Vakila v. Commissioner of Customs

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

2. This matter is being taken up today, as 25th November, 2025 was declared a holiday on account of ‘Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day’ vide Notification No. 35/G-4/Genl.-I/DHC.

3. The Petitioner, inter alia, seeks release of a gold chain weighing 126 grams which was seized when she arrived from Saudi Arabia on 9th July,

2024.

4. The case of the Petitioner is that she is an Indian national who was travelling from Saudi Arabia and had arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on 9th July, 2025. Upon her arrival the Petitioner was intercepted by the concerned officials of the Customs Department and the gold chain was seized vide the Detention Receipt bearing no. 54156 dated 9th July, 2024.

5. It is submitted on behalf of the Petitioner that till date no Show Cause (hereinafter “SCN”) has been issued in this matter.

6. The ld. Counsel for the Petitioner relies on the decision of the Supreme Court in Union of India & Anr. v. Jatin Ahuja, Civil Appeal No. 3489/2024, dated 11th September, 2025 to argue that since no SCN has been issued within the prescribed time period under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, (hereinafter “the Act”) the seized gold chain is liable to be released.

7. Mr. Beriwal, ld. SSC for the Customs Department submits on instructions that SCN has not been issued in this matter.

8. The Court has heard the parties and perused the documents on record. The decision of the Supreme Court in Jatin Ahuja (supra) has been considered wherein it has been held has under:

19. In the case in hand, indisputably the car was seized under sub-section (1) and furthermore no notice in respect of the goods seized was given under clause (a) of section 124 of the said Act within six months of the seizure. The consequence, therefore, in such a case is that the goods shall be returned to the person from whose possession they were seized. The first proviso to sub-section (2) of section 110 of the said Act, however, provides that the Principal Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the six months' period by a period not exceeding six months and inform the person from whom such goods were seized before the expiry of the period so specified. The proviso therefore contemplates that the period of six months mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 110 of the said Act can be extended by the higher authority for a further period not exceeding six months, for reasons to be recorded in writing. The proviso also requires the higher authority to inform this to the person from whom such goods were seized before the expiry of the period of six months mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 110. We find that in respect of the seized car, there is neither any notice under clause (a) of section 124 issued to the respondent within six months of the seizure nor the period of six months ever came to be extended for a further period of six months. In the absence of there being any notice as required by the first proviso even within the extended period upto one year, the consequence that ought to follow is release of the seized car. [...]

24. The appeals before us are all anterior in time to the coming into force of the second proviso to Section 110(2) of the Act, 1962. Although, it is not necessary for us to say anything further, yet we may clarify that the time period to issue notice under Clause (a) of Section 124 is prescribed only in sub-section (2) of Section 110 of the Act, 1962. This time period has nothing to do ultimately with the issuance of show-cause notice under Section 124 of the Act, 1962. The two provisions are distinct and they operate in a different field.”

9. The above decision is clear to the effect that if no SCN is issued within the time prescribed under Section 110 of the Act, the seized goods are liable to be released. The time prescribed under Section 110 of the Act, is a period of six months and subject to reasons recorded in writing, the same may be extended for a maximum period of six months. In this case, the one year period itself has elapsed, thus no SCN can be issued at this stage. The continued detention of seized gold chain is, therefore, impermissible and the same are liable to be released to the Petitioner.

10. Accordingly, considering the above decision as also the facts of the case, it is directed that the Customs Department shall release the seized gold chain to the Petitioner in the following terms: i. The applicable customs duty shall be paid by the Petitioner; ii. The warehousing charges shall be collected based on the charges applicable on the date of detention.

11. Let the Petitioner appear before the Customs Department on 22nd December, 2025 in person or through an Authorised Representative. Where the Authorised Representative is appearing, the Petitioner shall join the proceedings virtually and a proper email or some other form of communication from the Petitioner shall be sent to the Customs Department verifying the authorisation of the said representative to appear on behalf of the Petitioner.