KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar on Tuesday disposed of a constitution petition filed by importer Ace Indigo Industries Private Limited after the Customs Valuation withdraws a Valuation Ruling (VR).

Today when the petition came up for hearing before the bench, Masooda Wahab advocate assisted by Zafar Hussain advocate submitted that the Directorate of Valuation has withdrawn the Valuation Ruling 729/2015 dated 14-5-2015  pertaining to Electrical Porcelain Disc Insulators, Pin Insulators and Busing for Power Transformers. According to the withdrawal letter dated Jan 04, 2016 several representations were received from local manufacturers, regarding under invoicing and mis-declaration. The VR was more than ninety days old and also there was a vast variety of porcelain/ceramic insulators depending on specific quality and usage and therefore all cannot be clubbed. It was not a common item and is not sold or purchased  by a common man for personal purpose, the Director Valuation said in withdrawal letter leaving it open to the collect orates to determine/assess the value  under section 25 of the Customs Act 1969.

The petitioner filed the petition on ground that prior to import of insulators from China, Customs was assessing the item at a rate of 50-80 cents per kilogram but now they are assessing at a rate of US $ 2 per kilogram. The respondents/customs are not allowing the in-bonding of the consignment, said the petitioner.

 However the bench perusing the letter of withdrawal disposed of the petition on ground that it became fruitless in the view of the ruling and petitioner now may approach customs valuation for a new Valuation Ruling and thereafter for assessment afresh.