Madras High Court Rules Baggage Rules Do Not Apply to Jewelry Worn on the Person

The Madras High Court ruled that the Baggage Rules, 2016, under the Customs Act, 1962, apply only to items in a traveller's baggage, not to articles worn on the person.

The Court clarified that the inclusion of "carried on the person" in the Rules exceeds the scope of Section 79 of the Customs Act.

It emphasized that customs officers should only search for excessive or concealed jewelry, with the Baggage Rules not covering worn jewelry.

The Court criticized the seizure of jewelry from a newly married woman, underscoring the need to respect cultural practices and apply the law within the statutory framework.