ORDER
JH Joglekar, Member(T)
1. These application for early hearing have been filed by three Custom House agents whose agency licenses were suspended by the Commissioner of Customs in terms of the provisions of Regulation 21(2) of .C.H.A.Licensing Regulation 1984.Appeals have been filed against this order.These applications are made on two grounds; firstly that the Commissioner erred in denying the principles of natural justice in as much as notices were not issued nor was any personal hearting given. The second ground made is that these three CHAs have employees whose livelihood has been affected because of the continuation of the suspension orders.
2. We have heard Shri S.R. Naryanan, Consultant for the applicants and Shri J.M. George, JDR for the respondent.
3. On hearing both the sides, we find that the issue having been settled by the judgment of the Larger Bench reported in 2001 (129)ELT 266,[Freightwings and Travles Ltd.], the main appeals themselves could be taken up for disposal.This was so done.
4. In an identical cases, the West Zonal Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Verma & Sons vs. CC[111)ELT 565] held that before taking action such as in the present case, the Commissioner was required to give a notice to CHA. In the cited judgment , the Larger Bench did not approve the ratio of the judgment but held that the principles of natural justice would be honoured by giving a post-decisional hearing.In holding so, the larger Bench relied upon the Supreme Court decision in the case of Maneka Gandhi vs. UOI 1978(1) SCC 248. Therefore, in the case of Freightwings and Travels Ltd. where Ltd.Where the issues were identical, the Tribunal disposed of the appeal with direction that the Commissioner should give the Custom House Agents a post decisional hearing within four weeks from the date of that order. We, therefore, direct the Id.Commissioner(or his successor officer) to give personal hearing to the CHAs and pass appropriate orders.
3. These three appeals are finally disposed of in the above terms.
4. Stay petitions also stand disposed of.
(Dictated in Court)