Customs, Ministries issued notices

KOCHI: The Kerala High court on Tuesday issued notices to the Commissioner of Customs and several ministries of the Central Government on a petition against the customs authority’s move to withdraw its staff from the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) gate at Vallarpadam.Justice S Sirijagan issued the directive on a petition filed by The India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd, which operates the ICTT.The petitioner alleged that by a letter dated October 28, the Commissioner of Customs threatened to withdraw the customs officers from the ICTT gate.If the customs authorities withdraw its staff from the ICTT gate, and prevent cargoes from getting exported/imported through the ICTT, the decision would be contrary to the SEZ Act and SEZ Rules.It would affect containerised trade and commerce from the Kochi port, the petitioner said.The court also issued notices to the Commissioner of Customs, Development Commissioner of SEZ, Cochin Port Trust Chairman and the ministries of Shipping, Finance and Commerce & Industry.