Section 51A: Payment of duty, interest, penalty, etc

(1) Every deposit made towards duty, interest, penalty, fee or any other sum payable by a person under the provisions of this Act or under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) or under any other law for the time being in force or the rules and regulations made thereunder, using authorised mode of payment shall, subject to such conditions and restrictions, be credited to the electronic cash ledger of such person, to be maintained in such manner, as may be prescribed.

(2) The amount available in the electronic cash ledger may be used for making any payment towards duty, interest, penalty, fees or any other sum payable under the provisions of this Act or under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) or under any other law for the time being in force or the rules and regulations made thereunder in such manner and subject to such conditions and within such time as may be prescribed.

(3) The balance in the electronic cash ledger, after payment of duty, interest, penalty, fee or any other amount payable, may be refunded in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Board is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by notification, exempt the deposits made by such class of persons or with respect to such categories of goods, as may be specified in the notification, from all or any of the provisions of this section.]