Customs Broker licensing procedure: delayed show cause notice beyond the prescribed period vitiated the penalty order.

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....Disciplinary action against a Customs Broker could be initiated on the basis of a show cause notice forwarded by Tuticorin Customs as the relevant offence report under the Customs Broker Licensing Regulations. However, the Tribunal held that notice under Regulation 17(1) had to issue within ninety days of receipt of the offence report, and the Cochin Customs notice issued on 17.10.2022 was beyond that period if the Tuticorin notice dated 09.03.2022 was treated as the trigger. Because the prescribed procedure and timelines under Regulation 17 were not strictly followed, the penalty order under Regulation 18 was unsustainable and was set aside.....