KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has disposed of a contempt application filed by AKK Enterprises (SMC-Pvt) Limited against officials of Customs Appraisement-West due to non-compliance of the order of the appellate tribunal for releasing petitioner’s consignment of “prime cold rolled steel sheets in coil”.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Saeediddin Nasir was hearing the constitutional petition and contempt application.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated in its constitution petition that petitioner is engaged in lawful import of prime cold rolled steel sheets and it has entered into sales contract and opened latter of credits for import, adding that the petitioner had imported a consignment of “prime cold rolled steel sheets in coil”, whereas, on arrival of the said goods, it filed goods declaration according to transaction value dated November 14, 2014.
According to the petitioner, on the same declaration and duly supported by the “mill test certificate” in proof of the goods being “prime cold rolled steel sheets in coil”, however, the officials disputed the quality of goods being “secondary quality”.
The counsel for the petitioner further argued that being aggrieved of such order filed an appeal before the Customs Appellate Tribunal, which accepted the appeal and directed the respondents to release the consignment of the petitioner, however, when petitioner approached the staff of the customs authorities for compliance with orders of the appellate tribunal, they refused its request for releasing its consignment.
Citing Revenue Division sectary, Customs Appraisement-West collector and additional collector, the petitioner pleaded the court to take the action of the respondents as contempt of court. The importer also asked the court that court may direct the respondents to release its consignment.
