Airport New Rule
Good news for international travelers! If you’re returning to India from a foreign trip with your own old or personal jewellery, you no longer need to worry about customs seizing it at the airport. The Delhi High Court has made it clear—customs officers cannot unnecessarily harass or confiscate old, worn jewellery anymore.
This major relief comes after the court received over 30 complaints from people, including Indian citizens and foreign tourists, who said that their personal belongings—especially jewellery—were being unfairly confiscated at Indian airports.
What Did the Court Say?
The Delhi High Court said the customs department must stop troubling passengers who are carrying personal jewellery. This includes jewellery that is:
Old
Used or worn during travel
Clearly not new or being brought in for trade or sale
The judges—Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajnish Kumar Gupta—ruled that customs officers must be informed that they cannot confiscate such jewellery without a solid reason. The court said that Indian citizens and visitors should not face inconvenience or humiliation at airports for simply wearing jewellery.
Why Was This Needed?
Many travelers, especially women, often wear their jewellery during foreign trips. But when they returned to India, customs officers would sometimes seize it, claiming it was newly bought gold and needed to be taxed. In many cases, the officers would not give proper reasons or follow a clear process, which led to confusion, stress, and legal trouble for passengers.
To fix this issue, more than 30 petitions were filed in the Delhi High Court, all complaining about the same thing: unfair treatment by customs at Indian airports.
Customs Department Admits Rules Need to Change
During the hearing, the customs department admitted that the rules were unclear and said they were already working on changing them. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said it was consulting different experts to update the Baggage Rules.
But until those rules are officially changed, the court gave clear orders: Stop seizing old and personal jewellery and don’t harass passengers.
Temporary Instructions Until Rules Are Updated
Until new rules are made, the Delhi High Court has instructed the customs department to:
Make the process transparent – Any action taken by officers should be explained properly.
Avoid confusion or bias – Don’t assume all jewellery is new or smuggled.
Record passenger statements in a standard format – Use one clear, simple method across all airports.
Avoid harassment – No unnecessary questioning or threats for those carrying their own old jewellery.
This means that until further notice, officers at Indian airports must follow a fair and respectful approach when checking passengers’ baggage.
What Happens Next?
The court also said that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for customs officers must be rewritten to reflect the new instructions. This SOP should:
Clearly explain what kind of jewellery is exempt
Explain how jewellery value is calculated
Simplify the process of returning confiscated items if they were taken without a valid reason.
The court emphasized that this isn’t just about jewellery. It’s also about how travelers are treated at Indian airports.
Simpler Rules = Happier Travelers
The court made it clear: travelers shouldn’t feel scared or harassed when they return home or visit India. People often wear sentimental or religious jewellery, and wearing it during a trip does not mean they are breaking the law.
The bench said, “Passengers coming to India should not face any inconvenience. Even old jewellery worn during travel should not be confiscated unnecessarily.”
Why This Matters?
India is one of the biggest gold-consuming countries in the world. It’s common for people to wear or bring gold jewellery from abroad. But due to unclear rules and overzealous customs checks, many innocent travelers have suffered fines, embarrassment, or legal issues.
This court order is a big step towards fair treatment, especially for Indian women, senior citizens, and tourists, who often face unnecessary customs trouble.
Final Takeaway
If you’re planning a trip abroad and intend to wear your gold jewellery or carry it back, you don’t need to worry anymore. As long as the jewellery is old, personal, and clearly not new, customs officers cannot confiscate it or question you unfairly.
The Delhi High Court’s ruling aims to bring clarity, dignity, and respect back to the process of airport customs checks—and that’s a welcome change for every traveler.