Case: M/s. Ramchand Jagadish Chand Vs. Union of India & Others

Shah, J.1. Controls on exports and imports imposed as an emergency measure during the last war in respect of certain commodities were kept alive after the lapse of the Defence of India Rules by the Emergency Provisions (Continuance) Ordinance, 1946 which was later replaced by the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1947. By S.3 of the Act, the Central Government was authorised by order republished in the Official Gazette, to provide for prohibiting restricting or otherwise controlling, in all cases or in specified classes of cases, and subject to such exceptions if any, as may be made by or under the order, inter alia the import, export, carriage................. of goods of any specified description. By cl. (2) it was provided that all goods to which an order under sub-sec (1) applied Shall deemed to be goods of which the import or export has been prohibited or restricted under S. 19 of the Sea Customs Act. Exercising authority under S. 3 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act,1947 the Central Government issued notifications from time to time prohibiting, restricting or otherwise controlling the export and import of diverse commodities. By a consolidated order dated December 7,1955, known as the Imports (Control) Order, 1955, restrictions on the import of certain goods were imposed by cl. (3) of the said order. By sub-cl. (1) of cl. (3), it was provided that save as otherwise provided in the order, on person shall import any goods of the description specified in, schedule l, except under, and in accordance with, a licence or a customs clearance permit granted by the Central Government, or by an officer specified in Schedule II. For implementing the scheme of controlling imports, diverse provisions were made ill cls. (3A) to (11) of the Imports (Control) Order.2. The Government of India makes known its import policy every six months by issuing in the Government Gazette the procedure and the conditions for eligibility of licences and for the grant of import licenses. This policy is published for the use of the public in a hand-book called the "Import Trade Control Policy." The policy is obviously framed having regard to requirements for home consumption of commodities to be imported, the foreign currency situation and the economy of the country as a whole.3. By para 51 of the Import Trade Control Policy for the licensing period October, 1958, to March, 1959, a scheme of Export Promotion" permitting imports depending upon the value of specified varieties of goods exported by the importer was devised. It was recited in that paragraph that in certain items the inter relation between imports and exports was direct and intimate and the ability to export some manufactured goods depended largely on the facility with which the exporter or the manufacturer could procure the basic raw materials required in the manufacture. With a view to promoting the export of such goods, a scheme was therefore devised for the grant of special import licences to replace the imported raw material component of the product exported or to provide an incentive for larger exports.4. Art silk yarn and art silk fabrics were covered by the Export Promotion Scheme. In appendix 42 cl. (2) of the Import Trade Control Policy for October, 1958, to March, 1959, it was stated :"With a view to stimulate exports of Indian artsilk fabrics, Sarees, garments, hosiery and other art Silk, manufactures, it has been decided to grant import licences at the ports under the Export Promotion Scheme for the import of permissible varieties of artsilk yarn to actual exporters upto the following percentage of the rupee equivalent of foreign exchange earned on the basis of the f.o.b. value of the artsilk goods exported, or the value assessed by customs., whichever is less.i) 66 2/3 per cent in the case of Indian artsilk sarees.(ii) 100 per cent in the case of other Indian artsilk fabrics including Indian artsilk hosiery goods.5. The petitioners, M/s. Ramchand Jagdish Chand are a firm engaged in business as exporters and importers. In the period October, 1958, to March, 1959, the petitioners exported to Singapore, Bush Shirt Cloth, Glass Nylon, Art Silk Piece Goods and Superior Glass Nylon of the total C.I.F. value of Rs. 7,10,817, and relying upon cl. (2) of the Export Promotion Scheme, as outlined in the Import Trade Control Policy, called upon the Controller of Imports to issue licences for artsilk yarn for Rs. 4,04,218.62 np. and Rs. 3,03,490.93 np. respectively for the months of February and March, 1959. The petitioners claimed that they had, pursuant to the Export Promotion Scheme, exported artsilk goods to Singapore and had earned net foreign exchange of the value of Rs. 7,07,709.55 np. and that they were entitled to import licences for artsilk, yarn of that amount. In September, 1959, the petitioners were informed by the Assistant Controller of Imports and Exports that a consolidated licence for the months of February and March, 1959, was granted to them for import of artsilk goods of the value of Rs. 3,19,354.6. It appears that the Government of India, having come to learn of certain malpractices by the importers of artsilk yarn, while suspending the Export promotion Scheme as from March 9, 1959, announced that applications which were pending with the port licencing authorities will be scrutinised by a Committee and in May, 1959, the Government of India appointed a Committee for verification of the value of goods exported. The petitioners appeared before the Committee and furnished documentary evidence in support of their claim for 100% of the rupee equivalent of the cloth exported. The committee accepted as reasonable the rates at which the exported "flock Printed Nylon Dyed " cloth was exported by the petitioners, but in their view, the rates at which "bush Shirt Cloth" was exported could not be accepted as reasonable and for the purpose of the Export Promotion Scheme, the value of that cloth should be computed at the rate of Rs. 1.50 np. per yard of 36 width. The Controller of licences accepted the recommendation of the Committee and issued to the petitioners an import licence for Rs. 3,19.354 only. The petitioners after making an infructuous demand for a licence for the value of the goods exported, filed this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution for a writ or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports to grant to the petitioners an import licence for the months of February and March 1959 equivalent to 100% of the goods exported by them in the relevant previous months and in the alternative, to issue a writ of certiorari calling for the records and proceedings resulting in the issue of a licence of the value of Rs. 3,19,354 and for an order quashing the same and granting to the petitioners a licence for the full amount claimed by them. The petitioners submitted that the Controller of licences had arbitrarily reduced the value of their import licence under the Export Promotion Scheme and had thereby unlawfully infringed their fundamental right to carry on business. They also claimed that the Controller was bound to grant licence to import artsilk yarn under the Export Promotion Scheme for the full value of the goods exported by them, and in failing to do so, had practised discrimination against the petitioners, because several other importers of artsilk yarn who were the petitioners rivals in trade during the identical period were given licences for amounts "ranging between 85 and 100 per cent of their exports". In paragraph 22 of their petition, the petitioners submitted a table setting out the names of eight such exporters, the amount and the percentages granted to such exporters.7. The fundamental right of a citizen to carry on any occupation trade or business under Art. 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution is not absolute; it is subject to reasonable restrictions which may be imposed by the State in the interests of the general public. The right of the State to impose controls in the larger interest of the general public on imports has accordingly not been denied; nor has the authority of the State to issue the Imports (Control) Order 1955 in exercise of the powers conferred by the Imports and Exports (Control) Act providing for imposition of restrictions by permitting import of certain goods only in accordance with licences or customs permits granted by the Central Governments, been challenged. It was suggested somewhat faintly by Mr. Viswanatha Sastri on behalf of the petitioners that the power granted under Cl. (3) of the Imports (Control) Order, 1955 was an uncanalised power in the matter of fixing percentages and to that extent the authority imposed an unreasonable restriction on the freedom to carry on business. But the authority to grant or refuse to gram licences is conferred upon high officers of the State and the grant of licences is governed by the Import Trade Control Policy which is issued from time to time and detailed provisions are made in the Imports (Control) Order setting out the grounds on which licences may be refused amended, suspended or cancelled (see Cls. 6 to 9 of the order). Provision to afford a hearing to the licencee before action is taken under Cls. 6 to 9 is also made. It cannot therefore be said that the power conferred is uncanalised or arbitrary.8. The argument seriously canvassed by Counsel for the petitioners was that relying upon Cl. 2 of appendix 42 of the Import Trade Control Policy, the petitioners had exported artsilk fabrics, and had earned foreign currency, and they could not, except for good and adequate reasons, be deprived of import licence to the full extent of 100% of the value of the artsilk fabrics exported. The petitioners say that they purchase the goods from various merchants and by exporting those goods earned foreign exchange which was duly created to their account by their bankers, and in reducing the import licence to approximately 45% of the value of the goods exported, the State has, by executive order, imposed an unresonable restriction upon their right to carry on business. But under Cl. 2 of the Export Promotion Scheme as outlined in appendix 42 in so far as it related to licences for import of artsilk yarn, the Controller of Imports is authorised to grant licences upto the percentages specified in that clause: there is no right thereby created to the exporter to obtain a licence for the full value of the commodity exported. Under Cl. 2, the Controller has the power to grant a licence for any amount upto 100% of the rupee equivalent of the foreign exchange earned on the basis of the F.O.B. value of the goods exported. By that clause, the exporter is not given the option to claim an import licence for any amount not exceeding the value of the foreign exchange earned by export of goods. The clause invests the Controller with authority, it does not impose an obligation upon him enforceable at the instance of the exporter, to issue a licence for the amount (subject to the maximum prescribed) claimed by the exporter. The power is plainly discretionary. It is true that the discretion has to be exercised reasonably and not arbitrarily The licensing authority would normally issue an import licence for 100% of the value of the goods exported, but having regard to special considerations such as difficult foreign exchange position or other matters which have a bearing on the general interest of the State import licences for a smaller percentage may be granted to the exporters. But by the use of the expression "upto the following percentage of the rupee equivalent" power to fix arbitrarily a percentage of the value of the goods exported for awarding an import licence is not granted.9. In granting a licence to the petitioners for Rs. 3,19,354 has the authority been exercised arbitrarily or is it supported by some reasonably discermible principle ? Ram Murth Sharma Deputy Chief Controller of Imports and Exports in his affidavit stated that of the Export Promotion Scheme wrongful advantage was taken by some exporters of artsilk fabrics: it was found by the Government of India that invoice values or artificial silk fabrics were inflated by the exporters by more than 100% of the value with the object of importing "speculative commodities like artificial silk yarn. Sharma stated that "as against 381 thousand yards of artificial silk fabrics exported during the period January-June, 1957, at a value. of about Rs. 456 thousand, i.e., at about Rs. 1-2-0 per yard the merchants sought to show the rise in price for the export of such goods during October-March 1959 at Rs. 2-9-0 per yard so that for 986 thousand yards exported, the invoice value shown was 28,799 thousand rupees, even though the actual price of the goods in the wholesale market had not at all risen to that extent between those two periods. The index number of wholesale price n India in respect of "silk and reyon fabrics during the month of June, 1957, was 85 and during the month of March, 1959 it rose to 95.7 only thus showing a rise of about 11%. Against this rise, the rise in the price invoiced by the exporters showed a rise of over 125% during the span of the same period. This will clearly show that the aforesaid rise was shown by merchants merely with a view to get licences for higher value for the import of speculative item like "Art Silk Yarn". Relying upon this evidence, counsel for the Union contended that this perversion of the Export Promotion Scheme had serious repercussions on the foreign exchange position and the scheme was suspended by notification dated March 6, 1959, and the Government directed that the pending application for import licences for artsilk yarn be scrutinised by a Committee appointed in that behalf. The Committee scrutinised the cases of 1106 parties including the petitioners, and the petitioners were given a licence for Rs. 3,19,354, and by reducing the value of the import licence, no fundamental right of the petitioners under Art. 19 of the Constitution was infringed.10. A scrutiny of the application for licences in view of the misuse of the Export Promotion Scheme and grant of licences on the result of such scrutiny cannot be regarded as imposing an unreasonable restriction. The State is as much concerned with earning foreign exchange as maintaining and consolidating its export trade. If a large quantity of goods be dumped at excessive prices in foreign markets to meet a temporary demand, in the ultimate result the export trade of the State may suffer. If taking advantage of temporary demands in the foreign market, the exporters charge excessive prices which are not commensurate with reasonable profits on the real value of the goods and seek to invest the profits earned in speculative commodities thereby endangering the internal economy of the country, the State may be justified in taking steps to prevent the exporters from obtaining advantage of such excessive profits by refusing to afford facilities for importing goods to the exporters who seek to rely upon the export value of the goods at inflated rates. The affidavit of Sharma shows that in a number of cases, the importing firm in the foreign country was only a "sister concern" of the exporting house, and the exporters adopted the expedient of inflating the price with the object of adjusting the excess value received by them. It appears therefore that some exporters under cover of the Export Promotion Scheme by inflating the prices were found not only to import speculative varieties of goods for very much larger values than the real prices justified, but were suspected by the authorities even to repatriate foreign assets without disclosing the same to the State as required by law. It cannot therefore be said that the power granted to the licensing authorities to grant licences only upto the maximum specified in C1. 2 is by itself an unreasonable restriction; nor will the notification directing scrutiny of all applications amount to imposing an unreasonable restriction.11. Counsel for the petitioners however submitted that the Controller had placed no evidence on the record that the petitioners have, for the goods purchased by them in the Indian market, not paid Rs. 7,07,709.55 nP. or that any part thereof represented foreign assets intended to be repatriated contrary to law. Counsel submitted that M/s. V.M.S. Abdul Razak and Company to whom the goods were consigned are not a "sister concern" of the petitioners and that in the affidavit of the Deputy Chief Controller of Imports and Exports it is not denied that the petitioners has received the full value for which the goods were exported by them.12. But in considering the case of the petitioners, the Committee observed :"The party has purchased Bush Shirt Cloth from J.C. Vakaria and Sons, Govardhandas Iswardas, International Trading Agency, Agarwala Brothers and Calcutta Silk Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Rates very from Rs. 3.87 to Rs. 3.92....neither the purchase vouchers nor the export invoices contain any description nor give any idea as to whether the material was Nylon, Rayon, Neylon, etc."13. The Committee also observed that the petitioners were "not able to produce adequate justification of the prices of Art Silk Bush Shirting Cloth. Samples cannot be linked with the relative purchase vouchers or export invoices." They then pointed out that the correspondence with M/s. Abdul Razak and Company did not give any justification nor contained any description to link the goods with the materials sent," and in the light of these findings, the Committee recommended that the value of bush shirt cloth for the purposes of import licence be calculated at the rate of Rs. 1.50 nP. per yard. It is somewhat unfortunate that the Committee have not stated in the reasons given by them that Rs. 1.50 nP. was the prevailing market rate in respect of Bush Shirt Cloth at the time of the export in the Indian market. But in paragraph 22 of the respondents affidavit, it is stated "the petitioner firm has been granted licence equal to 100% of the value which has been arrived at as the reasonable value of the exports effected by the firm".14. The petitioners allege that the decision of the Committee was arbitrary, the licensing authority contends that the decision was made after ascertaining the reasonable value in the Indian market at the material time of the goods exported by the petitioners. The petitioners have not placed before the Court any independent evidence to show that current market rate of "bush shirt cloth" which was exported, substantially exceeded the rate of Rs. 1.50 nP. per yard of 36" width. In the circumstances, we would not be justified in assuming that the Committee made an arbitrary decision in arriving at the value of the bush shirt cloth exported for the purpose of recommending the grant of import licence.15. The contention that the order passed by the Controller granting a licence only for 45% of the value of the goods exported infringes the fundamental right of the petitioners under Art. 19(1) (g) by imposing an unreasonable restriction cannot therefore be sustained.16. Does the fact that the petitioners have been granted licence approximately, for 45% of the total value of the goods exported amount to discrimination entitling them to protection of Art. 14 of the Constitution? Under the Export Promotion Scheme, the petitioners have exported art silk goods of the value of Rs. 7,07.709.55 nP. and may in the normal course have been entitled to import licence for 100 % of the value of the goods exported unless there was a reduction in the value of the licence for imports on account of certain circumstances such as general deterioration of the foreign exchange position or necessity to conserve a particular currency or other circumstances justifying a departure from the maxima set out in C1. 2 of appendix 42 of the Export Promotion Scheme. The reduction may also be justified on grounds personal to the petitioners or to a group to which they belonged. Any malpractice or underhand dealing may warrant such a reduction.17. It was the case of the respondents that many exporters were guilty of malpractices and with a view either to speculate in art silk goods or to repatriate unlawfully foreign assests, the value of the goods exported was unduly inflated. In the order passed by the Committee appointed by the Government of India, dealing with the case of the petitioners, it was observed that the petitioners had business relations with certain firms and that the rates at which bush shirt cloth were purchased varied from Rs. 3.87 to Rs. 3.92 nP. The Committee was not satisfied that the documentary evidence produced by the petitioners related to the goods exported by them. These findings disclosed that, in the view of the Committee, there was reason to believe that the claim of the petitioners that they had purchased goods approximately for the prices at which they were exported, was not made out. The Committee accordingly recommended that the value of bush shirt, cloth" should be computed at the rate of Rs. 1.50 nP. per yard. It is true that there is no definite evidence on the record indicating that that was the current market rate, but the court may be justified in holding that the members of the Committee who were vitally concerned with the trade in artsilk goods were conversant with the current market rates of the cloth which was exported by the petitioners.18. Counsel for the Union has placed before us in the course of the hearing the resort of the Committee in respect of seven out of the eight exporters who the petitioners claimed had been given import licence for the full value of the exports. The report of the Committee with regard to M/s. Rajasthan Exporters and Importers, Calcutta is not placed before us on the plea that it is not immediately available. On a perusal of the report of the Committee with regard to other exporters, it may be stated that the claim of the petitioners that Raghunath Rai Piyarilal were given import licence for the full value of the goods exported is not correct. It appears from the record that only 40 % of the F.O.B value was to be taken for "Glass Nylon dyed" exported in respect of application No. 36. Similarly, in respect of application No. 35, 40% of the F.O.B. value was to be taken for the purpose of granting import licences. It is true that in the cases of the other importers Premuskhdass Sitaram, Indian Exporters and Importers Corporation, M/s. Universal Watch Emporium, M/s. Jawahar Knitting Hosiery, M/s. Vastralaya Ltd., and M/s. Agarwala Trading Co. Ltd., the Committee have recommended acceptance of the purchase prices submitted by the exporters in granting Import licences. It may therefore, be assumed that these importers were given licence for 100% of the export value of the goods. But the Committee have given reasons which appear to be prima facie good for accepting the claims of these exporters. If, on the materials placed before them, the Committee were satisfied that there was some misconduct or under- hand dealing on the part of the petitioners, or that the evidence led before them justified the Committee in holding that the goods exported were not of the value claimed by the petitioners in their invoices, an order recommending that import licence may be granted for the value of bush shirt cloth computed on the basis of Rs. 1-50 nP. per yard does not amount to discriminatory treatment of the petitioners. Article 14 confers a guarantee of the equal protection of the laws - a guarantee against arbitrary discrimination between persons similarly circumstanced. On the materials placed before the Committee, there was evidence to show that the record produced by the petitioners was unsatisfactory; they were not satisfied that the prices which the petitioners said they had paid for purchasing the goods were in truth paid. If there was evidence to show that in respect of other persons who were in the opinion of the Committee found also to have inflated the prices in the manner adopted by the petitioners and still the Controller had granted import licences to those persons for the full amount of the export value or a percentage substantially in excess of the percentage for which import licence was granted to the petitioners, a case of discrimination could have been made out; but in the absence of such evidence, we do not think that any case of discrimination is made out.

Decision reasoning: 0[ds]authority to grant or refuse to gram licences is conferred upon high officers of the State and the grant of licences is governed by the Import Trade Control Policy which is issued from time to time and detailed provisions are made in the Imports (Control) Order setting out the grounds on which licences may be refused amended, suspended or cancelled (see Cls. 6 to 9 of the order). Provision to afford a hearing to the licencee before action is taken under Cls. 6 to 9 is also made. It cannot therefore be said that the power conferred is uncanalised orclause invests the Controller with authority, it does not impose an obligation upon him enforceable at the instance of the exporter, to issue a licence for the amount (subject to the maximum prescribed) claimed by the exporter. The power is plainly discretionary. It is true that the discretion has to be exercised reasonably and not arbitrarily The licensing authority would normally issue an import licence for 100% of the value of the goods exported, but having regard to special considerations such as difficult foreign exchange position or other matters which have a bearing on the general interest of the State import licences for a smaller percentage may be granted to the exporters. But by the use of the expression "upto the following percentage of the rupee equivalent" power to fix arbitrarily a percentage of the value of the goods exported for awarding an import licence is not granted.9. In granting a licence to the petitioners for Rs. 3,19,354 has the authority been exercised arbitrarily or is it supported by some reasonably discermible principle ? Ram Murth Sharma Deputy Chief Controller of Imports and Exports in his affidavit stated that of the Export Promotion Scheme wrongful advantage was taken by some exporters of artsilk fabrics: it was found by the Government of India that invoice values or artificial silk fabrics were inflated by the exporters by more than 100% of the value with the object of importing "speculative commodities like artificial silkindex number of wholesale price n India in respect of "silk and reyon fabrics during the month of June, 1957, was 85 and during the month of March, 1959 it rose to 95.7 only thus showing a rise of about 11%. Against this rise, the rise in the price invoiced by the exporters showed a rise of over 125% during the span of the same period. This will clearly show that the aforesaid rise was shown by merchants merely with a view to get licences for higher value for the import of speculative item like "Art Silkappears therefore that some exporters under cover of the Export Promotion Scheme by inflating the prices were found not only to import speculative varieties of goods for very much larger values than the real prices justified, but were suspected by the authorities even to repatriate foreign assets without disclosing the same to the State as required by law. It cannot therefore be said that the power granted to the licensing authorities to grant licences only upto the maximum specified in C1. 2 is by itself an unreasonable restriction; nor will the notification directing scrutiny of all applications amount to imposing an unreasonablereduction may also be justified on grounds personal to the petitioners or to a group to which they belonged. Any malpractice or underhand dealing may warrant such ais true that there is no definite evidence on the record indicating that that was the current market rate, but the court may be justified in holding that the members of the Committee who were vitally concerned with the trade in artsilk goods were conversant with the current market rates of the cloth which was exported by thethe materials placed before the Committee, there was evidence to show that the record produced by the petitioners was unsatisfactory; they were not satisfied that the prices which the petitioners said they had paid for purchasing the goods were in truth paid. If there was evidence to show that in respect of other persons who were in the opinion of the Committee found also to have inflated the prices in the manner adopted by the petitioners and still the Controller had granted import licences to those persons for the full amount of the export value or a percentage substantially in excess of the percentage for which import licence was granted to the petitioners, a case of discrimination could have been made out; but in the absence of such evidence, we do not think that any case of discrimination is made out.