Customs Officers from DRI Competent to Initiate Duty Recovery Proceedings: High Court Upholds Based on Supreme Court Precedent.

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....The HC held that the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence are 'proper officers' u/s 28(4) of the Customs Act, 1962 and competent to initiate proceedings and issue show cause notices for recovery of duty. Relying on the SC's observation in Commissioner of Customs, the HC concluded that the DRI officers were duly appointed as customs officers through notifications issued by the Ministry of Finance. Consequently, the seizure proceedings initiated by the appellants were justified. The appeal was allowed.....