Emergency suspension power for Customs House Agent licences requires real urgency; delayed action was not justified.

Regulation 20(2) permits immediate suspension of a Customs House Agent licence only when urgent action is necessary. Where the alleged import violation had occurred earlier, the suspension was issued much later, and no show cause notice had been served, the note states that the emergency power could not be invoked. The absence of an emergent situation meant the suspension order was not justified.

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Issues: Whether the order suspending the Customs House Agent licence under Regulation 20(2) of the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 2004 was justified in the absence of an emergent situation.

Analysis: Regulation 20(2) confers an emergency power to suspend a CHA licence immediately where circumstances require urgent action. The alleged violation related to an import that had occurred earlier, and the suspension order was passed much later. On those facts, there was no urgency warranting immediate suspension, and no show cause notice had been issued till date.

Conclusion: The suspension order was not justified, and the appeal failed.

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