Full Judgment Text
$~ 13 to 18, 31, 34 to 37, 39 to 46, 48, 49, 51 to 54
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
th
Date of Decision: 13 February, 2025
+ W.P.(C) 10641/2022, CM APPL. 8734/2025 & CM APPL.
8814/2025
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
M/S APCOTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED .....Respondent
14 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 10781/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
ASSOCIATION OF CHLOROMETHANES MANUFACTURERS
.....Respondent
15 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 11394/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
FORUM FOR ACRYLIC FIBRE MANUFACTURER FORUM
(FAFM) .....Respondent
16 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 11774/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
FORUM OF ACRYLIC FIBRE MANUFACTURERS
FAFM .....Respondent
17 WITH
+
W.P.(C) 12077/2022
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 1 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S SI GROUP INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED .....Respondent
18 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5185/2022
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JUBLIANT INGREVIA LIMITED .....Respondent
31 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 1324/2023 & CM APPL. 4961/2023
UNION OF INDIA THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
APCOTEX INDUSTRIES LIMITED .....Respondent
34 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2461/2023
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY .....Petitioner
versus
M/S. DEEPAK PHENOLICS LIMITED .....Respondent
35 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2820/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S GUJRAT STATE FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS LTD
.....Respondent
36 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 2867/2023 & CM APPL. 11110/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 2 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
M/S GUJRAT STATE FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS LTD
.....Respondent
37 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3390/2023 & CM APPL. 13134/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S UI VR PVT LTD .....Respondent
39 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3598/2023 & CM APPL. 13949/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S GUJRAT FLUOROCHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
40 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3824/2023 & CM APPL. 14884/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
DEEPAK PHENOLICS LTD .....Respondent
41 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 3825/2023 & CM APPL. 14887/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED JSHL .....Respondent
42 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4039/2023 & CM APPL. 15745/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 3 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED JSL .....Respondent
43 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4401/2023, CM APPL. 16944/2023, CM APPL. 16945/2023
& CM APPL. 16946/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED JSHL .....Respondent
44 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4501/2023, CM APPL. 17199/2023, CM APPL. 17200/2023
& CM APPL. 17201/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED (JSL) .....Respondent
45 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4506/2023, CM APPL. 17269/2023, CM APPL. 17270/2023
& CM APPL. 17271/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S IG PETROCHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
46 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 4676/2023, CM APPL. 18051/2023 & CM APPL.
18053/2023
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH SECRETARY MINISTRY OF
FINANCE .....Petitioner
versus
M/S THIRUMAL CHEMICALS LIMITED .....Respondent
48 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5047/2023 & CM APPL. 19720/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 4 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS LIMITED JSL .....Respondent
49 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5145/2023 & CM APPL. 20093/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S OWENS CORNING INDIA PRIVATE
LIMITED .....Respondent
51 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5494/2023, CM APPL. 21428/2023, CM APPL.
25428/2023, CM APPL. 25518/2023, CM APPL. 30799/2023, CM
APPL. 30800/2023, CM APPL. 30801/2023, CM APPL. 30803/2023
& CM APPL. 30804/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS STEEL LIMITED .....Respondent
52 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5681/2023, CM APPL. 22227/2023, CM APPL.
25399/2023, CM APPL. 25404/2023, CM APPL. 25520/2023, CM
APPL. 30798/2023, CM APPL. 30802/2023 & CM APPL.
30805/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
versus
M/S JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED .....Respondent
53 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 5924/2023 & CM APPL. 23221/2023
UNION OF INDIA .....Petitioner
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 5 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED .....Respondent
54 WITH
+ W.P.(C) 6385/2023
SIJ ACRONI D O O .....Petitioner
versus
JINDAL STAINLESS HISAR LIMITED
& ORS. .....Respondents
Presence:
Counsel for the Petitioner(s):
Mr. Anurag Ojha, Sr. SC with Mr. Subham Kumar and Mr. Dipak Raj, Advs.
in Items No. 13 to 18 and 31, 34 to 46, 48, 49, 51 to 54.
Counsel for the Respondent(s):
Mr Abhay Chattopadhyay, Mr. Sarthak Yadav, Mr. Sanjay Notani, Mr.
Ambarish Sathianathan and Ms. Harika Bakaraju, Advs. in Items No. 31, 51
and 52. (M: 9654770189)
Mr. Rajesh Sharma and Mr. Nikhil Sharma, Advs. in Items No. 13-15, 18,
31, 34, 35, 37-54.
Mr. R. Venkat Prabhat, SPC with Mr. Abhinav M. Goel, Ms Kamna Behrani
and Mr. Ansh Kalra, Advs. for UOI in Item No. 54. (M: 9109698880)
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE DHARMESH SHARMA
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. The Respondents in these petitions who are stated to be the domestic
industry, had filed their respective applications before the Directorate General
of Trade Remedies (hereinafter “ DGTR ”) praying for imposition of Anti-
Dumping Duty (hereinafter “ ADD ”) in terms of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975
(hereinafter “ the Act ”) and Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 6 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
Collection of Anti-Dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination
of Injury) Rules, 1995 in respect of the following products:
Sr.
No.
Writ
Petition No.
Party Name Product
Name
Country of
Origin
1. W.P(C)
10641/2022
Union of India vs
M/s Apcotex
Industries Ltd.
Acrylonitrile
Butadiene
Rubber
Korea RP
2. W.P(C)
10781/2022
Union of India vs.
Association of
Chloromethanes
Manufacturers
Methylene
Chloride
China PR
3. W.P(C)
11394/2022
Union of India vs.
Forum for Acrylic
Fibre Manufacturer
Forum
Acrylic Fibre Belarus,
Ukraine,
European
Union,
Peru
4. W.P(C)
11774/2022
Union of India vs
Forum for Acrylic
Fibre Manufacturer
Forum
Acrylic Fibre Thailand
5 W.P(C)
12077/2022
Union of India vs
M/s Si Group India
Private Limited
Nonyl Phenol Chinese
Taipei
6. W.P(C)
5185/2022
Union of India vs
Jubilant Infgrevia
Limited
Chlorine
Chloride in all
forms
China PR
7. W.P(C)
1324/2023
Union of India vs
Apcotex Industries
Limited
Acrylonitrile
Butadiene
Rubber
China PR,
European
Union,
Japan, Russia
8. W.P(C)
2461/2023
Union of India vs
Deepak Phenolics
Limited
Phenol Thailand,
United States
of America
9. W.P(C)
2820/2023
Union of India vs
Gujrat State
Fertilisers &
Chemicals Ltd.
Melamine China PR
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 7 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
10. W.P(C)
2867/2023
Union of India vs
Gujrat State
Fertilisers &
Chemicals Ltd.
Caprolactam European
Union, Korea
RP, Russia,
Thailand
11. W.P(C)
3390/2023
Union of India vs
M/s UI VR Pvt Ltd
Peroxo-
sulphates
(Perulphates)
China PR,
United States
of America
12. W.P(C)
3598/2023
Union of India vs
Gujrat
Fluorochemicals
Limited
Polytetra-
fluoroethylene
(PTEE)
Russia
13. W.P(C)
3824/2023
Union of India vs
Deepak Phenolics
Ltd
Phenol European
Union,
Singapore
14. W.P(C)
3825/2023
Union of India vs
Jindal Stainless
Hisar Limited
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel
Indonesia
15. W.P(C)
4039/2023
Union of India vs
Jindal Stainless
Limited JSL
Hot Rolled
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel - 304
grade
China PR,
Malaysia and
Korea RP
16. W.P(C)
4401/2023
Union of India vs
Jindal Stainless
Hisar Limited
JSHL
Hot Rolled
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel - 304
grade
China PR,
Malaysia and
Korea RP
17. W.P(C)
4501/2023
Union of India vs
Jindal Stainless
Limited JSL
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel
Indonesia
18. W.P(C)
4506/2023
Union of India vs
IG Petrochemicals
Limited
Phthalic
Anhydride
Japan,
Russia
19. W.P(C)
4676/2023
Union of India vs
Thirumal
Chemicals Limited
Phthalic
Anhydride
Russia
20. W.P(C) Union of India vs Cold-Rolled China PR,
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 8 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
5047/2023 Jindal Stainless
Limited JSL
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel of width
600 nm to
1250 nm and
above 1250
mm of non
bonafide usage
Kora PR,
European
Union, South
Africa,
Taiwan,
Thailand and
United States
of America
21. W.P(C)
5145/2023
Union of India vs
Owens Corning
India
Glass Fibre
and articles
thereof
China PR
22. W.P(C)
5494/2023
Union of India vs
M/s Jindal
Stainless Steel
Limited
Flat Rolled
Products of
Stainless Steel
China PR,
Kora PR,
European
Union, South
Africa,
Taiwan,
Thailand,
United States
of America,
Japan,
Indonesia,
UAE, Hong
Kong,
Singapore,
Mexico,
Vietnam,
Malaysia
23. W.P(C)
5681/2023
Union of India vs
M/s Jindal
Stainless Hisar
Flat Rolled
Products of
Stainless Steel
China PR,
Kora PR,
European
Union, South
Africa,
Taiwan,
Thailand,
United States
of America,
Japan,
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 9 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
Indonesia,
UAE, Hong
Kong,
Singapore,
Mexico,
Vietnam,
Malaysia
24. W.P(C)
5924/2023
Union of India vs
M/s Jindal
Stainless Hisar
Cold–Rolled
Flat Products
of Stainless
Steel of width
600 nm to
1250 nm and
above 1250
mm of non
bonafide usage
China PR,
Korea PR,
European
Union, South
Africa,
Taiwan,
Thailand and
United States
of America
25. W.P(C)6385/
2023
SIJ Acroni DOO vs
Jindal Stainless
Hisar Limited &
Ors.
Flat Rolled
Products of
Stainless Steel
China PR,
Kora PR,
European
Union, South
Africa,
Taiwan,
Thailand,
United States
of America,
Japan,
Indonesia,
UAE, Hong
Kong,
Singapore,
Mexico,
Vietnam,
Malaysia
3. Findings were issued in the respective applications by the Designated
Authority, DGTR recommending imposition of provisional ADD on the
concerned import of goods from certain countries. Thereafter, final findings
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 10 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
were also notified recommending imposition of ADD. The definitive ADD
was then imposed vide respective Customs notifications issued in various
cases.
4. After the imposition of the ADD, a sunset review was undertaken by
the Designated Authority, DGTR in order to examine the effect of the
imposition of ADD. Final findings were rendered in the sunset review,
wherein the Designated Authority, DGTR came to the conclusion that the
ADD deserves to be continued.
5. However, the Central Government, on this occasion, did not accept the
recommendations of the DGTR and hence the ADD was set aside in the
respective cases. The various Office Memorandums issued by the Central
Government not to continue the ADD, were challenged before Customs,
Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter “ CESTAT ”) which then
set aside the said Office Memorandums.
6. The challenge in these petitions, is to the respective orders of CESTAT,
which set aside the respective Office Memorandums, by which the ADD was
not accepted by the Central Government.
7. The question of law that has been raised by the Union of India in these
cases is whether an Office Memorandum is capable of being assailed before
CESTAT.
8. It is submitted by the ld. Counsels for the parties today that similar
petitions in respect of certain other products were filed by the Union of India
before the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the order passed by CESTAT
setting aside the respective Office Memorandums.
9. In that case, being SLP (C) Diary No. 31452/2023 titled as Union of
India vs. Plastics Machinery Manufacturers Association of India through
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 11 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
th
its Director and Ors. , the Supreme Court passed the following order on 9
December, 2024:
“It is pointed out by the learned counsel for the
petitioner that the domestic industries have given up
their right in terms of the recommendation made by the
designated authority, as well as, their claims on the
basis of the order passed by the Customs, Excise and
Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Principal Bench, New
Delhi.
In view of the statement made, the special leave
petition is dismissed as infructuous.”
10. In terms of the submissions made before the Supreme Court, ld.
Counsel for the domestic industries who are the Respondents in these cases,
submit that they have already written to the Government that they do not press
their rights in terms of the recommendation given by the Designated
Authority, DGTR.
11. In effect thereof, the domestic industry no longer presses for imposition
of ADD. The respective Office Memorandums, therefore, are no longer
challenged by the domestic industry.
12. The question of law raised by the Union of India i.e., as to whether
CESTAT has jurisdiction to set aside an Office Memorandum or not, would
therefore become moot in this background.
13. Under these facts and circumstances, the stand of the Respondents, i.e.,
the domestic industry is accepted. The present writ petitions are disposed of
as having been rendered infructuous, in view of the stand of the Respondents-
domestic industry.
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 12 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12
14. The legal issues raised in these petitions are, however, kept open for
adjudication in an appropriate case.
15. The interim orders in all these matters, if any, shall stand vacated.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUDGE
DHARMESH SHARMA
JUDGE
gunn/ms
FEBRUARY 13, 2025/
Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 10641/2022 and connected matters Page 13 of 13
Digitally Signed By:PRAMOD
KUMAR VATS
Signing Date:14.02.2025
16:24:12