Trade resents losses due to government's faults

Every now and then, the government makes some mistakes and their consequences are borne by businesses through unnecessary losses. Now, some voices are rising in a protest demanding accountability and compensation. The Customs department introduced the system of duty payment through electronic cash ledger from the beginning of this month. The system did not work properly with the result that the importers could not clear their goods. After a week, the Customs restored the facility of granting manual out of charge order, duty payment through other modes, as earlier, and waiver of interest for late payment of Customs duty. The system took another week to stabilise, and in the meantime, importers suffered heavy demurrage and container detention charges. The Customs requested the custodians and shipping lines to waive such charges, but they are under no obligation to do so, as held by the Supreme Court in the case of International Airport Authority of India vs.Grand Slam International of