2017 (5) TMI 1006 - AT - Customs

Revocation of CHA licence - forfeiture of security deposit - inordinate delay in completion of the process of revocation of the license - Held that - compliance with the time-frame stipulated in the Regulations is an essential pre-requisite for the proceedings to be accorded legality and sanctity. There is no doubt that the charge-sheet was issued within the stipulated period but the inquiry did take an inordinately long time for completion - the inordinate delay in completing the inquiry proceedings has vitiated the detriment visited upon the appellant - revocation of the license and forfeiture of the security deposit is held to be violative of the Regulations and is set aside - appeal allowed - decided in favor of appellant.

Issues:
1. Inordinate delay in completion of the process of revocation of the license.
2. Compliance with the time-frame stipulated in the Regulations.
3. Impact of delay on the disciplinary action against the customs broker.
4. Legal precedents supporting both parties' contentions.
5. Interpretation of the time-frame stipulated in the Regulations as mandatory or directory.
6. Effect of delay on the legality and sanctity of the proceedings.
7. Relevance of compliance with timelines in determining the validity of the actions taken.
8. Propriety and proportionality of the penalties imposed by the licensing authority.

Analysis:
The appeal before the Appellate Tribunal CESTAT MUMBAI concerned the revocation of a customs broker license due to alleged facilitation of misdeclaration of imports and illicit use of Import Export Code (IEC). The central issue was the inordinate delay in completing the revocation process, which exceeded the stipulated time-frame of 270 days as per the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013. The appellant argued that the delay compromised the legality of the disciplinary action taken against them.

The Tribunal considered the arguments presented by both parties regarding the nature of the time-frame specified in the Regulations. The respondent contended that the time-frame was directory, allowing for delays in exceptional circumstances without affecting the disciplinary actions. Legal precedents, such as the decision of the Hon'ble High Court of Madras and the Tribunal in similar cases, were cited to support this position.

Contrary to the respondent's stance, the appellant relied on decisions emphasizing the mandatory nature of complying with the prescribed time-lines. They argued that non-compliance with the time-frame requirements could invalidate the proceedings, as highlighted in previous judgments. Additionally, the appellant raised concerns about the scope of operations of a broker and how it related to the allegations leading to license revocation.

After thorough consideration, the Tribunal concluded that adherence to the time-frame stipulated in the Regulations was crucial for maintaining the legality and sanctity of the proceedings. Citing a previous decision emphasizing the importance of compliance with timelines, the Tribunal held that the inordinate delay in completing the inquiry proceedings had vitiated the actions taken against the appellant. Consequently, the revocation of the license and forfeiture of the security deposit were deemed violative of the Regulations, leading to the setting aside of the impugned order. Importantly, the Tribunal clarified that the examination of the propriety and proportionality of the penalties imposed was not within the scope of their current decision.

In conclusion, the appeal was allowed in favor of the appellant, highlighting the significance of timely compliance with regulatory requirements in disciplinary actions against customs brokers.

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