354 appeals involving duty and taxes worth Rs 211 million were decided during financial year 2014-15 against 302 appeals involving revenue worth Rs 143 million during the same period of last financial year, says Asif Mehmood Jah
LAHORE: Collectorate of Customs Appeals is working with a view to provide speedy justice and recovery of revenue. The Collectorate decided 354 appeals involving duty and taxes of Rs 211 during financial year 2014-15 against 302 appeals involving revenue of Rs 143 million during the same period of previous financial year.
This was stated by MCC Lahore Collector of Customs Appeals Asif Mehmood Jah while talking to Customs Today in his office. Dr Jah has extensive experience in handling customs related issues besides he is also a well-known social worker upon whom the government of Pakistan recently conferred Sitar-e-Imtiaz for the acknowledgement of his services in rehabilitating the ailing humanity.
In answer to a question about his Collectorates working, he informed that the Collectorate of Appeals entertains appeals on cases decided by assistant and deputy collectors of collectorates including Customs Lahore Appraisement, Preventive, Multan, Symbrial and Faisalabad. He said an appeal below the value of Rs 1 million, is filed within the one month after the case is decided by assistant and deputy collectors and according to law the cases are bound to be decided within 120 days, however, the collectorate normally decides cases within 30 days.
Normally the cases of mis declaration and seizures of medical equipment and cars are filed before the Collector of Appeals which are decided in accordance with the provisions of Customs Act, he said, informing that on an average 30 appeals are filed with the collectorate every month.
“I preferably keep in view the speedy justice and revenue recovery and wave of fine and penalties which normally parties accept and don’t consider going to higher platform for further prosecution,” the Collector of Customs Appeals stated, adding by the grace of Allah Almighty almost 95 percent of the cases which I decided are mostly upheld by the Applet Tribunal and higher forums.
To another question, he dispelled the impression that the offices of custom decide cases only in the favour of the department, saying, “I decided cases in favour of the department agencies but where the parties are factually correct they are also given relief without any discrimination.
He informed that 256 appeals were decided in favour of the department agencies while 81 appeals in favour of the private and trade parties. “Sometimes goods are frivolously identified as foreign originated and seized by the custom authorities. In such appeals decisions have been taken in favour of trade and private parties,” Dr Jah said, adding that cases are normally decided on the basis of facts within two- three hearings and parties involved are listened properly. “So far as the current financial year is concerned, we have decided 63 cases involving duty and taxes worth Rs 30 million during July-September,” he informed.
