KARACHI: A two-member of The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to make sure filing their respective para wise comments for next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by Bed & Blanket Private Limited against out final assessment of the consignments of finished blankets being imported by the petitioner on the basis of the valuation ruling no 1436/2020 and are demanding duties and taxes on the basis thereof.
On 22 February 2021, during the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is seriously aggrieved and highly prejudiced by the actions of the customs officials who are carrying out final assessment of the consignments of finished blankets being imported by the petitioner on the basis of the valuation ruling no 1436/2020 and are demanding duties and taxes on the basis thereof, while request of provisional release of such consignments are not being entertained.
Counsel argued that such actions of the customs officials are impermissible under the law, especially in light of the fact that the valuation ruling no 1436 of 2020 as well as the order-in-revision no 25 of 2020 passed by DG Valuation in respect of the said valuation ruling, have been challenged by the petitioner before the custom’s appellate tribunal under section 194A of the customs act, 1969.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, DG Valuation, Director Valuation, MCC Appraisement & Facilitation East, MCC Appraisement & Facilitation West and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that the valuation ruling no 1436 of 2020 and order-in-revision are liable to suspension pending final adjudication of the appeal of the petitioner before the customs appellate tribunal.
Importer also pleaded the court may declare that consignments of said finished blankets imported by the petitioner are liable to be released on a provisional basis until final decision by the customs appellate tribunal and customs officials may be restrained from any adverse action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
