KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notice to the secretary revenue division and collector Customs Appraisement-East to file comments on a petition seeking release of auto parts. Petitioner Ali Raza moved the court, submitting that he had imported Toyota Hiace Regius Van in April, 2015 and filed general declaration for assessment of duty and taxes and sought its clearance.
However, the customs authorities issued him show-cause notice for allegedly mis-declaring the consignment as it was found that another dismantled vehicle without chassis number was stuffed in the container. Advocate Kailash said that the importer presented his contention before the customs authorities, saying there were auto parts in the container besides a vehicle which should be assessed under valuation ruling 711/2011 and be released, but the customs adjudicating officer issued an Order-in-Original, confiscating the auto parts and imposed a penalty of Rs 2,000,000 on the importer.
However, he said that declared vehicle was released after payment of duty and taxes. When the petitioner appealed the ONO before Customs Appellate Tribunal it passed the order in his favour ordering release of the auto-parts and reducing the penalty to Rs 50,000, he added. Kailash said that the authorities were not releasing auto parts despite the tribunal’s order. Therefore, he prayed to the court to order release of auto parts.
