The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Customs department to reply to a plea by InterGlobe Aviation, which operates the IndiGo airline, seeking a refund of more than ₹900 crore paid as Customs duty on aircraft engines and parts re-imported into India after overseas repairs.

The court issued the notice to the deputy commissioner (refund), office of the principal commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Complex (Import), and asked the authorities to file a counter-affidavit within two weeks. It posted the matter for next hearing on April 8, 2026.

InterGlobe, in its plea, contended that the levy of Customs duty on such re-imports was unconstitutional and amounted to double levy on the same transaction.

The counsel for the Customs opposed the plea, claiming it is pre-mature and that the issue based on which the present claim has been filed is pending before the Supreme Court.

InterGlobe’s counsel has submitted that at the time of re-import of aircraft engines and parts after repairs, it paid the basic Customs duty without any dispute.

Besides, since the repair constitutes a service, it also discharged Goods and Services Tax (GST) on a reverse charge basis. However, the Customs authorities insisted on levying duty again by treating the same transaction as import of goods, the counsel claimed.