Messrs SUPER METAL TRADERS, through Proprietor VS GENERAL MANAGER, PAKISTAN RAILWAY, LAHORE and 2 others, 2006 PTD-LAHORE-HIGH-COURT-LAHORE 2500 (2006)

Customs Act (IV of 1969) ----

----S. 203---Constitution of Pakistan (1973), Art. 199---Constitutional petition---Lower tariff right of---Petitioner had contended that Customs Authorities denied clearance of goods imported by him and detained said goods for considerable period---Petitioner claimed that as delay in issuing clearance certificate was caused by Customs Authorities, he was liable to pay storage charges at minimum rates---Railway authorities had submitted that petitioner had no right to a lower tariff being charged for extended period of storage of his imported goods; firstly because he did not obtain an order from the Customs Authorities; and secondly that Railways was not to be blamed for the delay---Pleas taken by Railways were not germane to the question in issue---Rule laid down by superior Courts recognized a right of the importer to a lower scale storage and demurrage charges being leviable in a case where delay in clearance of imported goods was attributed to the Customs Authorities---Railways were directed to recover from petitioner the storage charges at a minimum tariff rate, accordingly.

Aftab Ahmed Saeed v. Federation of Pakistan and others 1993 CLC 2022 ref.

Mian Abdul Ghaffar for Petitioner.

Ahmed Yasin on behalf of Jehangir Akhtar Joja for Respondents Nos.1 and 2.

Ghulam Ali Hassan for Respondent No.3.

Date of hearing: 4th April, 2006.

JUDGMENT

UMAR ATA BANDIAL, J.---This judgment shall decide Writ Petition No. 21441 of 2000, Writ Petition No. 21442 of 2000 and 21443 of 2000 as these proceed against a common impugned demand.

2. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner imported goods from India which were denied clearance by the Customs Authorities at the Lahore Dry Port. As a result the imported goods were detained at Lahore Dry Port for a considerable period until the order for release of the same was passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.16055 of 2000. In consequence the imported goods were released from the Dry Port by the Customs Authorities on 7-10-2000 as evident from their delay and detention certificate attached as Annex-B to the petition. It is acknowledged that the delay by the terms of the said certificate in clearance of the imported goods was caused by the Customs Authority and not by default of the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that as a result of the aforesaid certificate the petitioner is liable to pay storage charges for the imported goods to the respondent-Railways but at the minimum tariff rate. Such right of the petitioner is recognized by the superior Courts in Aftab Ahmed Saeed v. Federation of Pakistan and others (1993 CLC 2022) and Mrs., M.H.B. Khan v. Regional Manager etc. dated 21-6-2000 passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.320 of 2000 against the Railways Authorities.

3. Learned counsel for the respondent Railways submits that the petitioner has no right to a lower tariff being charged for the extended period of storage of his imported goods, firstly, because he did not obtain an order from the Customs Authorities and secondly because the Railways is not to blame for the delay.

4. The pleas taken by the learned counsel for the respondents are not germane to the question in issue. The rule laid down by the superior Courts recognizes a right of the importer to a lower scale of storage and demurrage charges being leviable in a case where the delay in clearance of imported goods is attributable to the Customs Authorities. This rule has been laid down vis-a-vis the Karachi Port Trust and also Railways Authorities. The facts of the present case and law cited above combine to bring the present case within the ambit of the said rule. The impugned demand is accordingly declared illegal. The respondents Nos. 1 and 2 are therefore directed to recovery from the petitioner the storage charges at a minimum tariff rate prescribed by them or such other rate as the Collector of Customs may fix in accordance with section 203 of the Customs Act, 1969. Petition allowed.

H.B.T./S-164/LPetition allowed.