Per Mr. VASA SESHAGIRI RAO

The present appeal has been filed by the Appellant, M/s. Amit K. Dedhia, against Order-in-Original No. 17/2016 dated 26.08.2016 passed by the Commissioner of Customs, Tuticorin (hereinafter referred to as the Impugned Order), whereby the Customs Broker license of the Appellant was revoked, the security deposit forfeited and penalty imposed under the provisions of Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013.

1.2 The facts of the case, as borne out from the records including the Statement of Facts, reveal that the Appellant is a licensed Customs Broker holding License No. TRY-43/2002 and had initially engaged a qualified Regulation 9 holder, Smt. K.S. Parvathi. Upon her resignation on 28.05.2011, the Appellant claims to have appointed Shri Antony Raj and intimated the same to the Department vide letter dated 12.07.2011. It is the case of the Department, as reflected in the Show Cause Notice and Inquiry Report, that after resignation of the authorized signatory, the Appellant continued to transact business without a qualified person under Regulation 9 of the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 1984 or Regulation 8 of the Customs House Agents Licensin