Reduction in Government Litigation - Withdrawal of Cases

By Vijay Kumar

RECENTLY the Board had increased the monetary limits for the Department filing appeal in the High Court to Rs. 15 lakhs and the CESTAT to Rs. 10 lakhs. The Board wanted the Chief Commissioners to withdraw cases below the above limits.

The CBEC finds that the reports sent from the field and the data available in the Board do not match as to the number of appeals to be withdrawn.

So the Board wants the Chief Commissioners to re-examine the cases and submit fresh reports to the Board.

As per the Board's data,there are 7355 cases pending in CESTAT in which the amount involved is less than Rs. 10 lakhs. There are 3537 cases pending in High Courts where the amount involved is less than Rs. 15 lakhs. The fact is that no Commissionerate has any reliable data on the number of cases pending in various appellate forums.

CBEC Member's D.O.F No. 390/Misc/163/2010-JC., Dated: January 28, 2016