(1.) The petitioner has approached this Court aggrieved by a delay occasioned by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal [CESTAT], Bangalore, in disposing an appeal preferred by the petitioner against Ext.P4 appellate order of the Commissioner of Customs (Appeals).
(2.) When the matter came up for admission, this Court had called for a report from the Registry of the CESTAT giving details of the sitting of the Division Bench before the Said Forum. By a report dated 20.6.2017, the Registry has informed that the Division Bench held sittings on various dates in 2016 and 2017, up to May, 2017, with the help of a touring Member [Technical] of the CESTAT. The report however is silent on when the next date of sitting of the Division Bench will be finalised by the Head Quarters of the CESTAT in New Delhi. Taking note of the urgency that is projected by the learned counsel for the petitioner, I dispose the writ petition by directing the CESTAT, Bangalore, to ensure that Appeal No.C/20742/2017, that is stated to be pending before the said Tribunal at the instance of the writ petitioner, is disposed on merits, within an outer time limit of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.