NEW DELHI: In a major relief to international travelers, Dr. Rajeev Menon, National Secretary General of the Republican Party of India, has welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decisive order instructing Customs officials to stop the unnecessary detention of old and personal jewellery worn by passengers during travel.
Calling the judgment a “strong message in favor of travelers’ rights and dignity,” Dr. Menon praised the court’s move as a crucial step toward ending arbitrary harassment at Indian airports. The High Court made it clear that ornaments worn by passengers should not be treated as suspect items, and travelers must not be subjected to unnecessary scrutiny or delays.
The directive came from a bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajnish Kumar Gupta, who stressed the importance of respecting genuine passengers’ convenience and dignity. The court also acknowledged that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is currently working on revising the outdated Baggage Rules of 2016, in consultation with stakeholders.
Until the new rules are in place, the court ordered that Customs officials be sensitized to avoid unwarranted seizures. It further warned that if no amendments are made by May 19, 2025, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) must be implemented to prevent such issues in the future.
The ruling follows multiple petitions from travelers who had their personal jewellery seized without cause. The court noted that the existing customs forms and rules are outdated and must be aligned with modern standards.
The bench also recalled its earlier ruling from December 2024, which had clarified that personal jewellery worn by passengers should be considered “personal effects” and is exempt from customs duty.
This landmark judgment is seen as a balanced approach that tackles gold smuggling while protecting innocent travelers from unjust treatment.
