Madras HC allows Provisional Release of Imported Used Digital Multifunction Printers,  Mandates Payment of raised Customs Duty [Read Order]

In a recent ruling, the Madras High Court allowed the provisional release of used or second hand Digital Multifunction Printers on payment of enhanced customs duty.

The petitioner, Salim Enterprises filed the writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of india, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing respondents herein to forthwith release the various models of Secondhand Highly Specialized Equipment namely used Digital Multifunction Print, Copying & Scanning Machines, numbering 115 units imported by the petitioner.

Both counsels for the petitioner and learned junior standing counsel for the Customs Department submit that a batch of writ petitions  pertaining to the same goods were disposed of by order dated 23.11.2023 in W.P.Nos.29673 of 2023 batch. They further submit that this writ petition may also be disposed of on the same terms.

The operative portion of the order of this Court in the above mentioned batch is as under:

“(i) W.P.Nos.28817 and 30506 of 2023 are disposed of directing the petitioners to cause reply to the show cause notice issued to them and the respondent department is directed to consider the same and pass necessary orders within a stipulated time. As far as release of goods is concerned, the same shall be released provisionally.

(ii) W.P.Nos.29673, 27544, 27547, 27548, 28115, 28119, 29678, 29680, 29684 of 2023 & 30490, 30492, 30495, 30496, 30498, 30500, 30501 & 30503 of 2023 are allowed and the following order is passed:

(a) That there shall be a direction to the respondents to consider the plea of the petitioners to release the goods by way of provisional release on condition that, the petitioner shall pay/deposit the enhanced duty amount. On receipt of such enhanced duty amount paid by the petitioners, the goods in question shall be released within a period of three (3) weeks thereafter.

(b) For payment of such duty, quantification shall be made by the Customs forthwith within one (1) week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of such quantification, the payment shall be immediately made by the petitioners and on receipt of the payment in entirety, the goods shall be released as indicated above at the outer limit of three (3) weeks.

(c) It is made clear that this order will not stand in the way for Customs Department to go ahead with the further proceedings including the adjudication in the manner known to law.

(d) It is further made clear that in the earlier interim order passed in a related writ petitions by an another Division Bench of this Court, that demurrage charges till date for the goods was directed to be considered for waiver. In this regard, if any application is filed by the petitioners seeking such a waiver of demurrage charges, the same shall be considered and decided by the respondents objectively.”

The bench of Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy disposed of the writ petition on the same lines decided in the previous cases. Mr.N.Viswanathan and Mr.G.Meganathan, Junior Standing Counsel represented the petitioner and respondents respectively.

To Read the full text of the Order CLICK HERE

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