Smv International Inc v. Director General of Foreign Trade and Anr

O R D E R %

13.11.2024

¶1Petitioner, a recognised Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency,1 had submitted a bank guarantee2 bearing BG No. 0171BGFD002417 for INR 10 lakhs with the Director General of Foreign Trade3 as part of initial PSIA authorisation requirement. The validity of the said BG was extended up to 1st January, 2027.

¶2Subsequently, through application dated 11th September, 2024, Petitioner informed DGFT that they had converted their status from

1"PSIA" 2 "BG" 3 "DGFT" This is a digitally signed order. proprietorship to a partnership firm. Accordingly, a new BG bearing No. LOBG21522406074 for INR 10 lakhs was submitted with validity of 6th September, 2027 and through the said application, Petitioner requested for return of the BG initially submitted. The petition is accompanied by communication dated 17th September, 2024 wherein the Petitioner has made a request for return of BG, which was followed up by a reminder letter dated 25th September, 2024; however, no response has been forthcoming.

¶3In light of the foregoing, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to Respondents to take appropriate action on the afore-noted two communications within four weeks from today.

¶4All rights and contentions of parties are reserved.

¶5In the event the Respondent No. 1 does not comply with the afore-noted directions or deny the refund/ return of the BG, Petitioner shall be at liberty to take recourse to the appropriate legal remedies, in accordance with law.

¶6Disposed of, along with pending application.

SANJEEV NARULA, J NOVEMBER 13, 2024 d.negi

This is a digitally signed order.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 15758/2024 & CM APPL. 66144/2024 SMV INTERNATIONAL INC .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Chirag Aneja, Advocate. versus DIRECTOR GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Mr. P. S. Singh, CGSC with Mr. Praneet Kumar, Mr. Bhuvan Chandra, Ms. Simran Singh, Mr. Akhil Anand, Mr. Vishnu Mohan Jha and Ms. Annu Singh, Advocates and Mr. Sanjay Pal, GP for UOI. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA