Port charges liability continues after clearance permission where delay in moving imported goods results from the importer's own negligence.

Liability for port charges on imported goods continued once clearance was permitted, because the earlier obstruction and customs dispute no longer justified indefinite protection. After 4 February 1992, the failure to remove the goods to the bonded warehouse was attributed to the writ petitioner's own negligence, so the earlier relief against port charges ceased to operate. The petitioner was therefore liable for full port charges from 4 February 1992 until the goods were cleared to the bonded warehouse.

---

---

Issues: Liability for port charges in respect of imported goods after the date on which clearance was permitted.

Analysis: The goods had remained uncleared for a considerable period because of the customs dispute and the earlier obstruction by the Port. However, once clearance was permitted on 4 February 1992, the subsequent failure to remove the goods to the bonded warehouse was found to be due to the writ petitioner's own negligence. In that situation, the earlier protection against port charges could not continue indefinitely.

Conclusion: The writ petitioner was held liable to pay full port charges from 4 February 1992 until the date of clearance of the goods to the bonded warehouse.

---