Circular
No.849/07/2007-CX
F.No.201/51/2004-CX-6
Government
of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Excise & Customs
***
New
Delhi dated the April 19, 2007
Subject:
Guidelines in respect of publication of names under section 37E of the Central
Excise Act, 1944.
***
Attention
is invited to the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2006 wherein section 37E has
been inserted in the Central Excise Act, 1944. This provision empowers the
Central Government to publish information relating to the names of the assessees
or any other particulars relating to any proceedings or prosecution under the
Central Excise Act, 1944 in respect of such persons, if it is considered
necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so. However,
adequate restriction has been provided so that the particulars in relation to
any penalty are not published until the time for presenting an appeal has
expired without an appeal having been presented or the appeal, if presented, has
been disposed of. The names of the partners of a firm, directors,
managing agents, secretaries and treasurers or managers of the company or the
members of the association can be published if the circumstances of the case
justify it. This provision is in line with the similar provisions existing
in Section 287 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
2.
Since the power to publish names or particulars of proceedings, etc., is with
the Central Government, following guidelines are laid down regarding the type of
cases to be covered in Section 37E of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and the
manner/procedure for publication of names;
(i)
Publication of information would be resorted to only in respect of offence cases
wherein the excise duty liability is Rs.1 Crore or more. However, in cases of
repeat offences, and in cases involving collection of an amount representing
duty/tax but not deposited to the Central Government under sections 11D of
Central Excise Act, 1944, the duty liability limit would be Rs.25 lakhs.
(ii)
The cases should have material evidence to show that fraud, collusion, wilful
mis-statement or suppression of facts has been committed with an intent to evade
payment of duty/tax.
(iii)
Such publication of information should be necessary or expedient in public
interest.
(iv)
In case, of publication of information pertaining to penalty, the same should be
done only after the period for filing appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals)
or CESTAT is either over or such appeal has been disposed of.
(v)
In case publication relates to association of persons (i.e. firm, company etc.,)
the names of their officials (like partners, directors) can also be published if
there are justifying circumstances for doing so.
(vi)
The jurisdictional Commissioner or the ADGs of DGCEI zonal units should send the
proposal giving full details of the nature of offence, amount of duty, credit,
refund or rebate involved and role played by each person whose name or other
particulars are proposed to be published, to the Chief Commissioner or the
Director General of Central Excise Intelligence as the case may be.
(vii)
The Chief Commissioner or the Director General (Central Excise Intelligence), as
the case may be, should examine the proposal and forward the same with his or
her comments giving justification for its publication to
the Committee that has been set up by the
Board in this regard. The Chief Commissioner (TAR) will be the convenor of the
committee comprising Director General (DGRI) and the Director General(DGCEI).
This committee will scrutinize all the proposals and send its recommendations to
Member (Central Excise) within 30 days of receipt of the proposal.
Thereafter, the Central Board of Excise and Customs may recommend the
publication of such names to the Central Government.
(ix)
The Board, on receipt of approval of the Central Government, will communicate
the same to the concerned Chief Commissioner or Director General, as the case
may be, for taking necessary action. The publication of names may be made
in the print media, electronic or any other media of mass communication.
3.
It is, however, clarified that these provisions are stringent in nature and may
affect the reputation of a person. Therefore, these should be used sparingly,
with due care and caution. At the same time, it has also to be ensured that in
deserving cases, they are, infact used, and that there is no arbitrary selection
in their implementation.
4.
Receipt of the Circular may be acknowledged.
5.
Hindi version will follow.
(Rahul
Nangare)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
