A person imported a consignment paid duty assessed by the department there is no self assessment in customs clears the goods and then use the goods or sell it as per his business requirement. Soon after sometime the department passes an order saying that the goods has been confiscated and supplied him an option to redeem the goods on payment of redemption fine. He does not know what will need to he do with this possibility. Therefore he requested the department to confiscate the goods unquestionably.
Jokes apart the basic query which arises here as to what extent law really should be stretched. In the present context this paper seek to examine that no matter if the goods which are not accessible for confiscation is often confiscated underneath Customs Act 1962 This paper is an humble try to examine this query.
To Confiscate means to proper private property to public treasury. As a result following confiscation the goods becomes a property in the government plus the government can deal with it as it desires. How to sell guns red dead redemption As a result of alternative of redemption fine government presents to some particular person to take ownership with the goods. Redemption fine isnt a penalty and it has no penal connotation. In Blue Dart Express v. Commissioner of Customs1 the Tribunal observed that redemption fine in lieu of confiscation is just not a fine as understood in criminal jurisprudence. Redemption fine is not a penalty in that sense. Its only an option towards the person to pay an amount in lieu of confiscation. It consists of no penal connotation.
Proceeding of confiscation is actually a proceeding against the goods they are proceedings in rem. In rem literally indicates against the house not against the particular person. A proceeding in rem is 1 taken directly against the property and has for its object the disposition with the house with no reference for the title of individual claimants. Distinguishing the terms in rem and in personam supreme Court held in Vishawanathan v. Abdul Wajid2 that a judgment in rem settles the destiny of your res itself and binds all persons claiming an interest inside the house inconsistent using the judgment despite the fact that pronounced in their absence a judgment in personam although it might concern a res simply determines the rights of your litigants inter se for the res.
The confiscation proceedings are proceeding in rem3. The department can proceed even if the offender is unknown. In CC v. Bhooramal4 it had been held that confiscation proceeding may be initiated even with no ascertaining as to who is the genuine owner of goods. As a result the proceeding of confiscation is actually a proceeding against the goods and goods only- can the proceeding be sustained when the goods arent available for confiscation
WHEN GOODS Will not be Offered Choice TO REDEEM CANT BE GIVEN- CONFISCATION NOT Probable-
In a lot of situations notably in Crafts Studio v. CCE5 Honble Tribunal held
The appellant also contends that given that the goods had currently been cleared they couldnt have been confiscated and redemption fine imposed on them. In assistance of this proposition the appellant has relied around the selection of this Tribunal inside the case of Prudential Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. CC Chennai 2001 136 E.L.T. 1057 T….. On the other hand the appellants submission relating to imposition of redemption fine merits acceptance in view with the selection of this Tribunal within the situation of Prudential Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In Mahalaxmi International Export v. CC6 the tribunal held that as soon as the goods are cleared from customs they can not be confiscated and redemption fine cannot be imposed. It held in para 10
We discover merit in the appellants submission with regard to imposition of redemption fine. In the present situation the goods arent available for confiscation. Nor had they been originally cleared against a bond. In this kind of a case the law does not permit imposition of redemption fine as held by us inside the Ram Khazana Electronic Ors. v. CC AIR Cargo Jaipur Supra 2003 156 E.L.T. 122 Tribunal.
On this reasoning the tribunal held in Sansui India v. CC7 that when the goods are usually not seized and not obtainable using the department for actual confiscation this kind of goods cant be confiscated and query of giving solution to importer to pay fine in lieu of confiscation isnt going to arise. It held in para 4
Section 111 of your Customs Act describes the goods brought from a place outside India which shall be liable to confiscation for various actions or omissions. Section 125 from the Customs Act provides that whenever confiscation of goods is authorised by the Customs Act the adjudicating authority could in the case of prohibited goods and shall in the situation of any other goods give for the owner of the goods an option to pay fine in lieu of confiscation. In the present matters the goods imported by the Appellants were cleared out of Customs charge after evaluation of Bills of Entry and payment of duty. It was only via investigation conducted subsequent to the release of goods the Department came to know about the under-valuation. Nevertheless the goods released towards the Appellants were never seized. Thus the goods though were liable to confiscation was never obtainable with all the Department for actual confiscation. When the goods arent accessible using the Department the question of their confiscation and giving any alternative towards the importer to pay fine in lieu of confiscation under Section 125 of the Customs Act isnt going to arise. It really is also not the case of your Revenue that the goods were seized and have been released for the Appellants provisionally. In view of these facts the Revenue can not confiscate the goods and order the goods to be redeemed on payment of redemption fine.
In Shivalaya Spinning v. CC8 the Tribunal declared clearly
In so far as redemption fine is concerned we agree with the contention of the ld. Counsel based on the decisions in the Apex Court cited by him that when the goods are usually not readily available for confiscation redemption fine cant be imposed. Hence the order imposing redemption fine is set aside.
ONLY IMPORTED GOODS Is usually CONFISCATED GOODS CLEARED FOR Dwelling CONSUMPTION Arent IMPORTED GOODS-
Section 111 of the Customs Act say Confiscation of improperly imported goods. Therefore Section 111 of the Customs Act is applicable only towards the imported goods. Section two25 with the Customs Act defines imported goods as
imported goods usually means any goods brought into India from a place outside India but isnt going to include goods which happen to be cleared for house consumption.
This confiscation can be assailed on this ground also. Underneath customs Act only imported goods could be confiscated. As per the definition of imported goods underneath Section 225 in the Customs Act goods cleared for household consumption will not remain imported goods. In Bussa Oversea v. C L Mahar9 Division Bench in the Mumbai High Court held that the moment goods are cleared for household consumption from customs they cease to be imported goods and therefore they may be not liable to confiscation. It explained in para 7
The first submission of the learned counsel is that the goods imported below 45 consignments were cleared for property consumption around the petitioners executing ITC bonds as required below sub-section one of Section 143 from the Act. The learned counsel urged that the moment the goods are cleared for property consumption then the goods covered by the consignments cease to be imported goods in accordance together with the definition of expression imported goods beneath Section 2 of your Act and consequently this kind of goods are not liable for confiscation. There is certainly considerable merit inside the submission in the learned counsel. The goods lose its character of imported goods on being granted clearance for property consumption and thereafter the power to confiscate might be exercised only in situations where the order of clearance is revised and cancelled. Shri Chagla then submitted that the proceedings for imposition of penalty below Section 112 are usually not permissible if the goods cannot be confiscated below Section 111 of your Act. The submission will not be correct. Section 112 deals with the levy of penalty for improper importation of goods and Section 112a provides that any person who in relation to any goods does or omits to do any act which act or omission would render this kind of goods liable to confiscation below Section 111 or abets the doing or omission of this kind of an act is liable to a penalty. The power to impose penalty may be exercised not only when the goods are out there for confiscation but when this kind of goods are liable to confiscation. The expression liable to confiscation clearly indicates that the power to impose penalty is often exercised even when the goods will not be obtainable for confiscation. It really is feasible that the goods could be cleared for house consumption with out the Customs Authorities being aware that the clearance is sought by suppressing the relevant facts or by producing documents that are hot genuine. The mere fact that the importers secured this kind of clearance and disposed on the goods and thereafter goods are not accessible for confiscation cant divest the Customs Authorities of your powers to levy penalty underneath Section 112 in the Act. Shri Chagla relied upon the decision of Calcutta High Court reported in 2000 123 E.L.T. 330 Cal. 1976 Tax. L.R. 1567 Thomas Duff and Co. India Ltd. v. Collector of Customs and others. The Calcutta High Court took the view in a situation of export where a show-cause notice was issued as to why penal action must not be taken that after the goods were exported andor not readily available for confiscation then the Customs Authority had no jurisdiction to initiate the proceedings by issuance of show-cause notice for levy of penalty. It is not possible to share the view taken by the Calcutta High Court. The power to levy penalty just isnt dependant upon availability with the goods imported or exported. The power to levy penalty arises because the importer or exporter has done or omitted an act in relation to goods and which renders this kind of goods liable for confiscation. The power in our judgment to levy penalty is readily available once the Customs Authorities come towards the conclusion that the goods imported or exported were liable to confiscation because of act or omission on the part from the importer or exporter as the case may perhaps be. The power is not dependant upon the availability in the goods. It really is therefore not feasible to accede for the submission of Shri Chagla that as the goods covered by 45 consignments were not available for confiscation under Section 111 from the Act the Customs Department could not have commenced proceedings below Section 112 of the Act for levy of penalty.
This judgment has been affirmed by the Honble Supreme Court10. As a result it has been authoritatively decided that once the goods are cleared for residence consumption the goods cease to be imported goods and hence these goods cannot be confiscated below Section 111 on the Customs Act on the other hand penalty may be imposed underneath section 112 for improper imports.
This view was followed by the tribunal in case of Southern Enterprises v. CC11 wherein it held in para six
Revenue cant confiscate the goods which have currently been cleared for household consumption as they ceased to be imported goods as defined in Section 2 in the Customs Act and as held by the Bombay High Court within the case of Bussa Overseas Properties P. Ltd. cited supra. The same view has been expressed by the Tribunal in the situation of Kishandas Sources India Impex P. Ltd. and inside the situation of Leela Dhar Maheswari v. CCE.
NATIONAL TREATMENT OF IMPORTED GOODS-
This view is also in consonance with WTO agreement Article III on the GATT on national treatment of imported goods that when the imported goods passes customs barrier there must not be any discrimination between imported goods and goods locally produced. Hence when the goods are cleared for dwelling consumption the cleared goods merges with the local goods and they must not be differentiated from the locally produced goods.
GOODS RELEASED PROVISIONALLY OR ON BOND-
In a series of judgments the Apex Court and Tribunal have held that when the goods are released provisionally or underneath Bond the goods may be confiscated and redemption fine may be imposed. In Weston Components v. CC12 the Supreme Court held that
It is contended by the learned Counsel for the appellant that redemption fine couldnt be imposed because the goods were no longer within the custody from the respondent-authority. It can be an admitted fact that the goods were released towards the appellant on an application made by it and around the appellant executing a bond. Beneath these circumstances if subsequently its found that the import was not valid or that there was any other irregularity which would entitle the customs authorities to confiscate the said goods then the mere fact that the goods were released on the bond being executed would not take away the power in the customs authorities to levy redemption fine.
The view is supported by various other judgments in the Apex Court notably East India Commercial Company v. CC13 Jeevraj v. CC14 and Harbans Lal v. CCE15.
In Atlas Casting Metal v. CC16 the Tribunal held that when the goods has been released on bond the bond is often enforced and the goods could be confiscated.
Even so its humbly submitted that the above view will not be correct. It is actually clear from the definition of Section two25 that once the goods are cleared for property consumption theyre not imported goods. Clearance includes provisional clearance. As per section two2 on the Customs Act the term assessment includes provisional assessment. In view of this definition even when the goods are provisionally cleared for dwelling consumption the goods has been cleared for house consumption as well as the goods cease to be imported goods.
Even on the basis on the provision of option to redeem underneath Section 125 of your Customs Act this kind of choice can only be provided if the possession in the goods are together with the department. The moment the goods are provisionally cleared the possession will not be together with the department and a solution to redeem cannot be offered. As a result even on this logic goods cannot be confiscated when it truly is provisionally released.
I am sure the judiciary will consider these grounds as and when suitable opportunity comes.
ARMS OF LAW MUST NOT BE OVERSTRECHED-
Every law is an infraction of human liberty17. Thus it is actually necessary that the law must not be extended from their natural meaning unless until there may be clear and unambiguous mandate on the legislature. Overstretching laws almost always make bad laws.
Despite these binding judgments and clear provisions of law on confiscation the department keeps on confiscating goods not accessible for confiscation and cleared for household consumption and keeps on fighting infructuous litigation. Such vexatious litigation do not affect rich and powerful but greatly affect small importers. Aptly said
The net of law is spread so wide
No sinner from its sweep could hide.
Its meshes are so fine and strong
They take in every child of wrong.
O wondrous web of mystery
Big fish alone escape from thee
Views expressed are personal views of author.
RAJESH KUMAR
1 1999 111 ELT 102
2 AIR 1963 SC one on page 15
3 S Indrasanrai Ltd. v. CC 1983 13 ELT 1305 SC
4 1983 13 ELT 1546 SC
5 2004 163 ELT 109
6 2004 169 ELT 68
7 2005 180 ELT 483
8 2002 146 ELT 610
9 2004 163 ELT 304
10 2004 163 ELT A 160
11 2005 186 ELT 324
12 2000 115 ELT 278 SC
13 1983 13 ELT 1342 SC
14 1997 94 ELT 459 SC
15 1993 67 ELT 20 SC
16 2005 186 ELT 575
17 Jeremy Bentham How to sell guns red dead redemption I noticed that many people that can to me to learn concerning tax lien committing dont really have a knowledge of what is involved. They under estimate two things — the amount of money required to invest in tax lien certificates and the length of time that is involved in discovering profitable tax liens . . .
When it concerns the time involved in purchasing tax lien certificates first. Tax loan sales in most claims are usually held about weekdays at typical business hours and that means you will need to have the time to visit to the sale to help bid on the houses that you are interested in. While in some states you will be able to mail as part of your bid its to your benefit to be at the selling.
But this is fewer than half of the time that you will need to get purchasing profitable taxes liens. Before you even get to here you have to do some type of required research on the properties which have been in the tax purchase. The list of attributes that you get before the selling from the tax business office in most cases does not show you anything about the property or home. Frequently this record will only consist of the tax ID owner of record and balance due. It doesnt even supply you with the location of the home
So the first thing you have to do is look up the assessment home elevators the property and find the particular address. Youll want to literally look at the property to ensure that the assessment details are up to date. You want to make certain that the property is worth much more than the amount that is owed for again taxes. Keep in mind that you may have to pay the taxes for this property throughout the payoff period if it isnt going to redeem before you can confiscate it or get a deed.
This introduces the other factor that a first time typically underestimates when they get rolling in tax lien investing and thats the amount of money is needed to invest in duty lien certificates.