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2023 (1) TMI 750 - AT - CustomsConfiscation of goods - Violation of provisions of Import Policy since the Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) Certificate furnished was not as per Appendix-28 of the Foreign Trade Policy - redemption of the goods in lieu of confiscation was allowed on payment of redemption fine - penalty imposed under Section 112(a) of the Customs Act, 1962. Whether the PSI certificate submitted by the appellant-importer was sufficient compliance with Appendix-28 ibid. and that the authorities are justified in ordering confiscation and offering redemption fine in lieu of the same? HELD THAT:- In the first place, there should be an improper import of goods leading to confiscation of the same. Here, there is no dispute that the PSI certificate which was furnished was complete in all respects, except the fact that the same was issued by the Branch Office. This implies that the Revenue has recognized and accepted the Branch Office of the issuing agent, but does not want to accept the certificate issued by the Branch. For this alleged violation, the goods were subjected to 100% examination by the authority, but the same did not result in detection of remnants of arms and ammunition or of any banned or objectionable substances. Thus, the goods were found to be in order and as declared in the Bill-of-Entry. Despite this, the Adjudicating Authority proceeds to hold that the import was improper and orders for confiscation of the goods in question which, according to me, is not due to any violation as described under the statute. The authorities have found that the violation, if any, has not resulted in any specified categories of items being imported or that there was any reason to hold that there has been an improper importation of the goods in question, resulting in confiscation of the same. To put it in simple terms, the goods have not been imported contrary to any prohibition imposed by or under the Act or contrary to any prohibition imposed by any other law for the time being in force. This is because the import is subject to fulfilment of stipulated condition, failing which the only consequence prescribed is the 100% inspection of the entire consignment. This, ipso facto, therefore, would not tantamount to improper import of goods within the meaning of Section 111(d) of the Act. Consequently, the authorities below are not justified in demanding redemption fine and penalty under Section 112(a) of the Act. The impugned order cannot sustain and therefore, the same is set aside - Appeal allowed.
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