MAHESHWARY HANDLING AGENCY PVT. LTD. vs BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF KANDLA PORT TRUST AND ORS.

The Supreme Court ruled that the appellant, Maheshwary Handling Agency Pvt. Ltd., is liable to pay storage charges as per the scales of rates framed under Section 52 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The Court emphasized that the notification published on 4th November 1993, which fixed the rates, was valid and binding. The holding established that the appellant's failure to pay the prescribed charges constituted unauthorized occupation, thus affirming the Board's authority to impose penalties for non-compliance.