Section 5A: Power to grant exemption from duty of excise

(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt generally either absolutely or subject to such conditions (to be fulfilled before or after removal) as may be specified in the notification, excisable goods of any specified description from the whole or any part of the duty of excise leviable thereon:

Provided that, unless specifically provided in such notification, no exemption therein shall apply to excisable goods which are produced or manufactured—

(i) in a [free trade zone [* * *]] and brought to any other place in India; or

(ii) by a hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking and [rought to any other place in India].

Explanation.—In this proviso, ["free trade zone" [* * *] and hundred per cent export-oriented undertaking" shall have the same meanings as in Explanation 2 to sub-section (1) of Section 3.

[(1A) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where an exemption under sub-section (1) in respect of any excisable goods from the whole of the duty of excise leviable thereon has been granted absolutely, the manufacturer of such excisable goods shall not pay the duty of excise on such goods.]

[(2) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, by special order in each case, exempt from the payment of duty of excise, under circumstances of an exceptional nature to be stated in such order, any excisable goods on which duty of excise is leviable.]

[(2A) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the purpose of clarifying the scope or applicability of any notification issued under sub-section (1) or order issued under sub-section (2), insert an explanation in such notification or order, as the case may be, by notification in the Official Gazette at any time within one year of issue of the notification under sub-section (1) or order under sub-section (2), and every such explanation shall have effect as if it had always been the part of the first notification or order, as the case may be.]

(3) An exemption under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) in respect of any excisable goods from any part of the duty of excise leviable thereon (the duty of excise leviable thereon being hereinafter referred to as the statutory duty) may be granted by providing for the levy of a duty on such goods at a rate expressed in a form or method different from the form or method in which the statutory duty is leviable and any exemption granted in relation to any excisable goods in the manner provided in this sub-section shall have effect subject to the condition that the duty of excise chargeable on such goods shall in no case exceed the statutory duty.

Explanation.— "Form or method", in relation to a rate of duty of excise means the basis, namely, valuation, weight, number, length, area, volume or other measure with reference to which the duty is leviable.

(4) Every notification issued under sub-rule (1), and every order made under sub-rule (2), of Rule 8 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944, and in force immediately before the commencement of the Customs and Central Excises Laws (Amendment) Act, 1988 shall be deemed to have been issued or made under the provisions of this section and shall continue to have the same force and effect after such commencement until it is amended, varied, rescinded or superseded under the provisions of this section.]

[(5) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2-A) shall, unless otherwise provided, come into force on the date of its issue by the Central Government for publication in the Official Gazette.]

(6) [* * *ic9533]