a manufacturer are eligible for exemption under this notification, the exemption contained in this notification shall be available subject to the condition that, the manufacturer first utilises whole of the CENVAT credit available to him on the last day of the month under consideration for payment of duty on goods cleared during such month and pays only the balance amount in cash.”; 

(ii) for the proviso to  clause (b)  of paragraph 2, following proviso shall  be substituted, namely:- 

“Provided that in cases, where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, such refund shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.”; 

(iii) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“2A. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2,- 

(a) the manufacturer at his own option, may take credit of the amount of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current, maintained in terms of Part V of the Excise Manual of Supplementary Instruction issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Such amount credited in the account current may be utilised by the manufacture for payment of duty, in the manner specified under rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002, in subsequent months, and such payment should be deemed to be payment in cash;  

Provided that where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, the amount of such credit shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.;  

(b) the credit of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, may be taken by the manufacturer in his account current, by the seventh day of the month following the month under consideration; 

(c) a manufacturer who intends to avail the option under clause (a), shall exercise his option in writing for availing such option before effecting the first clearance in any financial year and such option shall be effective from the date of exercise of the option and shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year;

       Provided that , for the financial year 2003-04, a manufacturer can exercise his option on or before 30^thday of  September 2003. 

(d) the manufacturer shall submit a statement of the duty paid, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, along with the refund amount which he has taken credit and the calculation particulars of such credit taken, to the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, by the 7^th day of the next month to the month under consideration; 

(e) the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, after such verification, as may be deemed necessary, shall determine the amount correctly refundable to the manufacturer and intimate the same to the manufacture by  15^th day of the next month to the month under consideration. In case the credit taken by the manufacturer is in excess of the amount determined, the manufacturer shall, within five days from the receipt of the said intimation, reverse the said excess credit from the said account current maintained by him. In case, the credit taken by the manufacturer is less than the amount of refund determined, the manufacturer shall be eligible to take credit of the balance amount; 

(f) in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of clause (a) to (e), he shall forfeit the option, to take credit of the amount of duty during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002,in his account current on his own, as provided for in clauses (a) and (c); 

(g) the amount of the credit availed irregularly or availed of in excess of the amount determined correctly refundable under clause (e) and not reversed by the manufacturer within the period specified in that clause, shall be recoverable as if it is a recovery of duty of excise erroneously refunded. In case such irregular or excess credit is utilised for payment of excise duty on clearances of excisable goods, the said goods should be considered to have been cleared without payment of duty to the extent of utilisation of such irregular or excess credit. 

Explanation.-For the purposes of this notification, duty paid, by utilisation of the amount credited in the account current, shall be taken as payment of duty by way other than utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002.” .

In the said notification,-

(i) after opening paragraph, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“1A. In cases where all the goods produced by a manufacturer are eligible for exemption under this notification, the exemption contained in this notification shall be available subject to the condition that, the manufacturer first utilises whole of the CENVAT credit available to him on the last day of the month under consideration for payment of duty on goods cleared during such month and pays only the balance amount in cash.”; 

(ii) for the proviso to  clause (b)  of paragraph 2, following proviso shall  be substituted, namely:- 

“Provided that in cases, where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, such refund shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.”; 

(iii) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely:- 

“2A. Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph 2,- 

(a) the manufacturer at his own option, may take credit of the amount of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, in his account current, maintained in terms of Part V of the Excise Manual of Supplementary Instruction issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. Such amount credited in the account current may be utilised by the manufacture for payment of duty, in the manner specified under rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002, in subsequent months, and such payment should be deemed to be payment in cash;  

Provided that where the exemption contained in this notification is not applicable to some of the goods produced by a manufacturer, the amount of such credit shall not exceed the amount of duty paid less the amount of the CENVAT Credit availed of, in respect of the duty paid on the inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of goods cleared under this notification.;  

(b) the credit of duty paid during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, may be taken by the manufacturer in his account current, by the seventh day of the month following the month under consideration; 

(c) a manufacturer who intends to avail the option under clause (a), shall exercise his option in writing for availing such option before effecting the first clearance in any financial year and such option shall be effective from the date of exercise of the option and shall not be withdrawn during the remaining part of the financial year;

       Provided that , for the financial year 2003-04, a manufacturer can exercise his option on or before 30^thday of  September 2003. 

(d) the manufacturer shall submit a statement of the duty paid, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, along with the refund amount which he has taken credit and the calculation particulars of such credit taken, to the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, by the 7^th day of the next month to the month under consideration; 

(e) the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, after such verification, as may be deemed necessary, shall determine the amount correctly refundable to the manufacturer and intimate the same to the manufacture by  15^th day of the next month to the month under consideration. In case the credit taken by the manufacturer is in excess of the amount determined, the manufacturer shall, within five days from the receipt of the said intimation, reverse the said excess credit from the said account current maintained by him. In case, the credit taken by the manufacturer is less than the amount of refund determined, the manufacturer shall be eligible to take credit of the balance amount; 

(f) in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the provisions of clause (a) to (e), he shall forfeit the option, to take credit of the amount of duty during the month under consideration, other than by way of utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002,in his account current on his own, as provided for in clauses (a) and (c); 

(g) the amount of the credit availed irregularly or availed of in excess of the amount determined correctly refundable under clause (e) and not reversed by the manufacturer within the period specified in that clause, shall be recoverable as if it is a recovery of duty of excise erroneously refunded. In case such irregular or excess credit is utilised for payment of excise duty on clearances of excisable goods, the said goods should be considered to have been cleared without payment of duty to the extent of utilisation of such irregular or excess credit. 

Explanation.-For the purposes of this notification, duty paid, by utilisation of the amount credited in the account current, shall be taken as payment of duty by way other than utilisation of CENVAT credit under the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002.” .