PTI

New Delhi: Several exporters, affected by a ban on maize exports, have approached courts seeking permission to ship their consignments lying at ports as the prohibition covered even goods in transit.

The Commerce Ministry, in consultation with Agriculture Ministry, is devising ways to help “genuine exporters” but on a selective basis, sources said.

“Those who have letters of credit (LCs) as also the shipping bills could be considered for relaxation,” an official said.

Earlier this month, the Centre had banned export of maize till 15 October, to increase its availability at home and check prices of corn, poultry and other products.

While some exporters have approached the Commerce Ministry for allowing them to ship their consignments for which they have already entered into contracts with documents like shipping bill, others have moved different courts, sources said.

The Commerce Ministry is going slow on the exporters’ demand for relaxation of the ban on goods in transit because of the bitter experience of ‘pulses scam’ in 2007.

Last year, traders took advantage of the exception granted for goods in transit and made windfall profits by getting backdated LCs from some tax havens.

On complaints from political parties, a CBI enquiry was initiated in the ‘pulses scam’.

In a circular to the customs, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has said the export ban on maize “shall not be applicable to consignments already handed over to Customs for examination and subsequent exports” up to the date of announcing the ban.