Statutory appellate remedy against confiscation order permitted, with liberty to raise all grounds before the appellate forum.

The confiscation order was appealable, and the goods had already been released subject to earlier imposed terms. In these circumstances, the Court permitted the petitioner to pursue the statutory appellate remedy and to raise all grounds urged in the writ petition before the appellate forum. The respondents stated that if the appeal was filed within 15 days, they would not object to condonation of delay. The writ petition was accordingly disposed of by relegating the petitioner to the statutory appeal.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner should be relegated to the statutory appeal against the confiscation order and be permitted to raise all contentions there.

Analysis: The goods had already been released subject to the terms earlier imposed, and the confiscation order was itself appealable. In these circumstances, the Court permitted the petitioner to pursue the statutory appellate remedy and to urge all grounds raised in the writ petition before the appellate forum. The respondents also stated that if the appeal were filed within 15 days, no objection would be raised to the condonation of delay.

Conclusion: The petitioner was relegated to the statutory appeal and the writ petition was disposed of.

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