Inspection of seized records and reimbursement of copying costs where only essential documents were needed

Inspection of voluminous seized records was to be managed pragmatically by identifying only the documents reasonably required, with the Collector to confer with the petitioners and counsel and sift the material to exclude surplus papers. The departmental instructions required copies to be furnished at the department's cost, and reasonable copying expenses for documents ultimately found necessary were to be reimbursed. Documents not relied upon by the department were to be returned within the directed time.

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Issues: Whether the petitioners were entitled to copies of the seized documents at the department's cost and to return of documents not relied upon by the department.

Analysis: The order accepted that, where the records were voluminous and spread across registers, files and other records, a practical course was to allow inspection and copying of only the documents reasonably required. It directed the Collector to meet the petitioners and their counsel to identify essential documents, and to sift the seized material so that non-essential surplus documents could be weeded out. It further recorded that the departmental instructions required copies to be furnished at the department's own cost, and that reasonable expenditure incurred for copying documents ultimately found necessary would be reimbursed.

Conclusion: The petitioners were entitled to inspection and to reimbursement of reasonable copying expenses, and documents not relied upon by the department were to be returned within the time directed.

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