NEW DELHI: In a much-needed relief for Indian expats, especially those returning home for weddings and festivals, the Delhi High Court has ruled that personal or inherited jewellery worn by passengers should not be seized or detained by customs officials, and that travellers should not be harassed.
The ruling came after the court reviewed over 30 petitions, highlighting how many passengers, particularly NRIs, were being questioned about their jewellery, including cherished family heirlooms, upon arrival in India.
A Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta said that unless there is a specific reason, Customs officials should not stop passengers from carrying jewellery intended for personal use. The decision is especially reassuring for Indian expats in the UAE, many of whom return home during wedding seasons or festivals with ancestral jewellery.
