DREAM YACHTS PVT. LTD. Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith.

(2.) The undisputed position as can be gathered from the impugned order itself is thus : When the matter was heard on 18-2-2014 and the Counsel for the petitioner was heard by the learned Settlement Commissioner, neither the report of the Commissioner of Customs, i.e., respondent No. 2 herein was placed on record nor the representative of the Revenue was present before the learned Settlement Commissioner. However, subsequently, the Revenue submitted its report dated 11-3-2014. The impugned order has been passed on 20-5-2014 after taking into consideration the submissions made by the petitioner as well as the report of the respondent No. 2, which was admittedly filed after the hearing given to the petitioner by the learned Settlement Commissioner.

(3.) It is thus clear that the impugned order has been passed by the respondent No. 3 - the learned Settlement Commissioner by taking into consideration the material, a copy of which was neither supplied to the petitioner nor the petitioner was given an opportunity to meet the said material.