The Hindu : Kerala News : Steel manufacturers' plea dismissed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Steel manufacturers' plea dismissed

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, NOV. 10. The Kerala High Court today dismissed a writ petition filed by the Steel Manufacturers Association of Kerala and importers of steel challenging the order of the Customs authorities requiring the importers of scrap metals to subject the entire consignment to checking at the Customs area of the Kochi port.

The Customs authorities also directed the importers to follow the `re-warehousing procedure' which requires importers to reconstruct a warehouse in their facility and get it notified as their personal warehouse. The petitioners contended that the Customs authorities were not competent to prescribe such procedures. According to them only the Director General of Foreign Trade had the power to issue the procedure.

Dismissing the petition, Justice K. Balakrishnan Nair said that the Customs authorities were competent to lay down the procedure in order to ensure that no goods were smuggled in and that no arms and ammunition and other contraband goods were imported under the guise of importing scrap metal.

ISRO case

Justice J. M. James admitted a petition filed by Siby Mathew, Inspector General of Police, Vigilance, against the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court's order dismissing a defamation case filed against Nambi Narayanan, an ISRO scientist in connection with the ISRO espionage case. The court also issued notice to Mr. Nambi Narayanan. When the petition came up, P. Vijaya Bhanu, counsel for the police officer, contended that the Sessions Court had discharged Mr. Nambi Narayanan in the defamation even before framing charges against Mr. Narayanan. The counsel argued that the sessions' court order, which was based only on certain documents produced by the accused, was illegal. The defamation case was filed against Mr. Narayanan for making certain statements in connection with the ISRO espionage case.

CI files petition

K. S. Suresh Kumar, Circle Inspector of Police, Kottayam West, who had been suspended following the adverse remarks made by the High Court regarding the Kiliroor sex scandal investigation, has approached the High Court against his suspension. According to him, the High Court had not made any remarks against him. Besides, no preliminary inquiry had been conducted before placing him under suspension.

Jawahar Bala Bhavan

Justice K. Balakrishnan Nair has directed the Kollam Collector to convene the meeting of the Jawahar Bala Bhavan management committee within a month. The direction was passed while disposing of a writ petition filed by K. Thankappan and another against the reconstitution of the managing committee.

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