(1.) THIS batch of writ petitions have been filed challenging Notification No. , dated January 8, 2002 and that the notification reads as follows:
(2.) THIS Notification shall come into force on 9th day of January, 2002.
(3.) IT is to be mentioned that in spite of the writ petitions being admitted as early as 2002 and notice issued and served, the Union of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, which issued the notification under section 8A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 has not chosen to file a counter -affidavit refuting the plea taken in the writ petitions and further there is no explanation as to why the notification came to be issued and under what circumstances. It is at the instance of this court that certain clarifications were submitted by way of letter correspondence to show that the notification was placed before Parliament for its approval, which is the requirement of section 7 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. The original file was never produced before this court, even though specific orders were passed by this court from time to time to produce it. The orders dated November 19, 2012 and December 21, 2012 passed by this court read as under: