2024 (10) TMI 1266 - HC - Customs

Court Orders Processing of Delayed Bill of Entry, Permits Petitioner to Pursue Compensation for Expired Goods.

The HC directed the Respondents to process the Bill of Entry within four weeks as per legal requirements. The issue arose from the non-processing of Bill ... Delay in processing this bill of entry - expiry of shelf-life of some goods - HELD THAT:- At this stage, it is not required to either discuss such difficulties or redress them. The Respondents have ample statutory powers to deal with this type of situation. However, the only concern is that the Respondents, by citing various difficulties, cannot simply refuse to process the Bill of Entry in accordance with the law. It is not for this Court, at least at this stage, to direct the Respondents to exercise their statutory powers in a particular manner. However, in a situation where nothing is being done to process the Bill of Entry, surely, this Court will have to step in. The Respondents are directed to process the Petitioner’s Bill of Entry No. 8048557 dated 28 September 2023 (Exhibit-A) as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, within four weeks from today - petition disposed off. The Petitioner filed a grievance regarding the non-processing of Bill of Entry No. 8048557 for re-imported goods, leading to expiry of shelf-life of some goods. The High Court directed the Respondents to process the Bill of Entry within four weeks in accordance with the law. The Court kept the prayer for compensation open for the Petitioner to pursue alternate remedies.