Relief for expats returning from abroad: Gold jewellery worn by women shouldn’t be seized at airports

NEW DELHI: Indian expatriates have received significant relief from the Delhi High Court regarding personal and inherited gold jewellery. The court ruled that customs officials at Indian airports should not seize personal or inherited jewellery from passengers. It also emphasised that passengers must not face harassment or insults over such possessions. This decision came from a bench comprising Justices Pratibha M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta, which is currently hearing over 30 related petitions.

The court clarified that customs authorities cannot obstruct passengers from carrying jewellery for personal use without valid reasons. To prevent mistreatment of passengers, the court directed authorities to organise workshops for airport staff.

Under existing baggage rules, Indian expatriates returning after a year abroad can bring duty-free gold jewellery—up to 40 grams for women and 29 grams for men. However, this does not cover used or inherited jewellery. The court deemed these rules outdated and instructed the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to either amend the law or introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for clarity.