Judgment

A.M. Ahmadi, CJI. - The present appeal impugns the judgment of the High Court of Delhi dated 16.3.1983 which dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellants challenging the Notification dated 16.10.1980 issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, being Notification No. 205/T. No. 355/141/80-Cus I. (hereinafter referred to as "Notification No. 205"). This Notification was issued in supersession of an earlier Notification dated 15.3.1979 being Notification No. 66 Cus. dated 15.3.1979 G.S.R. (hereinafter referred to as "Notification No. 66"). By the first Notification No. 66, the Government gave exemption to imports of polyvinyl chlirode resins (PVC) falling within Chapter 39 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 from the duty of customs leviable thereon specified in the first schedule. The relevant part of the Notification No. 66 is as under:

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and in supersession of the Notification of Government of India in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, No. 145-Customs, dated the 27th July, 1980, the Central Govern