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Judgment
Having heard learned Senior Counsel for the parties on the question of condonation of delay, we are not satisfied that a sufficient cause is made out for condonation of inordinate delay of 317 days in filing the present special leave petition. Accordingly, the SLP is dismissed on that short ground alone. However, before parting with the case, we would request the Chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs, to have an enquiry conducted, by a senior officer, in order to fix the responsibility on the officer(s) responsible for causing delay in preferring the present petition. It is pertinent to note that in the SLP (Civil) No. 29989 of 2010, arising out of the same judgment, filed by the Respondent, show cause notice was served on the Department sometime in the month of November, 2010 and counter affidavit on their behalf was filed in January, 2011. Thus, it cannot be pleaded on behalf of the concerned Commissionerate that they were not aware of the impugned order passed by the Tribunal. Yet, for the reasons best known to the department, the present SLP was filed only in the month of June, 2011. We are confident that all these factors will be taken into consideration by the enquiry officer. The enquiry shall be completed within four weeks of the receipt of a copy of this order. The Chairman shall submit his report within two weeks thereafter for being placed before us.
The office shall forward a copy of this order to the Chairman for compliance.