COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS Vs. STATE TRADING CORPORATION OF INDIA
LAWS(SC)-1997-1-171
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Decided on January 21,1997

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS Appellant
VERSUS
STATE TRADING CORPORATION OF INDIA Respondents

JUDGEMENT

- (1.) The question which the Tribunal was called upon to consider was whether in the case of goods imported by air the air freight was required to be included for the assessment of customs duty under Section 14 of the customs Act, 1962 or whether sea freight alone could be added. The tribunal notices that it was not disputed that the goods in question were regularly imported by sea. It was only by way of exception and that too on account of the urgent demand of tetracycline in the country that the consignment in question was airlifted instead of transporting by sea as was originally agreed upon because of the urgent requirement of the said medicine in India. The Tribunal having noticed that it was in the special circumstances that the goods which were originally planned to be brought by sea had to be airlifted it proceeded on the premise that ordinarily such goods were brought by sea and the value thereof had to be determined at the price at which such or like goods were ordinarily sold or offered for sale. The tribunal, therefore, concluded that they were ordinarily sold or offered for sale after including the sea freight and not air freight and on that finding of fact it came to the conclusion that the value of the goods had to be determined by adding sea freight and not air freight thereto. In the circumstances we do not see any reason to interfere with the finding of fact on the basis of which the ultimate conclusion was reached. Hence, we dismiss this appeal with no order as to costs.;


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