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Customs Act, 1962

460 judgments · newest first · showing 401–460

CHEMICALS AND FIBRES OF INDIA LTD. ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA

1991 INSC 30Dismissed

The appellants, manufacturers of polyester fibre yarn, imported di‑methyl‑terephthalate (DMT) and paid customs duty, using it to produce blended yarn that was exported. They sought a full drawback of the customs duty under Section 75 of the Customs Act, 1962 and Section 37 of the Central Excises & …

PRIYANKA OVERSEAS PVT. LTD. AND ANRversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 353Dismissed

Priyanka Overseas Pvt. Ltd. imported 10,681.832 metric tonnes of palm kernel from Nigeria in 1987 under an Open General Licence (OGL). The Customs authorities treated palm kernel as a canalised item, confiscated the goods and imposed a redemption fine and penalty. The company argued that palm kernel …

MILAK BROTHERSversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 307Dismissed

The appellants, Milak Brothers, exported blanched, roasted and salted peanuts packed in vacuum containers, claiming that the processed product was a "processed food" and not a "groundnut kernel" for which export duty was levied under the Indian Tariff Act, 1934 and the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. The …

KAMARUNNISSA ETC. ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 282Dismissed

The wives of three men detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) challenged the validity of the detention orders, arguing that the men were already in custody, that the grounds described the offence as "bailable" indicating …

SHARP BUSINESS MACHINES PVT. LTD., BANGALOREversusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BANGALORE

1990 INSC 255Dismissed

Sharp Business Machines Pvt. Ltd., a small‑scale copier manufacturer, imported copiers in SKD/CKD form and declared a total value of Rs 99,612. The Collector of Customs, relying on quotations submitted with the licence application, valued the goods at Rs 7,15,485, held that the company had …

UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.versusPARAS LAMINATES (P) LTD.

1990 INSC 235Appeal(s) allowed

Paras Laminates imported goods and claimed they fell under tariff item 84.60, but customs classified them under 73.15(2). After losing before the Collector of Customs, the importer appealed to the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal. A two‑member bench doubted the correctness of an …

NORTHERN CORPORATIONversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 221Disposed off

Northern Corporation imported MSCR defective sheets in 1984 and stored them in a customs warehouse. The Income Tax Department imposed a ban under Section 132(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, preventing the goods from being cleared. After the ban was lifted in 1988, customs demanded payment of duty at …

SYED FAROOQ MOHAMMADversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR.

1990 INSC 194Dismissed

Syed Farooq Mohammad was detained under Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 after narcotics were seized from two cars on 19 July 1989. He challenged the detention on grounds of a five‑month delay in issuing the order, a further …

INDIAN TEXTILE PAPER TUBE CO. LTD.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, MADRAS

1990 INSC 190

The appellant, Indian Textile Paper Tube Co. Ltd., imported goods that were initially classified under a higher duty heading and later obtained a refund order after the Appellate Collector re‑classified them under a lower duty heading. The Central Government, exercising suo motu power under Section …

RAJ KUMAR KARWALversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 98Dismissed

The Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a truck carrying a large quantity of hashish and, during the investigation, obtained confessional statements from Raj Kumar Karwal and Kirpal Mohan Virmani. The appellants argued that these statements should be excluded under Section 25 of the …

AKBAR BADRUDIN JIWANIversusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAY

1990 INSC 38Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a stone‑processing firm, imported calcareous stone slabs from Italy, obtaining certificates and expert reports that the material was not marble. Customs seized the goods, classifying them as "marble" under tariff entry 25.15 and the restricted item 62 of the Import‑Export Policy, and …

M. AHAMEDKUTTYversusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

1990 INSC 24Appeal(s) allowed

M. Ahamedkuti was intercepted for smuggling gold and was granted bail on 12‑Feb‑1988. The Kerala Home Secretary later issued a detention order under COFEPOSA on 25‑Jun‑1988, which was executed on 2‑Aug‑1988. The appellant challenged the order on grounds of unexplained delays in passing and executing …

MADAN LAL ANAND ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1989 INSC 326Dismissed

Madan Lal Anand and two others were detained under section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) on allegations that they used benami firms to obtain duty‑exempt advance licences, imported polyester yarn, failed to export the goods …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BANGALORE & ANR.versusHANSUR PLYWOOD WORKS AND ANR.

1989 INSC 330Appeal(s) allowed

The Collector of Customs appealed against the Customs, Excise and Gold Appellate Tribunal's order that upheld the respondents' claim for refund of auxiliary duty on timber imported from Burma. The respondents argued that, because timber from Burma was fully exempted under Notification No. 265/1982 …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BANGALOREversusWESTERN INDIA PLYWOOD MFG. CO. LTD. AND ANR.

1989 INSC 331Appeal(s) allowed

The Collector of Customs appealed against a Customs Tribunal order that had allowed Western India Plywood Mfg. Co. Ltd. to obtain a refund of auxiliary duty paid on timber imports from Burma. Under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 timber attracted a basic duty of 60%, but a notification under Section 25 …

ROCHE PRODUCTS LIMITEDversusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AND ANOTHER

1989 INSC 314Dismissed

Roche Products Ltd, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, imported the raw material isoxamine under an Open General Licence after the two‑year period permitted by its industrial licence for the manufacture of sulphamethoxazole (SMX) had expired. The company declared itself an "Actual User" and that its …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAYversusK. MOHAN & CO. EXPORTS

1989 INSC 289Dismissed

K. Mohan & Co. imported metallised polyester film rolls from Japan and paid customs duty and countervailing duty under section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act. The firm claimed a refund on the basis of notification No. 228/76 issued under section 25(1) of the Customs Act, which exempts "articles made of …

M. JHANGIR BHATUSHA ETC. ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS. ETC. ETC.

1989 INSC 195Dismissed

The private importers of edible oils challenged the differential customs duty rates granted to the State Trading Corporation (STC) under Section 25(2) of the Customs Act, 1962, alleging a violation of Article 14. The government had canalised edible‑oil imports through STC and, citing high …

BHARAT SURFACTANTS (PVT.) LTD. & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

1989 INSC 196Dismissed

The petitioners imported edible oil on the vessel M.V. Kotta Ratu, which made an initial arrival at Bombay on 11 July 1981 but could not secure a berth and sailed to Karachi before returning on 23 July and finally discharging cargo on 31 July 1981. Customs authorities levied duty at 150% on the …

I.J. ASSISTANT COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS & ORS.versusBIBHUTI BHUSHAN BAGH & ANR.

1989 INSC 186Appeal(s) allowed

The Customs authorities seized typewriters and calculating machines and, under Section 110(2) of the Customs Act, were required to issue a show‑cause notice within six months or return the goods. They sought and were granted an extension of six months under the proviso to Section 110(2) but did not …

COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, MADRASversusSTANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, ETC.

1989 INSC 70Dismissed

The Collector of Central Excise, Madras filed statutory appeals against orders of the Customs, Excise and Gold Control Appellate Tribunal and sought condonation of delay for those appeals. A Single Judge of the Supreme Court dismissed the condonation applications under Order VI Rule 2(14) of the …

UNITED OFFSET PROCESS PVT. LTD.versusASSTT. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAY AND ORS.

1988 INSC 323Case Allowed

United Offset imported a Colour Scanner Chromagraph C‑299 and initially cleared it under tariff heading 84.35 as "other printing machinery". The Assistant Collector later re‑assessed the goods under heading 90.25(i) and subsequently issued a demand for additional duty, claiming the scanner fell …

VIJAY PRAKASH D. MEHTA & ANR.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS (PREVENTIVE), BOMBAY

1988 INSC 223Dismissed

The appellants, Indian citizens residing abroad, were caught with large amounts of foreign exchange and were penalised Rs 3 lakhs each under the Customs Act. They appealed the penalty under s.129A, and the Customs Appellate Tribunal, invoking s.129E, reduced the security deposit to Rs 1 lakh each. …

SHROFF & CO., ETC.versusMUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF GREATER BOMBAY AND ANOTHER, ETC.

1988 INSC 222Dismissed

Shroff & Co., a partnership dealing in wines and spirits, imported liquor into Bombay and stored it in a bonded warehouse under the Maharashtra Foreign Liquor (Storage in Bond) Rules. The appellants challenged the inclusion of countervailing duty in the assessable value for octroi, arguing that the …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAYversusSWASTIC WOOLLEN (P) LTD. & ORS.

1988 INSC 218Dismissed

The importer claimed that wool material it brought in was "wool waste" and therefore exempt from customs duty under Notification 240/76‑cus. An expert committee held the goods were not wool waste, leading the Additional Collector of Customs to levy duty and confiscate the consignment. The importer …

INDRU RAMCHAND BHARVANI AND OTHERSversusUNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

1988 INSC 182Dismissed

The petitioners, partners of a diamond trading firm, were found by Customs officers to possess over 3,200 carats of diamonds and other valuables after a search based on secret information. The officers seized the goods under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, asserting a reasonable belief that …

JAIN EXPORTS (P) LTD. & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1988 INSC 143Dismissed

Jain Exports (P) Ltd. and its managing director imported two consignments of refined industrial coconut oil in September 1982. The Customs Collector issued show‑cause notices alleging that industrial coconut oil was a canalised item under Appendix 9 para 5 of the Import Policy 1980‑81 and ordered …

CHUHARMAL S/0 TAKARMAL MOHNANIversusCOMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, M.P., BHOPAL

1988 INSC 126Dismissed

The petitioner, Chuharmal, filed an income‑tax return for AY 1974‑75 showing a total income of Rs 3,113. During a customs search in May 1973, 565 foreign watches valued at Rs 87,455 were seized from his bedroom. The Income‑Tax Officer issued notices under s.69A of the Income Tax Act to treat the …

CHUHARMALversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1988 INSC 127Dismissed

In 1973 the Customs authorities seized 565 foreign wrist watches from the petitioner’s residence and issued a show‑cause notice under section 124 of the Customs Act. The Collector later extended the statutory six‑month period for issuing the notice under the proviso to section 110(2) and imposed a …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAYversusBHOR INDUSTRIES LTD.

1988 INSC 112Dismissed

The respondent imported a chemical known as 'Sancticizer 429' and challenged the customs duty levied on it. The Assistant Collector classified it as a polymeric plasticizer under heading 39.01/06 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, a view upheld by the Appellate Collector. The Customs, Excise and Gold …

OSWAL SPINNING & WEAVING MILLS LTD.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS & ANR.

1988 INSC 109Disposed off

Oswal Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd imported 58 bales of woollen rags, which Customs officials later identified as acrylic rags and confiscated under the Customs Act. The importer was offered the option to pay a redemption fine under section 125; the fine was reduced by the Board and the goods were …

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, CALCUTTAversusSUN INDUSTRIES

1988 INSC 103Dismissed

Sun Industries shipped plywood panels from Calcutta to Colombo and claimed drawback under Section 75 of the Customs Act. The vessel developed engine trouble, returned, and ran aground in Indian territorial waters, after which the cargo was salvaged. The Assistant Collector and Appellate Collector …

SPACO CARBURETTORS (INDIA) LTD.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAY

1988 INSC 58Appeal(s) allowed

Spaco Carburetiors (India) Ltd imported a special purpose complex machine used to plug holes in carburetor bodies with lead shots. The Revenue classified it under entry 84.59 of the Customs Tariff (residuary entry) attracting 60% duty, while the importer argued it fell under entry 84.45/48 (machine …

VIJAY KUMARversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1988 INSC 59Dismissed

The appellant Vijay Kumar was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized smuggled gold biscuits linked to him. He was already in custody on a charge under section 135 of the …

JAIN ENGINEERING CO.versusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, BOMBAY

1987 INSC 257Appeal(s) allowed

The Supreme Court examined whether Notification No. 281/Cus/76, which grants a partial exemption from customs duty, applies to rod bushes and camshaft bushes imported by Jain Engineering Co. The Court held that the notification does extend to parts of internal combustion piston engines listed under …

SMT. POONAM LATAversusM.L. WADHAWAN & ANR.

1987 INSC 202Dismissed

The Supreme Court considered a writ petition challenging the detention of Shital Kumar under section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The petition raised three main points: (i) whether the period of parole granted earlier …

SMT. POONAM LATAversusM.L. WADHAWAN & ORS.

1987 INSC 124Dismissed

The petitioner, Poonam Lata, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking habeas corpus for her husband Shital Kumar, who had been detained under section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) on 28‑Feb‑1986. After a rejected …

STATE OF GUJARATversusMOHANLAL JITAMALJI PORWAL & ANR.

1987 INSC 82Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, a railway passenger, was found wearing a waist‑chain of 820 g that was pure gold coated with mercury to appear silver. A customs officer seized the chain and the respondent was charged under the Gold (Control) Act, 1968 and the Customs Act, 1962. The trial court acquitted him, …

CHOWGULE & CO. PRIVATE LIMITED ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1987 INSC 53Dismissed

Chowgule & Co. Private Ltd. and V.S. Dempo & Co. imported second‑hand tankers that were converted into transhippers for topping‑up iron ore at Mormugao harbour. The Customs authorities demanded that the companies file Bills of Entry for the vessels, treating them as "goods for home consumption" …

RIB TAPES (INDIA) PVT. LTD. & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1986 INSC 183Appeal(s) allowed

RibTapes (India) Pvt. Ltd. imported 27 knitting machines in 1972 under a licence. Customs authorities held the machines were reconditioned and that the declared price (Rs. 77,441) was far below the actual value (Rs. 2,98,359). The Collector of Customs found the company in breach of sections 111(d) …

MADRAS MARINE & CO.versusSTATE OF MADRAS

1986 INSC 142Dismissed

Madras Marine & Co., a ship‑chandler, imported goods, stored them in a customs‑bonded warehouse in Tamil Nadu and supplied them on board foreign‑going vessels. The State of Madras assessed sales tax under the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959, contending the sales occurred within the state. The …

J.P. SHARMAversusVINOD KUMAR JAIN

1986 INSC 67

The case arose from a complaint filed by the Deputy Chief Controller of Imports and Exports alleging that several directors of Jain Sudh Vanaspati Ltd. conspired to illegally import beef tallow in violation of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1947 and Section 120B of the IPC. The Delhi High …

M/S. MSCO. PVT. LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1984 INSC 206Dismissed

M/S. MSCO Pvt. Ltd. imported stainless‑steel plates under a 1977 customs notification that granted a concessional duty provided the goods were used to manufacture specified articles and the finished articles were sold only to "industrial units". The company supplied certificates that the plates were …

MANICK CHAND PAUL & OTHERS ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

1984 INSC 82Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined writ petitions filed by licensed gold dealers challenging several provisions of the Gold Control Act, 1968 (as amended) and its associated rules on the grounds that they violated Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 301 and 302 of the Constitution. The petitioners argued that sections …

GRAMOPHONE COMPANY OF INDIA LTD.versusBIRENDRA BAHADUR PANDEY & ORS.

1984 INSC 40Appeal(s) allowed

The Gramophone Company of India sought to prevent the import of cassette recordings it alleged were pirated and destined for transit to Nepal. It applied to the Registrar of Copyrights under s.53 of the Copyright Act, 1957, to have the cassettes declared prohibited imports. The Calcutta High Court …

ASSISTANT COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, CALICUTversusV.P. SAYED MOHAMMED

1983 INSC 1Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, V.P. Sayed Mohammed, was seized with 28 gold bars at Trichur railway station and charged under s.135(b) of the Customs Act, 1962 read with s.85(ii) of the Gold (Control) Act, 1968. Evidence included the inspector’s seizure report, a ticket collector’s testimony, a goldsmith’s …

IBRAHIM AHMAD BATTIversusSTATE OF GUJARAT & OTHERS

1982 INSC 70Case Allowed

Ibrahim Ahmad Batti, a Pakistani national, was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) on 1 July 1982 for alleged smuggling. The grounds of detention were served in English and Urdu within five days, but Urdu translations of the bulk …

STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusMOHD. Y AKUB S/0 ABDUL HAMID & ORS.

1980 INSC 40Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Maharashtra charged three men with attempting to smuggle 43 silver ingots out of India, violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, the Imports and Exports (Control) Act and the Customs Act. The accused, who were the driver of a jeep, the driver of a truck and a cleaner, argued that …

SHAH GUMMAN MALversusTHE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

1980 INSC 20

Gumman Mal was found to be in possession of 28 gold biscuits with foreign markings hidden in a secret chamber of his safe. He admitted that the gold was brought from outside the country by an unknown person and that he held no permit under the Reserve Bank of India or the Gold Control Administrator. …

STATE OF MAHARASIITRAversusNATWARLAL DAMODARDAS SONI

1979 INSC 258Appeal(s) allowed

The Anti‑Corruption Bureau raided Natwarlal Damodardas Soni's residence and seized 100 gold biscuits of foreign origin concealed in a jacket; the Customs authorities subsequently took possession. Soni, who was absent at the time, was later convicted under sections 135(a) and (b) of the Customs Act, …

B. SAHA AND ORS.versusM. S. KOCHAR

1979 INSC 127Dismissed

The appellants, customs officers, were accused of dishonest misappropriation of goods they had seized and were holding in trust. The Sub‑Divisional Magistrate found a prima facie case under Sections 120B and 409 IPC and summoned the appellants, who sought discharge on the ground that prosecution …