Validation of certain actions taken by officers of customs appointed under section 4.
91. (1) The notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) No. 27/2009-CUSTOMS (N.T.), published in the Official Gazette vide number G.S.R. 173(E), dated the 17th March, 2009, issued for the purpose of appointment of officers of customs under sub-section (1) of section 4 read with sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Customs Act, shall be deemed to be, and to have always been, for all purposes, in force retrospectively on and from the 9th day of May, 2000 and accordingly, notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority,—
(a) any action taken or anything done by officers of customs appointed by the said notification to discharge duties as an officer of customs on and from the 9th day of May, 2000 to the 16th day of March, 2009, shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be, and to have always been, validly taken or done as if the appointment so made with respect to the area of jurisdiction specified in the said notification was in force at all material times;
(b) no suit or other proceedings shall be instituted, maintained or continued in any court, tribunal or other authority against the Central Government or officers of customs appointed by the said notification for any action taken or anything done in good faith during the discharge of his duties as an officer of customs during the period on and from the 9th day of May, 2000 to the 16th day of March, 2009, as if the appointment made with respect to the area of jurisdiction specified in the said notification was in force at all material times;
(c) recovery made of any amount of duty or interest or penalty or fine or other charges by or under the order or direction of officers of customs appointed by the said notification during the period on and from the 9th day of May, 2000 to the 16th day of March, 2009 shall be deemed to be valid, and to have always been, for all purposes, as validly and effectively made as if the appointment made with respect to area of jurisdiction specified in the said notification was in force at all material times.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Central Board of Excise and Customs shall have and shall be deemed to have always had the power to bring into force the said notification with retrospective effect as if the Central Board of Excise and Customs had the power to bring into force the said notification under sub-section (1) of section 4 read with sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Customs Act, retrospectively, at all material times.
Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no act or omission on the part of any person shall be punishable as an offence which would not have been so punishable if the said notification had not come into force retrospectively.
Notes on Clauses:
Clause 91 of the Bill seeks to give retrospective effect to the notification published vide G.S.R. No. 173(E), dated 17th March, 2009, appointing officers of customs under sub-section (1) of section 4 read with sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Customs Act and specifying their area of jurisdiction and to validate actions taken by such officers of customs on and from 9th day of May, 2000 as if the notification specifying their area of jurisdiction was in force at all material times.
