Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No. 91 of 1964)

Chapter XI : Penal Provisions

96. Notice of action and period for bringing action
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(1)
(a)
(i)No process by which any legal proceedings are instituted against the State, the Minister, the Commissioner or an officer for anything done in pursuance of this Act may be served before the expiry of a period of one month after delivery of a notice in writing setting forth clearly and explicitly the cause of action, the name and place of abode of the person who is to institute such proceedings (in this section referred to as the "litigant") and the name and address of his or her attorney or agent, if any.
(ii)Such notice shall be in such form and shall be delivered in such manner and at such places as may be prescribed by rule.
(iii)No such notice shall be valid unless it complies with the requirements prescribed in this section and such rules.
(b)Subject to the provisions of section 89, the period of extinctive prescription in respect of legal proceedings against the State, the Minister, the Commissioner or an officer on a cause of action arising out of the provisions of this Act shall be one year and shall begin to run on the date when the right of action first arose. Provided that where any proceedings are instituted concerning any decision defined in section 77A(1), such date shall begin to run on the date—
(i)of a final decision as contemplated in the rules for Part A of Chapter XA;
(ii)when the Commissioner advises the person who made use of the alternative dispute resolution procedures contemplated in the rules for Part B of Chapter XA that agreement has not been achieved at the conclusion or termination of such procedures; or
(iii)on the date a dispute is not settled and the Commissioner advises the person concerned as contemplated in section 77O(5) of Part C of Chapter XA.
(c)
(i)The State, the Minister, the Commissioner or an officer may on good cause shown reduce the period specified in paragraph (a) or extend the period specified in paragraph (b) by agreement with the litigant.
(ii)If the State, the Minister, the Commissioner or an officer refuses to reduce or to extend any period as contemplated in subparagraph (i), a High Court having jurisdiction may, upon application of the litigant, reduce or extend any such period where the interest of justice so requires.

 

(2)This section does not apply to the recovery of a debt contemplated in any law providing for the recovery from an organ of state of a debt described in such law.

 

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Regulations Act, 1983 (Act No. 105 of 1983), when any person applies to the High Court for an order for the sale of any arrested property, such person shall deliver a notice of such an application at the place prescribed in the rules.