1961 (11) TMI 1 - SC - Customs

Whether the possession obtained by the Customs Department by goods being conveyed to and deposited at the nearest Customs-house within the last words of the second paragraph of Section 180 are goods which have been seized under the Act within the opening words of Section 178A? Held that - The delivery to the Customs authorities under Section 180 is not a seizure under the Act within Section 178A it would follow that the judgment of the High Court cannot be upheld for it has proceeded on the sole basis of the provisions of that section being attracted. The learned Sessions Judge had upheld the conviction of the appellants by an independent finding that the prosecution had positively established that the goods were smuggled and that the accused had knowingly done the acts referred to in Section 167(81) with which they were charged. This part of the case of the prosecution has not been considered by the learned Judge in the High Court and this would have to be done before the revision petition of the appellants could properly be disposed of. The appeal is accordingly allowed and the order of the High Court set aside. The case will be remitted to the High Court for the revision petition of the appellants being disposed of in the light of this judgment and in accordance with law

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Conviction under Section 167(81) of the Sea Customs Act.
2. Applicability of Section 178A of the Sea Customs Act.
3. Burden of proof regarding smuggled goods.
4. Validity of seizure under Section 180 of the Sea Customs Act.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Conviction under Section 167(81) of the Sea Customs Act:
The appellants were convicted by the First Class Magistrate of Jullunder for acquiring possession of smuggled gold with the intent to defraud the Government, knowing that the gold had been smuggled into India without duty being paid. The conviction was upheld by the Sessions Judge, Jullunder, though the sentence for the third appellant was reduced. The High Court of Punjab dismissed the revision petition, leading to the appeal before the Supreme Court.

2. Applicability of Section 178A of the Sea Customs Act:
Section 178A shifts the burden of proof to the person from whom goods are seized to prove that they are not smuggled. The First Class Magistrate applied this section, placing the onus on the accused. However, the Supreme Court noted that Section 178A applies only to goods seized under the Sea Customs Act. Since the gold was initially seized by the police under the Criminal Procedure Code and later handed over to the Customs authorities under Section 180, it did not qualify as a seizure under the Act.

3. Burden of proof regarding smuggled goods:
The Supreme Court emphasized that the prosecution must establish two key elements under Section 167(81): (1) the goods were smuggled, and (2) the accused knowingly engaged in activities related to the smuggled goods. The Court clarified that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution unless Section 178A applies, which was not the case here.

4. Validity of seizure under Section 180 of the Sea Customs Act:
Section 180 allows police officers to seize goods suspected of being stolen and later transfer them to Customs authorities. The Supreme Court held that such a transfer does not constitute a seizure under the Sea Customs Act. Consequently, Section 178A, which shifts the burden of proof, was not applicable. The Court noted that the gold was seized by the police, transferred to the Magistrate, and then to the Customs authorities, which did not meet the criteria for a seizure under the Act.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court found that the High Court's judgment, based solely on the applicability of Section 178A, was flawed. The Sessions Judge had independently concluded that the prosecution had established the smuggling and the accused's knowledge without relying on Section 178A. The Supreme Court remitted the case to the High Court for reconsideration of the revision petition in light of this judgment, ensuring a proper evaluation of the prosecution's evidence without the presumption under Section 178A.