CBIC issued Instructions on the Suspension of Licence of Customs Broker
The CBIC has issued Instruction No. 24/2023 dated July 18, 2023 regarding the Suspension of Licence of Customs Broker.
The undersigned is directed to say that references have been received in the Board that often the suspension of Customs Broker licence is resorted even in the cases which do not merit immediate suspension of licence. It is represented that this may be disruptive, especially in the case of small enterprises of Custom Brokers.
The matter has been examined. The Regulation 16 of CBLR, 2018 provides that notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 14, the Commissioner of Customs may, in appropriate cases where immediate action is necessary, suspend the licence of a customs broker, where the enquiry against such customs broker is pending or contemplated.
Since the power is specified to be exercised in specified circumstances, that is, the appropriate cases where immediate action is necessary, it indicates that suspension is not visualized for application in a manner routine or mechanical or in every case. This aspect is to be kept in view by the Commissioner of Customs in the course of considering a proposal to suspend the licence of a customs broker. Before doing so, the Commissioner should also take the care also of recording his/her reasons as to why it is considered an appropriate case where immediate action of suspension is necessary.