KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to customs department and directed them to file their comprehensive para wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Safa Steel seeking release order of its imported consignments of steel sheet coils due to alleged disputed valuation.
On April 24, 2019, counsel for the petitioner stated in his constitutional petition that during the course of normal business, the petitioner has imported various consignments of steel sheet coils and filed goods declarations according with law for customs-clearance of their import consignments on actual transaction values as per mandate of section 25 (1) of the customs act, 1969.
He further submitted that however, customs officials are bent upon to assess the customs value of the subject consignment as per a valuation ruling bearing no 1213/2017 under section 25A ibid, which has been set aside being declared as without lawful authority by the appropriate appellate authority.
He said that petitioner has numerously requested the respondents to assess their import consignments under section 25(1) ibid, or, in case of denial of such legal rights to the petitioner, to assess the import goods declaration under section 81 ibid, however, respondents are denied to assess the import goods declaration mandate of section 25(1).
Citing secretary Revenue Division, Collector of Customs Appraisement East, Collector of Customs Appraisement West and Collector of Customs Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that the act of the respondents is illegal, unlawful, unwarranted and without lawful authority.
He further pleaded the court may direct them to assess his consignments according with law and release immediately.
