HC orders status quo till June 3 on excise duty notification

The Madras High Court today ordered status quo till June 3 on a central notification proposing to levy excise duty on gold jewellery.
The Coimbatore Jewel Manufacturers Association filed a petition seeking a direction to quash the central excise notification datedMarch 1.
Counsel for the Association Narmadha Sampat said the petition has been filed seeking a direction not to enforce the excise duty on gold jewelleries.
The counsel, in her arguments, submitted that though the notification was dated March 1, 2016, the Centre and its authorities have not enforced the notification levying excise duty on gold jewellery.
Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan, who appeared on behalf of the union Government, submitted that the petition was filed by an association and thus the relief sought cannot be granted and sought time of four weeks to file his counter.

After hearing both sides, Justice M.Duraiswamy, in his order, said that "since it is submitted that the notification dated March 1, 2016 has not been enforced so far, the respondents are directed to maintain status quo tillJune 3, 2016."
The judge also made it clear that the order of status quo granted is subject to the result of the writ petition and posted the matter for further hearing to June 3.