Customs Broker licence suspension ends on factual grounds, with continued suspension found unwarranted pending adjudication.

The challenge to immediate suspension of a Customs Broker licence under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013 was not resolved on the broader scope of regulatory power or any pre-decisional hearing requirement. Instead, the Court relied on the particular facts, including the broker's long business history, the sole proprietorship structure, cooperation undertakings, and the period already spent under suspension, and found continued suspension unwarranted. The suspension was directed to cease on 24 December 2014, and the licence was to be treated as in force thereafter.

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Issues: Whether the suspension of the Customs Broker licence should continue pending adjudication.

Analysis: The petition challenged the immediate suspension of the Customs Broker licence under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013. The Court declined to express any opinion on the scope of the regulatory power or on the requirement of a pre-decisional hearing. Taking into account the petitioner's long-standing business, the sole proprietary nature of the concern, the assurance to cooperate with the adjudicating authority, and the fact that the suspension had already operated for some time, the Court found that further suspension was not warranted in the peculiar facts of the case.

Conclusion: The suspension was directed to end on 24 December 2014 and the licence was to be treated as in force thereafter.

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