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2021 (1) TMI 821 - HC - CustomsConfiscation of goods - rent / demurrage charged on the goods seized / detained / confiscated by the proper officer of customs - It was pointed out that this was a violation of Regulation 6(1)(l) of the Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulations, 2009 which stipulates that Customs Cargo Service Providers including custodians of container freight stations should not charge any rent or demurrage on the goods seized or detained or confiscated by the proper officer - HELD THAT:- It is not in dispute that respondent No. 1 is a Customs Cargo Service Provider as defined in Regulation 2(1) (b) of the Regulations. Being so, it is under a legal obligation to discharge the responsibilities as mandated under Regulation 6, more particularly in clause (l) thereof which clearly says that a Customs Cargo Service Provider shall not charge any rent or demurrage on the goods seized or detained or confiscated by the Superintendent of Customs or Appraiser or Inspector of Customs or Preventive Officer or Examining Officer as the case may be. This position has been clarified by the Commissioner of Customs (Export) in the public notice dated 26/2010 with the further clarification that Customs Cargo Service Providers shall allow the goods on production of a certificate issued from the proper officer certifying such period of seizure or detention or confiscation without charging and collecting any rent or demurrage for such period. It is also not disputed that the goods imported by the petitioner vide bill of entry No. 7540462 dated 07.08.2018 were detained by the proper officer of the customs department for the period from 14.08.2018 to 06.02.2019 which has been certified by the Superintendent of Customs in the prescribed format further mentioning that the certificate was issued as per public notice No. 26/2010 dated 02.03.2010 - for the period from 14.08.2018 to 06.02.2019, respondent No. 1 is under a legal obligation not to charge any rent or demurrage on the goods of the petitioner or on the container in which the goods have been stored and kept under its custody. Following the certificate dated 31.01.2019, it was also under a legal obligation to release the goods kept under its custody on or before 06.02.2019 to enable the petitioner to re-export the goods. Failure to do so has not only caused prejudice to the petitioner but would also disentitle respondent No. 1 from claiming any rent and demurrage for the period beyond 06.02.2019 till release of the goods because such retention of goods would be clearly unlawful being in violation of Regulation 6(1)(l) of the Regulations and the public notice dated 02.03.2010. The respondent No.1 is directed to release the goods imported by the petitioner forthwith to enable the petitioner to re-export the same in terms of letter dated 28.11.2018 of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch.
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