VoC Port barred from collecting rent for sand

Petitioner Ramaiah, Managing Director of Ramaih Enterprises at Avudayarkovil, stated that his enterprise is involved in export and import business by obtaining proper licence. 

However, in 2014, the Ministry of Commerce had permitted to import sand and use it for construction purpose and their enterprise is registered under the ministry. Based on the permit obtained as much as 53,334 metric tonnes of sand had been imported from Malaysia and had been kept at VOC Port. 

The petitioner had further stated that he had paid GST and was maintaining all the records properly. In order to sell to a customer the sand was sent in six lorries but the officials attached to Revenue Department at Kanniyakumari district had seized the vehicles. Though he had shown the permit letter obtained the officials refused to leave the lorries. Meanwhile, the Port had started collecting rent of Rs 2 lakh per day after September 28. 

On hearing the petition, Justice R Mahadevan directed the Collectors of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari to file counter affidavit by November 6 and restrained VOC Port from collecting rent for the imported sand.