WP/14520/2026 of M/s Airtrax Freight Logistics Vs The Inquiry officer / Asst. Commissioner of customs

W.P. No.14520 of 2026 __________ Page 1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 15-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ W.P. No.14520 of 2026 and W.M.P. Nos.15760 and 15762 of 2026 M/s.Airtrax Freight Logistics Plot No.16 First Floor, Muthukumar Nagar Extension Poonamallee, Chennai 600 056 Rep. by its Proprietor R.Murugan ..Petitioner(s) Vs. 1. The Inquiry Officer / Asst. Commissioner of Customs, Chennai II (Import) Commissionerate No.60, Rajaji Salai, Customs House, Chennai-600 001. 2. The Commissioner of Customs (General), Chennai Customs Zone, 60, Rajaji Salai, Custom House, Chennai-600 001. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a writ of Certiorari calling for the records pertai ning to impugned communication notice in F.No.GEN/SK/74/2026-TSK dated 30.03.2026 issued by the 2nd Respondent and to quash the same, insofar as, the said communication notice dated 30.03.2026 which had referred to the show cause Notice No 21/2026 dated 25.03.2025 issued in F.No.GEN/CB/ACTN/34/ 2006- CBS by the 1st Respondent, for the purpose of conducting the inquiry, is without jurisdiction and authority of law, contrary to the CBLR 2018 and also in clear violation to the principles of natural justice in terms of various judicial pronouncement rendered in this regard. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.14520 of 2026 __________ Page 2 of 5 For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Baskaran For Respondent(s): Mr.H.Siddarth Junior Panel Counsel ORDER The present writ petition is filed challenging the communication da ted 30.03.2026 intimating the petitioner regarding personal hearing fixed on 13.04.2026, pursuant to the show cause notice dated 25.03.2026 issued in terms of Regulation 17(1) of Customs Broker Licensing Regulation (CBLR), 2018. 2. Petitioner is aggrieved by the above communication inasmuch as it is contrary to Regulation 17(1) of CBLR. 2018 as well as the show cause notice. Learned counsel for petitioner would submit that the show cause notice per mits the petitioner to file their objections within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of said notice, however, the impugned communication dated 30.03.2026 intimates petitioner of a personal hearing which is scheduled on 15.04.2026 a nd also states that the petitioner is required to appear for personal hearing with necessary documents, failing which the case will be decided ex-parte. 3. It is case of the petitioner that they are statutorily granted a period of 30 days to respond to the show cause notice as stipulated in Regulation 17(1) of CBLR, 2018, thus any further order can be passed only after the expir y of the said period. Learned counsel for petitioner would submit that the impugne d https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.14520 of 2026 __________ Page 3 of 5 communication which proposes to pass order ex-parte even before the expiry of the 30 days period is contrary to the mandate contained in Regulati on 17(1) of CBLR, 2018. 4. Learned counsel for respondents would submit that petitioner shall appear for personal hearing on 06.05.2026 at 11.00 a.m. and that petitioner may submit their response to the show cause notice within the period stipul ated in the show cause notice. 5. In view thereof, the writ petition stands disposed of with the following directions: i) The petitioner shall appear for personal hearing before the respondents on 06.05.2026 at 11.00 a.m. ii) It is open to the petitioner to submit their response to t he show cause notice within the period stipulated in the show cause notice. iii) It is made clear that this order shall be treated as intimation of personal hearing and the petitioner shall not wait for any further intimation. 5.1. The above directions are being issued to avoid any uncertainty. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 15-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No MKA https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.14520 of 2026 __________ Page 4 of 5 To: 1.The Inquiry Officer / Asst. Commissioner of Customs, Chennai II (Import) Commissionerate No.60, Rajaji Salai, Customs House, Chennai-600 001. 2.The Commissioner of Customs (General), Chennai Customs Zone, 60, Rajaji Salai, Custom House, Chennai-600 001. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.14520 of 2026 __________ Page 5 of 5 MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ J. MKA W.P. No.14520 of 2026 15-04-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis