Kerala High Court Directs Customs To Dispose Of Seized Buffalo Meat Consignments Within One Month Due To Perishability

The Kerala High Court has directed the Customs department to dispose of seized consignments of buffalo meat within one month, taking into account the perishable nature of the goods. The court was hearing a plea from a company whose imported consignments were seized. It emphasized that perishable goods cannot be held indefinitely pending the final outcome of adjudication proceedings, as they would deteriorate and lose all value, causing a loss to all parties involved. The court instructed the customs authorities to follow the procedures laid down in the Customs Act for the timely disposal of such goods, which may include auctioning them off. The sale proceeds would then be held in a government account and would be subject to the final order in the case. This ruling ensures a pragmatic approach to handling seized perishable items, balancing the interests of the revenue department with the need to prevent wastage.