SECTION 30.

(1) The person-in-charge of–

(i) a vessel; or

(ii) an aircraft; or

(iii) a vehicle,

carrying imported goods or any other person as may be specified by the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, in this behalf shall, in the case of a vessel or an aircraft, deliver to the proper officer an import manifest by presenting electronically prior to the arrival [OLD- an import manifest prior to the arrival ] of the vessel or the aircraft, as the case may be, and in the case of a vehicle, an import report within twelve hours after its arrival in the customs station, in the prescribed form and if the import manifest or the import report or any part thereof, is not delivered to the proper officer within the time specified in this sub-section and if the proper officer is satisfied that there was no sufficient caused for such delay, the person-in-charge or any other person referred to in this sub-section, who causes such delay, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty thousand rupees.

Provided that the Commissioner of Customs may, in cases where it is not feasible to deliverimport manifest by presenting electronically, allow the same to be delivered in any other manner.

(ABOVE CHANGES VIDE THE FINANCE BILL, 2013)

(sub-section (1), substituted vide Finance Bill 2003)

[OLD (1) The person-in-charge of a vessel or an aircraft carrying imported good, shall deliver to the proper officer an import manifest, and in the case of a vehicle, an import report within twenty-four hours after arrival thereof at a custom, station in the case of a vessel and twelve hour after arrival in the case of an aircraft or a vehicle, in the prescribed form 2:]

Provided that, -

(a) in the case of a vessel or an aircraft, any such manifest may be delivered to the proper officer before the arrival of the vessel or aircraft;

(b) if the proper officer is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not delivering the import manifest or import report or any part thereof within the time specified in this sub-section, he may accept it at any time thereafter.

(2) The person delivering the import manifest or import report shall at the foot thereof make and subscribe to a declaration as to the truth of its contents.

(3) If the proper officer is satisfied that the import manifest or import report is in any way incorrect or incomplete, and that there was no fraudulent intention, he may permit it to be amended or supplemented.