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Customs Act

49 judgments · newest first · showing 1–49

Ravi DoshiversusUnion of India

DISPOSED OFF

The petitioner, White Line International, an importer of steel tubes, sought a writ of certiorari and mandamus to compel the Ministry of Steel and the Union of India to allow generation of an Automatic Registration Number (ARN) on the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal and to waive …

DEEPIKA AMIT SINGH SAINIversusUNION OF INDIA

Disposed Off

The petition was filed by the wife of a detainee alleging that his arrest and continued detention were illegal. The detainee had been arrested under Sections 25, 27A and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Chemical analysis of the seized samples revealed that no offence …

JITENDRASINGH MOHANSINGH KALSIversusTHE UNION OF INDIA

Allowed

The applicant, Vasant Anandrao Idhol, filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 135 of the Customs Act, seeking confirmation of interim protection previously granted on 12 April 2024. The court noted that a show‑cause notice under Section 28(4) read with Section 124 of the Customs Act had …

DILKUSH BABEL SON OF ANNARAJ BABELversusUNION OF INDIA THR CENTRAL GOVT AND ANR

Disposed Off

The petitioner, Dilkhush Babel, challenged an order that allegedly failed to consider his reply to a show‑cause notice, alleging a breach of natural justice. The respondents relied on a prior decision in Ankush Jain v. Union of India (Writ Petition No.2632 of 2026) which addressed identical …

Deepak JainversusThe Union of India

DISMISSED

The petitioner, Deepak Jain, filed a writ petition seeking that the authorities refrain from applying tariff value notifications under Section 14(2) of the Customs Act to Nepalese betel nuts, arguing that Nepal, as a Least Developed Country under SAFTA and the Indo‑Nepal Treaty, should enjoy 0% …

Ram Chandra ThakurversusThe Union Of India

BAIL GRANTED

Ram Chandra Thakur, a Nepalese national, was arrested in Patna and charged under Section 135(1)(i)(c) of the Customs Act for possession of 58 counterfeit Rs.500 notes. He applied for bail, claiming false implication and no prior criminal record, while the DRI opposed, stating the notes were …

Pawan KumarversusThe State of Bihar

BAIL GRANTED

The petitioner, Pawan Kumar, was arrested for allegedly possessing a kilogram of gold bullion concealed in his shoes, alleged to have been smuggled from Bhutan, invoking Section 135(1) of the Customs Act. He contended that he was merely a carrier, that the gold was placed in a cotton bag by another …

NABHA POWER LIMITED & ANR.versusPUNJAB STATE POWER COROPORATION LIMITED & ANR.

2024 INSC 833Dismissed

The appellants, Nabha Power Ltd. and its associate, bid for a mega‑power project under a Request for Proposal (RFP) that required bidders to consider the law as defined in Clause 1.1 of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). They argued that a press release dated 01‑Oct‑2009 announcing Cabinet approval …

THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX JAIPURversusPRAKASH CHAND LUNIA (D) THR. LRS. & ANR.

2023 INSC 416Appeal(s) allowed

The assessee, Prakash Chand Lunia, who dealt in silver, was found to have smuggled 146 slabs of silver which were confiscated by customs and a penalty imposed. He claimed the value of the confiscated silver as a business loss under Section 37(1) of the Income‑Tax Act, relying on the High Court's …

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, CENTRAL EXCISE & SERVICE TAXversusM/S SUZLON ENERGY LTD.

2023 INSC 332Disposed off

Suzlon Energy Ltd imported engineering design and drawing blueprints from its sister companies abroad for manufacturing wind turbine generators and classified them as "paper" goods for customs, claiming nil duty and arguing they were not liable to service tax. The Revenue issued show‑cause notices …

K.T.V. HEALTH FOOD PVT. LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS

2023 INSC 91Case Partly allowed

K.T.V. Health Food Pvt. Ltd. sought to continue operating a storage terminal and an underground pipeline for edible oil imported through Chennai Port. The Union of India, invoking the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification under the Environment Protection Act, granted post‑facto clearance …

BHARAT CHAUDHARYversusUNION OF INDIA

2021 INSC 877Disposed off

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 1.37 lakh tablets from four locations in Chennai, alleging they were psychotropic substances. Accused A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 (Bharat Chaudhary) were arrested; A-4 was detained based solely on statements of A-1 and A-3 recorded under Section 67 of …

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT), MUMBAIversusM/S. DILIP KUMAR AND COMPANY & ORS.

2018 INSC 646Reference answered

The case concerned the interpretation of Customs Notification No. 20/1999, under which the respondents claimed a concessional customs duty rate for imported vitamin E50 feed powder. The Customs department denied the benefit, classifying the goods under a higher duty heading, leading to a series of …

TOFAN SINGHversusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU

2013 INSC 700Matter referred to larger bench

Tofan Singh was convicted under Sections 8(c) r/w 21(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for allegedly trafficking 5.250 kg of heroin. The conviction rested primarily on a statement recorded by an investigating officer under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, which the …

D. RAMAKRISHNANversusINTELLIGENCE OFFICER NARCOTIC CONTROL BUREAU

2009 INSC 950Dismissed

The appellant (Accused No.2) and his co‑accused were convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 for unauthorised export of alprazolam, lorazepam and nitrazepam, drugs listed in the Schedule of the Act. The appellant contended that the alleged offence should be …

COMMNR. OF CENTRAL EXCISE, BANGALOREversusSRIKUMAR AGENCIES ETC. ETC.

2008 INSC 1355Disposed off

The Commissioner of Central Excise, Bangalore filed appeals challenging several orders of the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal (CEGAT) that had disposed of cases by merely relying on earlier judgments without a detailed examination of the facts. The central issue was whether the …

GENERAL INSTRUMENTS COMPANYversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2008 INSC 967Case Partly allowed

The appellant, a partnership firm, was awarded a government contract and obtained a Special Imprest Licence (SIL) to import raw materials duty‑free, subject to a bond and an export obligation. After fulfilling the export obligation, the licensing authority issued a forfeiture order, enforced a bond …

INDIAN AIRLINES LID.versusPRABHA D. KANAN

2006 INSC 819Case Partly allowed

Prabha D. Kanan, an air hostess promoted to Deputy Manager at Indian Airlines Ltd., was arrested in 2002 for allegedly carrying undeclared foreign currency and her services were terminated on 9 August 2002 under Regulation 13 of the Indian Airlines (Flying Crew) Service Regulations, which allows …

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND ORS.versusVASANT MAGALAN CHOKSHI AND ORS.

2006 INSC 795Dismissed

Customs authorities seized 78 gold bars in 1998, alleging clandestine import and issued show‑cause notices under Sections 111(d) and 112(a) of the Customs Act. The Commissioner initially ordered confiscation of all bars, but the Customs, Excise and Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal set aside that …

ADISHWAR JAINversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR.

2006 INSC 744Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, Managing Director of an exporting company, was alleged to have misdeclared the value and description of alloy steel exports and to have routed excess proceeds through hawala, leading to investigations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. He was arrested in October 2003, …

RAJINDER ARORAversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

2006 INSC 154Appeal(s) allowed

Rajinder Arora, an export‑house industrialist, was raided by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on 26 May 2004 and detained, during which he alleged torture and coerced statements under Section 108 of the Customs Act. No prosecution was filed within the statutory 60‑day period, no show‑cause …

SUNILA JAINversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANR.

2006 INSC 105Dismissed

Sunila Jain appealed against a preventive detention order issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) against her husband, D.K. Jain, who had been released on bail by the Special Court of Economic Offences on the ground that the alleged …

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICESversusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

2004 INSC 643Dismissed

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) sold canned computer software packages and was assessed sales tax by the Andhra Pradesh Commercial Tax Officer, who held that the software constituted "goods" under the Andhra Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1957. TCS appealed, arguing that software is intangible …

OM SHANKAR BIYANIversusBOARD OF TRUSTEES, PORT OF CALCUTTA AND ORS.

2002 INSC 97Disposed off

The appellant imported a consignment of bearings and, after customs seized the goods, sought to clear them without paying the port charges and demurrage claimed by the Board of Trustees of the Port of Calcutta. The High Court allowed removal of the goods without payment, but the Board exercised its …

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.versusARVIND SHERGILL AND ANR.

2000 INSC 442Appeal(s) allowed

Harinder Pal Singh Shergill was arrested in August 1998 for allegedly possessing US$66,217 at Mumbai airport. He was granted bail, and a later application to cancel the bail was dismissed. On 17 November 1998, the government issued a preventive detention order under Section 3(1) of the Conservation …

ASSISTANT COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, MADRASversusV. KRISHNAMOORTHY AND ORS.

1997 INSC 168Dismissed

The Assistant Collector of Central Excise, acting as complainant, appealed to the High Court against the sentences imposed on V. Krishnamurthy and others for offences investigated by a Customs Officer, invoking Section 377(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Supreme Court examined whether a …

UNION OF INDIAversusPALIWAL ELECTRICALS (P) LTD. AND ANR.

1996 INSC 438Appeal(s) allowed

The Union of India appealed a decision of the Allahabad High Court that struck down paragraph 7 of Central Excise Notification No. 175 of 1986, which excluded from exemption any small‑scale manufacturer that affixed the brand or trade name of a person not eligible for the exemption. The Court …

M/S COMMERCE INTERNATIONALversusCOLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS

1995 INSC 230Dismissed

Mis Commerce International imported 125 cartons of toners and declared their value based on an invoice and a certificate of origin. The Customs Department asked the importer to produce a price list, but the importer refused, citing the trading company's confidentiality. Customs obtained a price list …

THE STATE OF GUJARATversusGADHVI RAMBHAI NATHABHAI AND ORS. ETC.

1994 INSC 221Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Gujarat alleged that several accused, including Gadhvi Rambhai Nathabhai, were involved in large‑scale smuggling and distribution of foreign‑origin arms, ammunition and cash, and were charged under the Arms Act, the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) and …

MINERAL AND METAL TRADING CORPORATIONversusR. C. MISHRA AND ORS.

1993 INSC 146Appeal(s) allowed

Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (M.M.T.C.) acted as the intermediary in a private barter scheme through which Ferro Alloys Corporation exported manganese and chrome concentrates. The parties executed contracts whereby title to the goods passed to M.M.T.C., which issued letters of credit, …

TEKCHANDversusCOMPETENT AUTHORITY

1993 INSC 133Dismissed

Tekchand, a watch dealer, and his two sons made a voluntary disclosure of income under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income and Wealth Act, 1976 and obtained a certificate. After serving a detention order under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), …

STATE OF TAMIL NADUversusPK. SHAMSUDEEN

1992 INSC 179Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Tamil Nadu issued a detention order under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 against Sheik Ahamed Hajee on 8 March 1988. The detenu challenged the order in the Calcutta High Court on 5 April 1989, obtaining an interim injunction that …

MOHAN LAL SHAMLAL SONIversusUNION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER

1991 INSC 67Dismissed

The appellant's premises were raided by Customs officials, leading to the seizure of gold, silver, and cash and the filing of two criminal complaints under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Gold Control Act, 1968. After the trial magistrate closed evidence, the prosecution sought, under Section 540 of …

KUBIC DARIUSZversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

1990 INSC 15Case Allowed

Polish national Kubic Dariusz was arrested in April 1989 for possession of foreign gold and detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). He claimed that the grounds of his detention were served only in English, a language he alleged he …

FRICK INDIA LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

1989 INSC 394Dismissed

Frick India Ltd., a licensed manufacturer of air‑conditioning and refrigeration equipment, cleared cooling coils, condensers and compressors for cold‑storage and ice‑factory plants and paid excise duty under Tariff Item 29A(3). The company claimed a refund, arguing that these parts were not …

T.A. ABDUL RAHMANversusSTATE OF KERALA AND ORS.

1989 INSC 254Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, brother of T.A. Sirajudeen, challenged his sibling's preventive detention under sections 3(1)(iii) and 3(1)(iv) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The detenu had been caught with smuggled gold biscuits in …

SHIV RATAN MAKLM S/O NANDLAL MAKLMversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

1985 INSC 250Dismissed

Shiv Ratan Makhlam was intercepted at the India‑Nepal border in November 1984 and two pieces of foreign‑marked gold were seized from his trousers. He was arrested, released on bail, and later, in April 1985, the Government issued a detention order under Section 3 of the Conservation of Foreign …

SMT. ASHA KESHAVRAO BHOSALEversusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

1985 INSC 220Dismissed

The petitioners, the wife of a man detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange & Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974, challenged his detention order (s.3(1)) and subsequent declaration (s.9) before the Supreme Court under Article 32. They argued that the government’s delay in …

LIBERTY OIL MILLS & OTHERSversusUNION OF INDIA & OTHERS.

1984 INSC 98Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a series of "abeyance circulars" issued under clause 8B of the Imports (Control) Order, 1955, which placed the licence applications of Liberty Oil Mills and 60 other concerns in abeyance pending investigation into alleged illegal import of beef tallow. The …

UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERSversusOSWAL WOOLLEN MILLS LTD. AND OTHERS

1984 INSC 70Appeal(s) allowed

The Union of India challenged an ex parte interim stay order and a contempt rule granted by the Calcutta High Court in a writ petition filed by Oswal Woollen Mills Ltd. seeking to restrain the Union from enforcing a clause‑8B order under the Import Control Order, 1955, and to permit re‑export of a …

CHAMPALAL POONAJI SHAHversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA

1982 INSC 7Dismissed

The petitioner was convicted by a Presidency Magistrate for offences under IPC 120B, the Customs Act and related rules and sentenced to imprisonment of two to four years with a fine. The High Court set aside the conviction, but the Supreme Court restored it. The petitioner had earlier been …

HEMLATA KANTILAL SHAHversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.

1981 INSC 186Dismissed

The petitioners challenged the preventive detention of Kantilal Nagar Das Shah under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 after customs seized 141 slabs of palladium he had smuggled from Muscat. The wife argued that the detenu was denied legal …

STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusCHAMPALAL PUNJAJI SHAH

1981 INSC 140Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Maharashtra charged Champalal Punjaji Shah with criminal conspiracy under S.120B IPC, S.135 of the Customs Act and Defence of India Rules after gold bars with foreign markings were discovered in his flat. The trial was protracted, with the accused contributing to delays, and the High …

MST. L.M.S. UMMU SALBBMAversusB.B. GUJARAL & ANR.

1981 INSC 106Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined the preventive detention of Jahaubar Moulana under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The detenu argued that the detaining authority had failed to furnish copies of documents mentioned in the grounds of detention, had …

STATE OF MAHARASHTRAversusKAPUR CHAND KESARIMAL JAIN

1981 INSC 20Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent was convicted under Section 135 of the Customs Act and the Defence of India Rules for smuggling 2015 tolas of contraband gold, receiving rigorous imprisonment and fines. On remand, the Bombay High Court granted him the benefit of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, citing …

HASMUKH S/O BHAGWANJI M. PATELversusTHE STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.

1980 INSC 146Dismissed

Lallu Jogi Patel was detained on 31 January 1980 under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). He sought copies of the documents relied upon in the grounds of detention and permission for his lawyer to interview him. The State …