SHAKHNOZA MAKHMUDOVA vs THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS

Judgment text excerpt

$~31 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 10th September, 2025 + W.P.(C) 7883/2025 SHAKHNOZA MAKHMUDOVA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. S. Vijay Kanth& Mr. Utkarsh Tripathi, Advs. versus THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS .....Respondent Through: Ms. AnushreeNarain, SSC with Mr. Naman Choula, Adv. CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE SHAIL JAIN Prathima M. Singh, J. (Oral) 1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2. The present petition has been filed by the Petitioner - ShakhnozaMakhmudova under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, inter alia, seeking to direct the Respondent-Customs Department to unconditionally release the following gold items of the Petitioner:  15 gold rings, collectively weighing 54 grams;  5 pair of earrings, collectively weighing 51 grams;  3 gold chains (two with pendant), collectively weighing 53 grams. The said gold items were seized vide Detention Receipt No.4106 dated 29th March, 2024. 3. The Petitioner is a citizen of Uzbekistan. The Petitioner had arrived in India by Flight No. HY 421 on 29th March, 2024 at Indira Gandhi Signature Not Verified Signed By:SUNITA W.P.(C) 7883/2025 Page 1 of 5 KUMARI Signing Date:12.09.2025 04:34:48 International Airport, New Delhi. Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, the Petitioner was intercepted by the concerned officials of the Customs Department and the gold items of the Petitioner were seized. 4. The Petitioner had filed writ petition bearing number W.P.(C) 5034/2025 titled ‘Shakhnoza Makhmudova v. Commissioner of Customs’in which after hearing the parties on 22nd April, 2025 the following order was passed: “6. In the overall facts and circumstances, instead of dismissing the present petition as withdrawn, this Court is of the o