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Issues: Alleged detention/seizure of goods by customs authorities, Allegations of misleading the court, Concealment of material facts, Violation of fundamental right of trade and business
In this case, the petitioner company, engaged in export business, alleged that its goods intended for export were detained/seized by customs authorities under the belief that the goods were sub-standard and not conforming to declared values, aiming to claim undue drawback. The petitioner claimed harassment and violation of its fundamental right of trade and business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, seeking quashing of the detention/seizure order. The respondents, through a counter affidavit, contended that the goods were seized under the Customs Act due to sub-standard quality and inflated values. The respondents argued that the petitioner failed to cooperate with investigations and deliberately concealed material facts from the court, justifying the seizure. The court noted the conflicting claims and the petitioner's failure to provide satisfactory explanations for the alleged suppression of facts. The respondents presented evidence through a panchnama detailing the sub-standard nature of the goods and the seizure under the Customs Act. The court highlighted the importance of parties approaching the court with clean hands, citing various judgments emphasizing the duty to disclose all material facts truthfully. The court referenced cases such as Rajabhai v. Vasudev, Har Narain v. Badri Das, and Asiatic Engineering Co. v. Achhru Ram to underscore the consequences of misleading or withholding information from the court. The court further mentioned English cases like The King v. Williams and Rex v. Kensington Income Tax Commissioners, which were approved by the Supreme Court in previous judgments. Ultimately, the court found that the petitioner failed to approach the court with clean hands and dismissed the writ petition, citing the petitioner's conduct as the basis for denying relief. The judgment highlighted the principle that parties approaching the court must do so transparently and with full disclosure of material facts. The court's decision to dismiss the petition was based on the petitioner's failure to provide a satisfactory explanation for the alleged suppression of facts and the conflicting claims regarding the quality and intended destination of the seized goods. The court's reliance on established legal principles and precedents reinforced the importance of honesty and transparency in legal proceedings, ultimately leading to the dismissal of the petitioner's claims.
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