HC to Customs: Notify air courier ops from airport

The Madurai bench of Madras high court has directed customs authorities to issue notification for the much-delayed courier import and export operation in Trichy international airport within three months.

Customs had cited the absence of basic requirements like LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) connectivity for not notifying the air courier services. They said that without these facilities IGM (Import General Manifest) and EGM (Export General Manifest), which are basic documents for incoming and outgoing cargo, could not be filed by courier operators.

However, the association had said in its counter affidavit that LAN and WAN connectivity had been provided on courier terminal at Trichy airport with effect from July 22. Airports Authority of India, Trichy, the custodian of the courier service, had made all infrastructural arrangements at the courier terminal separately. Even after the ministry of finance notified Trichy international airport for launching operations of the courier services, the customs authorities had been delaying a notification on their part, alleged S A Sayeed, president, Express Courier Operators Association.

"Once the courier service comes into operation, household articles or any essential items can be sent or received with the help of international courier. Things like medical reports, tissue culture, scientific components, printed sheets could also be sent through the facility. As per the Customs Act, except gold, currency and some banned drugs, all other things can be sent. Unlike another modes of clearance, it would be sent very fast to a particular destination", he said. As of now, courier agencies are using either Chennai or Bangalore for sending their consignments.

Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/hc-to-customs-notify-air-courier-ops-from-airport/articleshow/61059953.cms