By TIOL News Service

CHANDIGARH, MAR 27, 2017: THE Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the CBEC Chairman to appear before the Court in person on 26.04.2017. This is with regard to the poor state of the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.

The High Court observed,

"A perusal of the letter dated 8.2.2017 from the Central Revenues Control Laboratory shows that infrastructure available for testing the material is far less than expected though the laboratory should have been equipped with latest equipments. In number of cases coming before the Court, the samples are to be sent to other Laboratories for testing, may be private or Government. Delay in testing results in delay in release of consignments, as a consequence the importers/exporters have to pay various charges including detention, demurrage charges, etc. In some cases even the shelf life of the goods may be over.

Board is the controlling authority of Central Revenue Control Laboratory and the matter requires immediate consideration, Chairman of the Board is directed to appear in the Court in person on 26.4.2017."

The Court also directed the Department to furnish information regarding receipt of samples in the Central Revenue Control Laboratories with reference to the dates of receipt, dates on which the samples were tested and reports sent to the concerned Commissionerate.

(See 2017-TIOL-579-HC-P&H-CUS)