CESTAT upheld a customs broker's appeal against license...

CESTAT upheld a customs broker's appeal against license revocation, finding the licensing authority incorrectly applied regulations 10(d) and 10(e) of Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018. The Tribunal confirmed violation of regulation 10(n) as the broker failed to properly verify the exporter's premises, conducting only cursory document checks while the declared address showed no business operations. The Tribunal determined that complete revocation of license and security deposit forfeiture was disproportionate to the single regulatory breach. The penalty of Rs. 50,000 was maintained as sufficient sanction, while the license revocation and security deposit forfeiture were set aside.

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