LAHORE: The Customs Collectorate (Adjudication) is committed to speedy dispensation of justice through timely disposal of cases registered at various Customs stations including dry ports, airport and Wagah border. “Verdict of the collectorate on cases is not final and the ‘convicts’ always reserve the right to appeal in higher courts.”
Custom Collector (Adjudication) Sumera Nazir expressed the views during an exclusive interview with Customs Today at Customs House here.
The Customs collector pointed out that cases were judged at different levels by customs adjudication officials including Collector, Additional Collectors and Deputy Collectors to the entire satisfaction of the parties involved.
“Decision on any case by the Collectorate is an initial stage and any party having reservations about the verdict can move higher courts,” Sumera informed.
She said that parties were free to challenge Customs adjudication verdicts at Customs Appellate Tribunal, High Court and Supreme Court.
“If the Customs officials involved deem that they have not been heard properly by the adjudication department against the party, the officials may contact Appellate Tribunal and the higher courts.”
Sumera revealed that usually Customs Collector Adjudication could hear cases involving goods worth more than Rs3 million, adding that blow Rs3 million cases were dealt by other officials of the adjudication including ADCs, DCs and other staff.
She was of the view that the Customs Collectorate Adjudication held immensely important role in the entire apparatus of revenue collection. “Since the very inception of the collectorate, cases are being heard and disposed of properly unlike past when it would require a lot of time to hear and decide a case,” the Customs collector adjudication claimed.
Collector Sumera opined the Collectorate of Adjudication was an independent organ within the body structure of the Customs Department which not be influenced through any pressure.
“Being unbiased and judicious while hearing a case is one of the significant tricks of the trade,” she observed.
Meanwhile, statistics compiled by the Customs Collector disclosed that the Collectorate of Adjudication has decided 665 cases that involved tax amount of Rs1,795 million during the past nine months of Fiscal Year 2013-14.
These cases were instituted by different agencies of the customs including Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, deputy directorate office Gujranwala, Collectorate of Preventive and Appraisement, Collectorate of Sambrial, Post Clearance Customs House Lahore.
