Imran Vs Commissioner of Customs (Delhi High Court)
Delhi High Court orders Customs Department to create accessible counters for passengers at IGI Airport to submit representations and grievances, ensuring smoother handling of seized goods and compliance with procedural requirements.
This case, heard by the Delhi High Court, involves a petition filed by Imran, a resident of Kuwait, challenging the actions of the Customs Department. The core of the dispute revolves around the seizure and subsequent disposal of a gold piece weighing 338 grams from Imran upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The court’s judgment provides clarity on the procedural requirements for the Customs Department when handling seized goods, particularly when a redemption option is available to the owner.
The petitioner’s journey began on March 23, 2024, when he arrived at IGI Airport. Customs officials detained a gold piece in his possession, as documented by a detention receipt dated March 24, 2024. According to Imran, his authorized representative submitted a representation to the Customs Department on May 20, 2024, requesting that the gold piece not be disposed of, and expressing his willingness to re-export it. However, he alleged that the gold was disposed of on June 10, 2024, well before the issuance of the formal Order-in-Original (OIO) and without any prior intimation.
