ISLAMABAD: The Customs Adjudication has set its priorities under which all pending cases will be decided by the end of December, while delaying tactics adopted by the lawyers will be discouraged to make the process speedy.
Islamabad Customs Adjudication Additional Collector Imran Chaudhary stated this while talking to Customs Today during an interview. He added that the cases would not be scheduled for on the desire of lawyers as policy to delay the cases have been finished.
He said that defendants could represent their cases themselves without taking assistance of legal experts, adding that all decision were made on merit following the customs laws.
After settling the pending cases, a system will be launched for hearing of cases on a daily basis, he said, adding that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been sent suggestion to improve the adjudication system. The department was also facing shortage of funds.
The Peshawar camp office sent 37 cases involving Rs 66.3 million duty/taxes, including 22 seizure cases and 15 contravention cases during two previous months, he said, adding that the Customs Intelligence and FC sent the cases of smuggled vehicles, cloth, foreign currency and miscellaneous items. Around Rs 40.5 million were involved in 22 seizes cases in the shape of duty/taxes, while Rs 26.34 million duty/taxes were involved in 15 contravention cases, he informed.
Talking about his jurisdictions, he said that a case of worth over Rs 1 million came under his authority, adding that the adjudication was currently facing shortage of staff that affected the performance negatively. He said that the board should concentrate on the issue of shortage of staff.
It is difficult to run the affairs of a collectorate with a superintendent and few employees, he highlighted, adding that more officers should be deputed on the post of deputy collector at adjudication to expedite the process and bring transparency.
Deep consideration is required to decide the cases of adjudication, he said, adding that no favourtisms should be involved while deciding the cases. “We are considering dividing all referred cases in different categories to make the adjudication process smooth,” he added.
The process for cases was very easy, the additional collector said, adding that all parties were given equal chance to defend their statements. The law of customs was quite evident and all cases were decided following it, he informed, adding that the adjudication officers have not been given special authorities to decide the case.
The items on which customs duty was imposed were not notified items and these were redeemed on the payment of leviable duty/taxes, he said, adding that notified items were not released, but confiscated under the law. He said that duty/taxes were recovered instantly in contravention cases.
He said that all decisions were made on merit in the cases, besides refusing the perception of people that all cases were decided in the favour of customs department.
He said that detail regarding all pending cases has been sought and notices will be issued to respondents who are using delaying tactics in the cases, besides issuing the hearing schedule. The cases will be decided according to the law, if they were not pursued by the parties.
Collector Akhtar Hussain has introduced a new system for issuance of show cause notices and Order-in-Originals (ONOs) that is a revolutionary step, he said, explaining that earlier notices were issued for a long time period that has been reduced now. To make the department more effective, legislation are required, he suggested, adding that deployment of inspectors in the collectorate was necessary in order to investigate the cases independently.
