emirates7 - Around this time last year, an Indian expatriate based in the UAE arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, unaware that what was meant to be a simple family trip would lead to a year-long legal battle — one that would ultimately provide relief to thousands of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). It all began with a wedding in Kerala and a 28-gram gold chain.
According to court documents, the expat landed in India on April 9, 2024, to attend a relative’s wedding. However, upon entering the green channel at Terminal 3, he was stopped by customs officials who questioned the gold chain he was wearing. Although he explained that it was a personal item he wore regularly and not new, the officers seized the chain, claiming it exceeded the allowance under India’s baggage regulations.
That same day, the traveller submitted a written statement, followed by a detailed letter in May, asserting his eligibility under the rules and explaining that the chain was clearly used and not for commercial purposes. His appeals were ignored.
On November 7, 2024, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs at Delhi Airport issued a ruling: the chain would not be returned unless the traveller paid a fine of Rs18,000 (Dh770) and a redemption fee of Rs25,000 (Dh1,070) to re-export the item to the UAE.
Refusing to accept this decision, the expat filed a petition with the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution. His lawyer submitted photos showing him wearing the chain as part of his regular attire, along with a copy of a wedding invitation dated April 21, 2024. The argument was straightforward — the chain was personal, the wedding was real, and the treatment was unjust.
The Delhi High Court agreed. Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta ruled in favor of the traveller, stating that he was a genuine passenger, not someone trying to dodge customs duties. They noted that India’s baggage rules — last updated in 2016 — no longer reflect current gold prices or modern travel trends.
The court overturned the Customs Department’s order, waived all fees and penalties, and instructed that the jewellery be returned within two weeks after verifying the passenger’s identity or that of his authorised representative.
This case was reportedly among more than 30 similar petitions recently reviewed by the Delhi High Court, which also issued broader directions to prevent the routine harassment of NRIs over personal jewellery at Indian airports.
Just days earlier, the court had sharply criticised customs authorities in another case involving a woman named Pooja Seth. She was intercepted at Delhi airport on January 20 after returning from Bangkok with her husband and children. Customs officials allegedly confiscated 190 grams of gold jewellery — including heirloom bangles and a chain gifted by her grandmother — despite her presenting old photos and a copy of the will.
The court deemed the seizure “completely unjustified,” ordered the immediate return of all the jewellery within two working days without storage charges, and imposed a Rs25,000 penalty on the Customs Department. It also recommended disciplinary action against officers who reportedly forced Seth to sign a waiver giving up her right to a hearing.
“With multiple rulings now affirming travellers’ rights, it’s becoming increasingly clear that wearing old or inherited jewellery shouldn’t lead to suspicion, seizures, or distress,” noted a legal expert.
The Delhi High Court’s March 27 judgment is now being seen as a milestone for Indian expats, especially those from Gulf countries like the UAE, who often visit home for weddings and festivals. Many travellers have shared similar experiences of being detained despite wearing long-owned or gifted jewellery.
“I was stopped at Lucknow airport for questioning even though my bangles were my grandmother’s,” said Maria, a Dubai resident. Another man flying into Kochi from Sharjah said he now avoids wearing real jewellery on family trips: “You’re made to feel like a criminal for wearing your wedding necklace.”
Under current baggage rules, Indian citizens returning after more than a year abroad are permitted to bring duty-free gold jewellery — up to 40 grams for women and 20 grams for men — within specified value limits. However, the rules don’t clearly account for inherited or well-worn personal ornaments, leaving many travellers at the mercy of unclear interpretations and overreach by customs officials.
According to court documents, the expat landed in India on April 9, 2024, to attend a relative’s wedding. However, upon entering the green channel at Terminal 3, he was stopped by customs officials who questioned the gold chain he was wearing. Although he explained that it was a personal item he wore regularly and not new, the officers seized the chain, claiming it exceeded the allowance under India’s baggage regulations.
That same day, the traveller submitted a written statement, followed by a detailed letter in May, asserting his eligibility under the rules and explaining that the chain was clearly used and not for commercial purposes. His appeals were ignored.
On November 7, 2024, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs at Delhi Airport issued a ruling: the chain would not be returned unless the traveller paid a fine of Rs18,000 (Dh770) and a redemption fee of Rs25,000 (Dh1,070) to re-export the item to the UAE.
Refusing to accept this decision, the expat filed a petition with the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution. His lawyer submitted photos showing him wearing the chain as part of his regular attire, along with a copy of a wedding invitation dated April 21, 2024. The argument was straightforward — the chain was personal, the wedding was real, and the treatment was unjust.
The Delhi High Court agreed. Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta ruled in favor of the traveller, stating that he was a genuine passenger, not someone trying to dodge customs duties. They noted that India’s baggage rules — last updated in 2016 — no longer reflect current gold prices or modern travel trends.
The court overturned the Customs Department’s order, waived all fees and penalties, and instructed that the jewellery be returned within two weeks after verifying the passenger’s identity or that of his authorised representative.
This case was reportedly among more than 30 similar petitions recently reviewed by the Delhi High Court, which also issued broader directions to prevent the routine harassment of NRIs over personal jewellery at Indian airports.
Just days earlier, the court had sharply criticised customs authorities in another case involving a woman named Pooja Seth. She was intercepted at Delhi airport on January 20 after returning from Bangkok with her husband and children. Customs officials allegedly confiscated 190 grams of gold jewellery — including heirloom bangles and a chain gifted by her grandmother — despite her presenting old photos and a copy of the will.
The court deemed the seizure “completely unjustified,” ordered the immediate return of all the jewellery within two working days without storage charges, and imposed a Rs25,000 penalty on the Customs Department. It also recommended disciplinary action against officers who reportedly forced Seth to sign a waiver giving up her right to a hearing.
“With multiple rulings now affirming travellers’ rights, it’s becoming increasingly clear that wearing old or inherited jewellery shouldn’t lead to suspicion, seizures, or distress,” noted a legal expert.
The Delhi High Court’s March 27 judgment is now being seen as a milestone for Indian expats, especially those from Gulf countries like the UAE, who often visit home for weddings and festivals. Many travellers have shared similar experiences of being detained despite wearing long-owned or gifted jewellery.
“I was stopped at Lucknow airport for questioning even though my bangles were my grandmother’s,” said Maria, a Dubai resident. Another man flying into Kochi from Sharjah said he now avoids wearing real jewellery on family trips: “You’re made to feel like a criminal for wearing your wedding necklace.”
Under current baggage rules, Indian citizens returning after more than a year abroad are permitted to bring duty-free gold jewellery — up to 40 grams for women and 20 grams for men — within specified value limits. However, the rules don’t clearly account for inherited or well-worn personal ornaments, leaving many travellers at the mercy of unclear interpretations and overreach by customs officials.