KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities on a constitutional petition filed by M/s New Light House (Private) Limited, seeking unblocking of its national tax number and user ID. The deputy collector (recovery) appraisement-east had blocked the tax number on May 8, 2016.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhter, was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the Customs Department sought time to submit comments, therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for January, 2, 2017.
Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel stated that the petitioner imported and cleared consignments of welding electrodes at the declared value in terms of section 79 and 80 of the Customs Act, 1969.
According to the petitioner, in August 2011, a show cause notice was issued on the basis of audit report of PCA for recovery of Rs 7.31 million and on alleged charges of mis-declaration on the ground the goods declaration were not cleared on the basis of valuation ruling issued on July 10, 2008 and July 15, 2009. The petitioner submitted its reply to show cause notice and hearing the adjudication authority had upheld the charges of mis-declaration and imposed the penalty of 100,000 on the appellant.
The counsel argued that petitioner had challenged the order before the SHC which is sub judice, however, the respondents, ignoring this aspect of the case, blocked the NTN and user ID of the petitioner in WeBoc system on May 8, 2016 without issuing any show cause notice.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division and Hina Gul deputy collector (recovery) appraisment-east as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the SHC may declare that the action of the respondents for blocking the consignments subject matter of goods declaration is illegal, mala fide, unjustified and unlawful. He pleaded the SHC may set aside impugned demand notice and restrain the respondents from taking any coercive action against the petitioner.
