KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to release consignment comprising monohydrate on bank guarantee. The constitutional petition was filed by M/s United Chemical Corporation seeking its consignment seized by customs officials due to disputed valuation.
On 17 June 2020, while the hearing of petition, bench also directed them to submit their para wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated in his constitutional petition that petitioner is engaged in lawful import of monohydrate and always fulfilled all the legal formalities according with law.
He said that during the business, petitioner imported consignment comprising citric acid monohydrate/ anhydrous and filed goods declaration according with law and despite the release of his consignment, high officials of customs department detained consignment and without any reason assessed valuation under the valuation ruling no 1352/2019.
Counsel said that customs officials enhanced valuation without lawful reasons therefore, petitioners are serious aggrieved by the action of the customs department. After the hearing, court directed customs officials to release above mentioned and court also directing them to submit their comments on next date of hearing.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, chairman Federal Board of Revenue, collector of Customs East, West and Director General of Valuation as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He further pleaded the court to set aside impugned valuation ruling and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
