2024 PLP 591 (PTD)

This and connected Customs Reference Application No.57846/2023 are directed against common judgment dated 26.07.2023, of Customs Appellate Tribunal Bench Lahore. Following question of law is proposed for determination, Whether the learned bench failed to appreciate that no penal consequences could be invoked against the applicant or its agent in absence of constitution of offence of misdeclaration under Section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969?

2. Learned counsel for Applicant Company (Applicant) submits that mere declaration qua particulars of imported goods for in-bonding of goods does not constitute offence in terms of section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969. Adds that question of determination of duties would arise at the time of clearance of goods - at the time of ex-bonding. Learned counsel referred to section 30(b), read with section 104 of the Customs Act, 1969 to elucidate time of determination of duties.

3. Conversely, learned counsel for respondent department submits that incorrect particulars, regarding identity of the goods in terms of PCT Heading, were disclosed to prejudice determination / assessment of duties. Adds that declaration made in terms of section 79 of Customs Act, 1969, wherein mis-declaration was made, attracts mischief of section 32 of Customs Act, 1969. Adds that only penalty was imposed in lieu of misclassification of PCT Heading and no claim regarding assessment of duties and payment thereof was raised.

4. Arguments heard. Applicant, acting through Clearing Agent, entered declaration for warehousing of imported goods in terms of section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969. Declaration contained particulars / description of imported goods - [for In-bonding], which were found incorrect upon comparing with Lab-Report. Upon discovering incorrect declaration, show-cause notice was issued, alleging violation of various sections including clause (14) of section 156 (1) of Customs Act, 1969. Order-in-original was passed, wherein liability qua evaded duties was imposed with addition of personal liability. Appellate Tribunal rejected claim of evaded duties on the premise that duties need to be re-assessed at the time of clearance of goods in terms of sections 30(b), 104 and 109 of the Customs Act, 1969, but retained penalty, though reduced quantum thereof from Rs.1,000,000/- to Rs.500,000/-. Primary argument is that since duties had to be assessed at the time of clearance of goods, and not for in-bonding, therefore, section 32 has no application is attracted. Argument is misconceived. It is not controverted that declaration for warehousing, qua the imported goods, was submitted in terms of section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969, wherein particulars / description of goods was provided and same was found incorrect - in the context of description of goods and wrong mentioning of PCT Heading. Is the declaration submitted/statement made, when found wrong, constitute an offence under section 32 of Customs Act, 1969. It is expedient to reproduce section 32(1) and clause (14) of section 156(1) of the Customs Act, 1969, which read as, Section 32 of Customs Act, 1969 "

32. Untrue statement, error, etc.- (1) If any person, in connection with any matter of customs,- (a) makes or signs or causes to be made or signed, or delivers or causes to be delivered to an officer of customs any declaration, notice, certificate or other document whatsoever, or (b) makes any statement in answer to any question put to him by an officer of customs which he is required by or under this Act to answer, [or] [(c) submits any false statement or document electronically through automated clearance system regarding any matter of Customs,] [knowing or having reason to believe that such document or statement is false] in any material particular, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section". (2) .. (3) Clause (14) of section 156(1) of Customs Act, 1969 [

14. If any person commits an offence under (i) Subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 32; such person shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or three times the value of the goods in respect of which such offence is committed, whichever be greater; and such goods shall also be liable to confiscation; and upon conviction by a Special Judge he shall further be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to fine, or to both;

5. A bare perusal of subsection (1) of section 32 of Customs Act, 1969 indicates its independent existence for the purposes of attracting penalty in terms of clause (14) of section 156(1) of Customs Act, 1969. Clause (14), ibid, treats offence under subsection (1) of section 32 of Customs Act as an independent offence, for the purposes of the penalty envisaged. A person can be charged with offence under subsection (1) of section 32 of Customs Act, 1969 where same had knowingly and reason to believe that document furnished, and statement made in connection with the matter of Customs, is false. Guidance is solicited from the construction proposed to section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969 by Apex Court in the case of M/s Baba Khan v. Collector of Customs, Quetta and 2 others (2000 SCMR 678), relevant portion of the decision is reproduced for ease of reference, "

4. We have carefully perused the provisions of section 32 and also section 79 of the Customs Act, 1969. Under subsection (1) of section 32, if any person in connection with any matter of customs makes any declaration or statement which is untrue in any material particulars, he is guilty of an offence under that section. No reference is made in section 32(1) to section 79 or that such declaration or mis-statement is made in the bill-of- entry. For an untrue declaration or statement to come within the mischief of section 32(1), the same should be untrue in any material particulars and that the statement or declaration is made "connection" with any matter of customs. The words "any matter of customs" are not restricted to bills-of-entry."

6. There is another aspect. Subsection (1) of section 32 of Customs Act, 1969 does not draw any distinction between declaration made either for the purposes of in-bonding or ex-bonding. Evidently, incorrect declaration / statements made, even for the purposes of in-bonding, is covered under the expression in connection with any matter of customs, and same constitutes an offence under subsection (1) of section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969, incurring penalty in terms of clause (14) of section 156(1) of Customs Act, 1969. Factum of knowledge is not disputed - Clearing agent, who acted for the applicant, has not preferred any application before this Court. Finding of fact was recorded by the Tribunal with respect to the intent underlying mis-declaration. In wake of the narrative above, case at hand falls within the ambit of subsection (1) of section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969, which attracts penalty, notwithstanding submission of declaration for ex-bonding for the purposes of ascertaining duties at later stage.

7. In view of the above, the question of law proposed is answered in negative. Reference application is decided against the Applicant and in favour of the department.

8. Office shall send a copy of this order, under seal of the Court, to learned Appellate Tribunal, in terms of subsection (5) of section 196 of Customs Act, 1969. MQ/R-20/L Reference dismissed.