MUHAMMAD JUNAID GHAFFAR, JUSTICE:---.---

Through this petition the Petitioner has impugned demand cum hearing notice dated 16.02.2023 as well as the blocking of its Tax Number (NTN) by the Respondents pursuant to such notice.

Departments counsel has effected appearance and has relied upon Section 155-M of the Customs Act, 1969, in support thereof and submits that since the Petitioner never responded; therefore, NTN has been blocked.

We have heard the counsel and perused the record. Insofar as the Demand-Cum- hearing/impugned notice is concerned, it does not specify any provision of any law, under which it has been issued. It appears that it is only a hearing notice and based on this and purportedly, since no response was received, they have blocked the NTN of the Petitioner. Such a harsh action of the Respondent department is not justifiable and does not find any support from law. The mode and manner in which a recovery can be made is, by way of a Show Cause Notice under Section 32 of the Customs Act, 1969, and not otherwise. Not only this, mere issuance of such a notice would not suffice to block the NTN of the Petitioner. Such recourse, if at all, is only available after an adjudication has been made and recovery modes as provided under Section 202 of the Act have been exhausted.

The august Supreme Court has consistently maintained that demand notices in absence of statutory show cause notices were without lawful foundation. It was observed that in the absence of the pre-requisite show cause notice no demand notice requiring payment of any alleged short levy could be issued. The superior Courts have maintained the primacy of the show cause notice in proceedings emanating from section 32 and have also illumined that the said instrument is required to be issued within the statutorily mandated time frame . This has already been reiterated by this Court in somewhat similar/identical facts in the case of Shoe Planet Harris Silicones .

In view of such position the impugned hearing notice cannot be made basis for blocking the NTN of the petitioner. Accordingly, it is directed to deblock the NTN immediately, whereas, the Respondents are at liberty to proceed strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act 1969 including Section 32 thereof. With these observations the petition along with listed application stands allowed/ disposed of.

Petition allowed.