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UAE-India travel: No more jewellery seizures, ’harassment’ of passengers at airports

This ruling came after the Delhi Court reviewed over 30 petitions, highlighting how many passengers were being questioned about their jewellery upon arrival in India

In a much-needed relief for Indian expats, especially those returning home for weddings and festivals, the Delhi High Court has recently ruled that personal or inherited jewellery worn by passengers should not be seized or detained by customs officials, and that travellers should not be harassed.

This ruling came after the court reviewed over 30 petitions, highlighting how many passengers — particularly Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) — were being questioned about their jewellery, including cherished family heirlooms, upon arrival in India.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta said that unless there is a specific reason, customs officials should not stop passengers from carrying jewellery intended for personal use. They also directed authorities to conduct sensitivity workshops for airport staff to prevent harassment.

This decision is especially reassuring for Indian expats in the UAE, many of whom return home during wedding seasons or festivals with ancestral jewellery. Many have reported being held up at Indian airports despite wearing or carrying ornaments they’ve had for years.

“I was stopped at Lucknow airport and taken aside for questioning even though the bangles I was wearing belonged to my grandmother,” said Maria, a Dubai resident. “They asked for purchase receipts and treated me like I was smuggling gold. I was held up for almost an hour, and it ruined the start of my trip.”

Another passenger who flew into Kochi from Sharjah, said he no longer wears real jewellery during family visits. “My wife wore imitation sets for our niece’s wedding. It’s just not worth the risk or humiliation anymore,” he told Khaleej Times. “You’re made to feel like a criminal for wearing your own wedding necklace.”

Under the existing baggage rules, dating back to 2016, Indian citizens returning after more than a year abroad are allowed to bring duty-free gold jewellery within certain value limits — up to 40 grams for women and 20 grams for men — as long as the value does not exceed the prescribed cap.

However, these rules don’t specifically address used or inherited jewellery, leading to confusion and inconsistent enforcement.

The High Court acknowledged the outdated nature of the rules, especially with the rise in gold prices since they were last reviewed. It directed the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to either amend the rules or issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) by May 19.

“The SOP should clarify how worn or old jewellery is treated, simplify the appraisal and release process, and protect passengers from arbitrary seizures,” the order said.

For now, the court has made it clear that personal and used jewellery should not be detained “in a routine manner” and urged authorities to act with sensitivity.

With thousands of UAE-based Indian expats travelling home every year, especially during peak wedding seasons, the order is likely to ease growing anxiety over what many perceived as unjustified profiling.

“This is long overdue,” said Maria. “We just want to go home in peace, not get interrogated for our own jewellery.”