Denial of cross-examination of witnesses is violative of principles of natural justice

The CESTAT, Ahmedabad has ruled that denying a party the chance to cross-examine witnesses whose statements are used as evidence is a violation of natural justice. In this case, M/s Indu Overseas Pvt. Ltd. was denied this opportunity by the Adjudicating Authority. The Tribunal set aside the original order and remanded the case, requiring a fresh decision after allowing cross-examination.

The CESTAT, Ahmedabad in M/s Indu Overseas Pvt. Ltd. v. Commissioner of Central Excise & ST, Rajkot [Excise Appeal No. 12085 of 2013-DB dated June 26, 2023] remanded the order passed by the Adjudicating Authority and held that denial of cross-examination of witnesses is violative of principles of natural justice.

Facts

M/s Indu Overseas Pvt. Ltd. ("the Appellant") is a 100% export-oriented unit ("EOU") engaged in the manufacturing of brass parts and accessories and was subsequently undertaking export of manufactured brass parts and accessories, as well as selling them in the domestic tariff area as per the permission received from the authorities. 

Based on an investigation by the officers of DRI a Show Cause Notice dated January 17, 2012 ("the SCN") was issued to the Appellant alleging that the Appellant had inflated the weight of the consignments in export documents to wrongly fulfil the export obligation, the SCN was subsequently confirmed by the Commissioner of Central Excise-Rajkot (Adjudicating Authority) vide order No 57-COMMR-2013 dated March 30, 2013 ("the Impugned Order").

Aggrieved by the Impugned Orderthe Appellant filed the present appeal before the CESTAT.

The Appellant contended that the Adjudicating Authority behaved in an arbitrary manner and had not accepted the demand of cross-examination of the witnesses and subsequently confirmed the customs demand as well imposed penalty in gross violation of principles of natural justice.

Issue

Whether denial of cross-examination of witnesses was violative of principles of natural justice?

Held

The CESTAT Ahmedabad in Excise Appeal No. 12085 of 2013-DBheld as under:

• Observed that, the Order in Original passed without providing opportunity of cross-examination of witness whose statement have been used as evidence and relied upon by the authorities.
• Relied on its own judgment in the case of Patidar Products v.  CCE & ST [Appeal No. E/11756/2017dated October 18, 2022] wherein it held that denial of cross-examination and non-production of witnesses for cross-examination was violative of principles of natural justice.
• Held that, the adjudication order passed without allowing cross-examination is an act of gross violation of natural justice.
• Set aside the SCN and the Impugned Order and remandedback the matter to the Adjudicating Authority for passing a fresh order after allowing the opportunity for cross-examination of the witnesses.