Personal effects under Baggage Rules: detained gold bangles were to be appraised, re-exported, and freed from storage charges.

A foreign national's detained gold bangles were treated as personal effects and, on that basis, she was regarded as an eligible passenger under the Baggage Rules, 2016. The Customs Department stated that the goods would be appraised on appearance and then permitted to be re-exported; because the traveller was in Iran, an authorised representative could attend the appraisal and release process on her behalf. No storage charges were payable for the detained personal effects, and the goods were directed to be appraised and released for re-export.

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Issues: Whether the detained gold bangles worn by a foreign national as personal effects were liable to be appraised and released for re-export, and whether storage charges could be levied.

Analysis: The petitioner was a foreign national whose detained gold bangles formed part of her personal effects. On that basis, she was treated as an eligible passenger under Rule 3 of the Baggage Rules, 2016. The Department also stated that, on appearance, the goods would be appraised and allowed to be re-exported. Since the petitioner was in Iran, an authorised representative was permitted to appear before the Customs Department for the necessary appraisal and release process. The Court further held that no storage charges were payable in respect of the detained personal effects.

Conclusion: The detained goods were directed to be appraised and released for re-export, and no storage charges were leviable.

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