Allowed¶25

The Commissioner of Customs(Chennai Ii) v. m/s.Sagar Copiers

Madras HC7 Mar 2025WMP/3731/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Impleading petition allowed — Madras HC, 07.03.2025: Customs officers (Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, Chennai II Import) permitted impleadment of respondents 4 to 7 (DGFT; MoEFCC; MeitY; Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024 (Sagar Copiers customs matter); allowed without prejudice to respondents' objections in the main writ petitions; Registry to carry out amendment; connected W.P. Nos.26026, 34240 & 37138 of 2024 and 2255 & 2343 of 2025 posted for counter and disposal on 04.04.2025.

What did the court decide?

Impleading petitions allowed as prayed for: impleadment permitted without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents to raise all objections in the main writ petitions; Registry directed to carry out the amendment. ¶25

The Commissioner of Customs(Chennai Ii) Vs m/s.Sagar… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶25

Issue for consideration

Whether the impleading petitions (W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025) filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to implead respondents 4 to 7 as party respondents in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024 should be allowed.

¶21

Court's answer

The impleading petitions are allowed as prayed for, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents to raise all objections with regard to the impleadment of the petitioners in the main writ petitions.

¶25

Ratio / Principle

The Registry is directed to carry out the amendment giving effect to the impleadment in the main writ petitions.

¶29

Key takeaways

W.P. Nos.26026, 34240 & 37138 of 2024 and W.P. Nos.2255 & 2343 of 2025 are posted for counter and disposal on 04.04.2025.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Abdul Quddhose, J.), common order dated 07.03.2025 in W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025 in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024: impleading petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the Commissioner of Customs (Chennai II) Import, the Additional Commissioner of Customs (Gr5) and the Deputy Commissioner of Customs (Gr5), praying to implead respondents 4 to 7 as party respondents in the main writ petitions, were allowed as prayed for. The allowance is expressly without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents — M/s.Sagar Copiers (R1) and the Additional Secretary & Director General, DGFT, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (R2 to R5) — to raise all objections with regard to the impleadment in the main writ petitions. Learned counsels for the respondents had submitted that the petitions could be allowed on that footing and had categorically contended that the petitioners are not necessary parties for adjudicating the writ petitions; the Court recorded that statement. The Registry was directed to carry out the amendment, and W.P. Nos.26026, 34240 & 37138 of 2024 and 2255 & 2343 of 2025 were posted for counter and disposal on 04.04.2025.

¶1

W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025 in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024

¶2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

¶3

DATED: 07.03.2025

¶4

CORAM

¶5

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE

¶6

W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025 in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024

¶7

1.The Commissioner of Customs, (Chennai II) Import, Custom House, No.60, Rajaji Salai, Chennai - 600 001.

¶8

2.The Additional Commissioner of Customs (Gr5), Custom House, No.60, Rajaji Salai, Chennai - 600 001.

¶9

3.The Deputy Commissioner of Customs (Gr5), Custom House, No.60, Rajaji Salai, Chennai - 600 001.

¶10

.. Petitioners

¶11

¶12

1.M/s.Sagar Copiers, rep. by its Proprietor Mr.Pragji Raghu

¶13

2.Additional Secretary & Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Vanijya Bhawan, 'A' Wing, 16, Akbar Road, New Delhi - 110 011.

¶14

3.Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, rep. by the Secretary

¶15

4.Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Government of India), rep. by its Secretary

¶16

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶17

1/4

¶18

W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025 in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024

¶19

5.Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, rep. by its Secretary

¶20

.. Respondents

¶21

Prayer: These petitions are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to implead the respondents 4 to 7 as party respondents in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024.

¶22

For petitioners	:	Mr.Rajnish Pathiyil
For R1	:	Mr.Nityaesh Nataraj for Vaibhav R Venkatesh
For R2 to R5	:	Mr.K.Srinivasamurthy SSCGC

¶23

COMMON ORDER

¶24

Learned counsels for the respective respondents would submit that the impleading petitions can be allowed, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents to raise all objections in the main writ petitions. It has been categorically contended by the learned counsels for the respective respondents that the petitioners are not necessary parties for adjudicating the writ petitions. The said statement is recorded.

¶25

2.Accordingly, these petitions are allowed as prayed for, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the respondents to raise all objections with regard to the impleadment of the petitioners in the main writ petitions.

¶26

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶27

2/4

¶28

W.M.P. Nos.3731 & 3732 of 2025 in W.P. Nos.37138 & 37141 of 2024

¶29

Registry is directed to carry out the amendment. Post W.P. Nos.26026,

¶30

34240 & 37138 of 2024 and 2255 & 2343 of 2025 for counter and disposal on 04.04.2025.

07.03.2025

vga

1.Additional Secretary & Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Vanijya Bhawan, 'A' Wing, 16, Akbar Road, New Delhi - 110 011.

¶35