Residual shelf life restriction on imported goods justified confiscation and no further reduction in redemption fine or penalty.

Imported goods with less than 60% residual shelf life were treated as prohibited under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945, leading to confiscation and permission for re-export on payment of redemption fine and penalty. The appellate authority had already reduced both amounts, and no further interference was warranted because the violation and confiscatory consequences did not justify additional leniency. The request for a further reduction in redemption fine and penalty was therefore rejected and the reduced appellate quantum was upheld.

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Issues: Whether the appellant was entitled to a further reduction in redemption fine and penalty imposed on confiscation of imported goods found to have less than 60% residual shelf life.

Analysis: The imported goods were found to have residual shelf life below the threshold prescribed under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945, and were therefore treated as prohibited for import. The original authority ordered confiscation and permitted re-export on payment of redemption fine and penalty. The appellate authority had already reduced both components. No ground was found for interfering further with the reduced quantum, as the nature of the violation and the confiscatory consequences did not justify additional leniency.

Conclusion: The request for further reduction in redemption fine and penalty was rejected and the appellate order was upheld.

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