Interim customs licence extension granted pending renewal consideration, with longer-term renewal left open for later decision.

Interim protection was warranted because no material showed why the customs licence had been limited to six months or that the petitioner was ineligible for renewal. Faced with imminent expiry, the HC directed customs authorities to extend the licence for a further three months on proper application and payment of scheduled charges, while leaving the renewal dispute open for later consideration. The pending proceedings were not to prevent examination of renewal for a longer period.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to interim protection by way of extension of its customs licence pending further consideration of the renewal dispute.

Analysis: The Court noted the absence of material showing why the licence had been extended only for six months or establishing any ineligibility on the part of the petitioner. In view of the imminent expiry of the licence, the Court granted temporary protection and directed the customs authorities to extend the licence for a further period of three months on proper application and payment of scheduled charges. The Court also clarified that the pending proceedings would not restrain consideration of renewal for a longer period.

Outcome: Interim protection was granted to the petitioner by directing extension of the licence for three months, with the renewal question left open for later consideration.

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