Section 144 of the Finance Act, 2002 (Act 20 of 2002)

144. Amendment of notification issued under Rule 57AK of the Central Excise Rules, 1944. - (1) The notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) No. G.S.R. 299(E), dated the 31st March, 2000, issued under rule 57AK of the Central Excise Rules, 1944, by the Central Government shall stand amended and shall be deemed to have been amended in the manner as specified in the Fourth Schedule, on and from the date mentioned in column (3) of that Schedule against that notification retrospectively and, accordingly, notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority, any action taken or anything done or purported to have been taken or done under the said notification, shall be deemed to be, and always to have been, for all purposes, as validly or effectively taken or done as if the notification as amended by this sub-section had been in force at all material times.

(2) Credit shall be allowed of all such declared duty, which have been disallowed but which would not have been so disallowed if the amendment made in the notification referred to in sub-section (1) had been in force at all material times.

Refund shall be made of all such credit of the declared (3) duty, which have been collected but which would have not been so collected if the amendment made in the notification referred to in sub-section (1) had been in force at all material times.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944, an application for the claim of refund of the credit of the declared duty under sub-section (3) shall be made within six months from the date on which the Finance Bill, 2002 receives the assent of the President.