Customs broker licence suspension challenged through appeal, with coercive action restrained until the appellate forum decides the matter independently.

The HC did not decide the merits of the customs broker licence suspension and instead directed the petitioner to file an appeal before the Appellate Authority within three weeks. Until the appeal is filed and disposed of, the respondent is restrained from taking coercive steps pursuant to the impugned order. The Court also clarified that any observations in the writ proceedings shall not influence the appellate forum, which must decide the appeal independently, on its own merits and in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible.

---

---

Outcome: The writ petition was disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to prefer an appeal before the Appellate Authority within the stipulated time, and the respondent was directed not to take coercive steps till then.

---