Madras High Court
G. Sivakumar vs The Commissioner Of Customs on 16 April, 2025
Author: Abdul Quddhose
Bench: Abdul Quddhose
W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025
THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16.04.2025
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE
W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025
G. Sivakumar ... Petitioner in W.P. No.12978 of 2025
S. Jayachandran ... Petitioner in W.P. No.12981 of 2025
vs
1. The Commissioner of Customs,
Chennai VIII Commissionerate,
Customs House,
No.60, Rajaji Salai,
Chennai – 600 001.
2. The Assistant Commissioner of Customs,
Customs Broker Section,
General Commissionerate,
Customs House,
Chennai – 600 001. ... Respondents in both W.P.s
Prayer in W.P. No.12978 of 2025 : Writ Petition has been filed under
Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue writ of Mandamus
directing the 1st respondent to consider the petitioner's representation
dated 23.01.2025 to issue 'G Card' in terms of Regulation 13(5) of CBLR,
2018 without insisting on passing oral examination.
Prayer in W.P. No.12981 of 2025 : Writ Petition has been filed under
1/6
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W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025
Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue writ of Mandamus
directing the 1st respondent to consider the petitioner's representation
dated 21.01.2025 to issue 'G Card' in terms of Regulation 13(5) of CBLR,
2018 without insisting on passing oral examination.
For Petitioner in both W.P.s : Mr.Sethu Prabakaran. R
For Respondents in both W.P.s : Ms. Revathi Manivannan
SSC
COMMON ORDER
Heard Mr.R. Sethu Prabakaran, learned counsel for the petitioner in both Writ Petitions. Ms.Revathi Manivannan, learned Senior Standing Counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. By consent of both the parties, these writ petitions have been taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2.These writ petitions have been filed seeking for a limited relief.
3. All the petitioners claim that even though they have complied with Regulation 13(5) of Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018, they have not been issued “G” Cards by the respondents. The petitioners are all employees of Customs Brokers. They claim that they have passed the written examination conducted by the respondents and therefore they 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 21/04/2025 01:23:50 pm ) W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025 are entitled for the issuance of “G” cards in terms of the regulations. However, according to the petitioners, the respondents are insisting for the petitioners to pass the oral examinations. According to them, the regulations does not provide for conduct of oral examination. The petitioners have all failed in the oral examinations. But however according to the petitioners, there is no requirement for them to pass the oral examinations. According to the petitioners since they have passed the written examination, they are entitled for the issuance of “G” cards. The petitioners have all given representations to the respondents requesting the respondents to issue “G” cards in their favour. Since the representations were not considered, they have filed these writ petitions.
4. A learned Single Judge of this Court had an occasion to deal with similar writ petitions and by his order dated 23.08.2023 had directed the respondents to consider the representations of the similarly placed persons as that of these petitioners and in his order, a prima facie observation has been made that the petitioners are entitled for issuance of Form-G in terms of Regulation 13(5) of the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018. The learned Single Judge had also considered various decisions rendered by this Court and only thereafter has directed 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 21/04/2025 01:23:50 pm ) W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025 the respondents to consider the representations of those petitioners seeking for the issuance of “G” cards in their favour. The petitioners in these writ petitions seek for a similar relief and seek for similar directions to be issued by this Court.
5. Ms.Revathi Manivannan, learned Senior Standing Counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondents.
6. No prejudice would be caused to the respondents, if the petitioner's representations seeking for issuance of “G” cards in their respective favour is considered on merits and in accordance with law in the light of the order, dated 23.08.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court involving a similar matter in W.P. Nos.24797 of 2023 etc., batch in the case of K. Madhavan vs. The Commissioner of Customs and another.
7. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of by directing the 1st respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law in the light of the order, dated 23.08.2023 passed by this Court in W.P. No.24797 of 2023 etc., batch in the case K. Madhavan vs. The 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 21/04/2025 01:23:50 pm ) W.P. Nos.12978 and 12981 of 2025 Commissioner of Customs and another on the respective petitioner's representations seeking for issuance of “G” cards, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's representations.
16.04.2025 Index: Yes/ No Speaking order / Non speaking order Neutral citation : Yes / No vsi2
1. The Commissioner of Customs, Chennai VIII Commissionerate, Customs House, No.60, Rajaji Salai, Chennai – 600 001.
2. The Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Customs Broker Section, General Commissionerate, Customs House, Chennai – 600 001.
ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.
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