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Major Port Trusts Act, 1963

30 judgments · newest first · showing 1–30

PARADIP PORT AUTHORITYversusPARADEEP PHOSPHATES LTD.

2025 INSC 971

The Paradip Port Authority (formerly Paradip Port Trust) and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. entered into a 1985 agreement for a captive berth, with tariff rates subject to periodic revision. Dispute arose when the Authority unilaterally increased rates in 1993, leading to arbitration, an appellate …

M/S NKD MARITIME LIMITEDversusTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF MUMBAI & ORS.

2022 INSC 1002Dismissed

NKD Maritime Ltd purchased the vessel M.V. Karnika at a public auction ordered by the Bombay High Court in a commercial admiralty suit, with a bill of sale stating the vessel was sold free of all encumbrances. After taking possession, the Mumbai Port Trust demanded anchorage charges, calculating a …

MUMBAI PORT TRUSTversusMIS. SHRI LAKSHMI STEELS AND ORS. ETC.

2017 INSC 682Appeal(s) allowed

The case concerned the liability for demurrage and detention charges on ten consignments of cold‑rolled coils imported by M/s Imler International and M/s Shri Lakshmi Steels. The goods were detained by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs on suspicion of mis‑declaration, leading …

M/S. RASIKLAL KANTILAL & CO.versusBOARD OF TRUSTEE OF PORT OF BOMBAY & OTHERS

2017 INSC 189Case Partly allowed

The appellant purchased 78 consignments of zinc and copper that had been stored at the Port of Bombay after the original consignees failed to lift them. The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay levied demurrage charges of Rs.2,81,67,333 and granted only partial remission, which the appellant …

M/S. COCHIN PORT TRUSTversusSTATE OF KERALA

2015 INSC 343Dismissed

The Cochin Port Trust, a statutory authority under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, was assessed sales tax for its dealings in scrap items such as water, firewood and waste paper. The Trust contended that it was not a "dealer" within the meaning of Section 2(viii) of the Kerala General Sales Tax …

SIDHARTHA SARAWGIversusBOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE PORT OF KOLKATAAND OTHERS

2014 INSC 284Dismissed

The petitioners challenged notices terminating leases granted by the Kolkata Port Trust, arguing that the Land Manager lacked authority to issue ejectment notices. The Board of Trustees had, under Section 21 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, delegated to the Chairman the power to terminate leases …

YAZDANI INTERNATIONAL P. LTD.versusAUROGLOBAL COMTRADE P. LTD. & ORS.

2013 INSC 848Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined the termination of licences granted by the Paradeep Port Trust (the Board) for manual and mechanically operated iron‑ore storage plots. The appellants claimed an indefeasible right to renew their licences and alleged that the Board’s decision violated constitutional …

APM TERMINALS B.V.versusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

2011 INSC 384Disposed off

APM Terminals BV challenged the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s (JNPT) decision to exclude it from the Fourth Container Terminal tender, arguing that a licence agreement clause (8.31) barred the exclusion. The Union of India had altered its port policy to prevent private monopolisation, stipulating …

A. MANOHARAN AND ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2008 INSC 192Case Allowed

The Madras Port Trust Employees (Appointment, Promotion etc.) Regulations, 2000 required a civil engineering degree for appointment as Executive Engineer, thereby excluding diploma holders from promotion. Diploma engineers, relying on Central Government recommendations for a 4:1 promotion ratio, …

M/S. GUJARAT CYPROMET LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2005 INSC 189Dismissed

Gujarat CyproMet Ltd imported copper cathodes that remained unclaimed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and were sold by public auction in 2000 for Rs 52.5 lakh. The Port Trust deducted 50 % of the sale proceeds as "sale expenses" pursuant to Board Resolution No. 624 dated 23‑July‑1999. The company …

V.M. SALGAOCAR AND BROS.versusBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF PORT OF MORMUGAO AND ANR

2005 INSC 172Dismissed

The appellant, an iron‑ore exporter, claimed a rebate of Rs 62,46,548.10 from the Board of Trustees of Mormugao Port, alleging that the Board had unlawfully levied a surcharge and refused full rebate. The Board raised two defenses under Section 120 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963: that the …

CAPT. KARAN VASWANIversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2000 INSC 168Dismissed

The New Mangalore Port Trust advertised a vacancy for Deputy Conservator, requiring ten years of experience as a Master of a foreign‑going ship or in pilotage/dredging. Captain Subhash Kumar (respondent No.4) had six years as Master and nine years as Pilot, while the appellant had two years as …

M/S COROMANDAL FERTILISERS LTD.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS

1999 INSC 559Appeal(s) allowed

Mis Coromandal Fertilisers Ltd imported rock phosphate and sulphur and was responsible for unloading the cargo at its own wharf in Visakhapatnam. Customs assessed landing charges at 1.4% of the CIF value of the goods and the Assistant Collector additionally levied stevedoring charges, arguing they …

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF BOMBAY AND ORSversusM/S SRIYANESH KNITTERS

1999 INSC 298Appeal(s) allowed

The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay detained a consignment of acrylic fibre belonging to Mis Sriyanesh Knitters, demanding payment of wharfage and demurrage arising from earlier imports of woollen rags. The respondents challenged the Board’s circular, alleging it was ultra‑violet of the …

STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ANR.versusBOARD OF TRUSTEE OF THE PORT OF MADRAS

1999 INSC 135Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined whether the Madras Port Trust, a statutory body under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, should be treated as a "dealer" under the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959 and thus liable to sales tax on sales of unclaimed and unserviceable goods. The State of Tamil Nadu and …

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PORT OF MUMBAIversusINDIAN OIL CORPORATION

1998 INSC 181Appeal(s) allowed

The Port of Mumbai, acting as Board of Trustees, arrested the vessel M.V. Varuna belonging to Thakur Shipping Co. Ltd for non‑payment of anchorage and other port charges under Section 64 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 and issued a notice of auction. The company was wound up in a company petition …

SUN EXPORT CORPORATION AND ANR.versusBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF BOMBAY

1997 INSC 707Dismissed

Sun Export Corporation (appellant No. 1) and its partner imported stainless‑steel tubes in 1973‑74 under licences held by Laxmi Engineering Co. They were authorised by letters of authority to clear the goods from the Bombay Port Trust warehouses, but failed to do so. The goods were subsequently …

THE VISAKHAPATNAM PORT TRUSTversusM/S. RAM BAHADUR THAKUR PVT. LTD.

1997 INSC 126Dismissed

The Visakhapatnam Port Trust levied handling charges of Rs 30 per metric ton for manganese ore after introducing a new handling system that eliminated its narrow‑gauge railway service. The private shippers, M/s Ram Bahadur Thakur Pvt. Ltd., challenged the rates, arguing that the new charges were a …

VASANTKUMAR RADHAKISAN VORAversusBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF BOMBAY

1990 INSC 241Dismissed

V. R. Vora, a tenant of a room owned by the Bombay Port Trust, was served a quit notice under Section 106 read with Section 111(h) of the Transfer of Property Act, terminating his lease effective 28 February 1975. While the notice period was running, the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 (a Central Act) …

OSWAL SPINNING & WEAVING MILLS LTD.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS & ANR.

1988 INSC 109Disposed off

Oswal Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd imported 58 bales of woollen rags, which Customs officials later identified as acrylic rags and confiscated under the Customs Act. The importer was offered the option to pay a redemption fine under section 125; the fine was reduced by the Board and the goods were …

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF BOMBAYversusJAI HIND OIL MILLS COMPANY AND OTHERS

1987 INSC 4Disposed off

The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay (the Port Trust) sought recovery of demurrage charges from Jai Hind Oil Mills Company, which had imported propylene consignments that were detained by Customs pending duty disputes. The Bombay High Court, in writ proceedings where the Port Trust was not a …