Order fixing high charges for screening of courier challenged

An Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) order fixing high charges for security screening of courier shipments, as against cargo, has been challenged in the appellate tribunal, which would take up the matter for a hearing tomorrow.
The courier industry body, Express Industry Council of India (EICI), challenged a July order of the AERA raising charges for X-ray screening of courier shipments from Rs 6 per kg to Rs 8 against the cargo screening rate of Rs 0.75 per kg.
The EICI has been seeking parity in the rates of X-ray screening for cargo and courier services, saying government has decided to rationalise the charges for both services.

In this context, the EICI quoted a report of a Commerce Ministry Task Force on exports transaction costs which said: "charges being levied by the airport operator for X-ray screening of courier export cargo are very high and need to be rationalised in line with the general cargo rates."
The report, tabled in Parliament in the budget session, had listed this among 23 of 44 identified issues pertaining to several ministries, which were treated as closed.
In its counter affidavit, AERA defended its decision to hike the tariffs for X-ray screening of courier items and claimed that EICI's reliance on the government's foreign trade policy was "misplaced and misconceived" as it had not referred to the policy earlier when the rates were being determined.

The Civil Aviation Ministry, which also responded in the case, said it did not interfere in the AERA's functions and had no role to play in the case.
However, the EICI has maintained that any regulatory decision should be in line with laid-down government policies.
The AERA Appellate Tribunal would take up the case for hearing tomorrow.