Delhi High Court Orders Return of Confiscated Gold Jewelry to Woman, Rules It as Personal Effect

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): The Delhi High Court has given relief to a woman whose gold Jewellery weighing over 200 grams was confiscated by Customs upon her return from Dubai. A division bench comprising Justices Yashwant Varma and Ravinder Dudeja ruled that "personal Jewellery" that is not found to be newly acquired during the trip and is considered a "used personal effect" of the passenger should not be seized. The court noted that, in the event the Jewellery is already in possession of the passenger and to be used for personal consumption, it cannot be considered as a commodity for commercial purposes. This decision was reached following a woman's petition after Customs officials confiscated her Jewellery, arguing that its quantity exceeded the allowed free items under duty-free regulations. The Court ordered the concerned authorities to return the seized Jewellery back to the lady.