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Issues:
1. Failure to serve notice under Section 124 of the Customs Act within six months of seizure. 2. Interpretation of Section 110(2) of the Customs Act regarding the timeline for sending notice. 3. Whether failure to send notice within the specified time under Section 110(2) bars confiscation proceedings. Analysis: The case involved the confiscation and penalty proceedings initiated by the Collector of Customs against three individuals for the seizure of gold biscuits at the airport. The petitioners contended that failure to serve notice under Section 124 within six months of seizure was fatal to the confiscation proceedings. The central issue revolved around the interpretation of Section 110(2) of the Customs Act, which stipulates the timeline for sending notice in such cases. The petitioners argued that the notice sent after the expiry of six months should not be considered valid. They relied on a Division Bench decision and emphasized the importance of the delivery aspect in giving notice. The court delved into the interpretation of "giving notice" in various contexts, highlighting the necessity of despatching the notice within the specified time limit to initiate confiscation proceedings. The court analyzed the legislative intent behind the time limit of six months in Section 110(2) and concluded that the purpose was to ensure timely initiation of confiscation proceedings. It differentiated this provision from Section 79 of the Gold Control Act, emphasizing the significance of sending notice within the stipulated period. The court held that the sender's obligation is fulfilled upon despatching the notice within the time limit, even if the recipient receives it later. Regarding the impact of not sending notice within the specified time, the court referred to Section 124 of the Act, which outlines the conditions for ordering confiscation of goods. It noted that failure to send notice within the time limit of Section 110(2) does not preclude authorities from resorting to confiscation steps subsequently. The court cited precedents and observed that Section 124 is independent of Section 110, allowing for confiscation proceedings even after the expiry of the specified period. In conclusion, the court dismissed the petitioners' claims, stating that the failure to send notice within the stipulated time did not warrant quashing the orders. The judgment clarified the interpretation of relevant provisions in the Customs Act and affirmed the authorities' discretion to initiate confiscation proceedings irrespective of the timing of the notice.
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