KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to make sure to file their para wise comments on a petition filed by M/s Akbar Tube Industries seeking release order of its imported consignments of hot-rolled steel coils and galvanized steel coil of secondary quality seized by customs department due to disputed valuation.
On May 10, 2019, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated in his petition that during course of its normal business, the petitioner has imported various consignments of hot-rolled steel coils and galvanized steel coil of secondary quality and on arrival filed goods declarations according with law.
He further submitted that however, respondents are bent upon to assess the customs value of subject consignments are per valuation ruling, bearing no 1213/2017 under section 25A ibid, which has been set aside being declared as without lawful authority by the appropriate appellate authority and customs appellate tribunal in a number of appeals there-against vide an earlier judgment dated 18/07/2018 and subsequent through a consolidated judgment dated 20/10/2018 and that the same judgments hold the field till date as no suspension order has been attained by the respondent collectorates till date.
He further submitted that act of the respondents to deny to assess the subject goods under mandate of Section 25(I), in absence of any valuation ruling under section 25A ibid, is illegal, unlawful and without lawful authority.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chief Collector of Customs South and Collector of Customs Imports (Port Qasim) as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declared that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary and direct them to release its consignments on bank guarantee.
He further pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
