Kerala High Court issues notice to Cochin Port Trust on single window system

Kochi: The High Court has ordered notice to Cochin Port Trust on a petition filed by Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, challenging the ‘single window system’ for movement of containers implemented by the Container Carrier Owners through various associations.

Justice Muhammed Mushtaq admitted the plea. The Chamber in its petition challenged the ‘turn system’, also known as the single window system, arguing that the system was unilaterally implemented by the Container trailer owners on the grounds that it was detrimental to the functioning of Cochin Port.

Counsel V M Syam Kumar, appearing for petitioners, argued that both exporters and importers using the port have been put to grave hardship and suffered huge loss due to single window system.

Petitioners argued that CPT collected unreasonable and exorbitant rates through the single window system and this was unheard of in any other port in the country. The petitioner sought a directive to declare that the ‘turn system’ and ‘Single Window System’ illegal.