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Regarding 8th Report of Estimates Committee (11th Lok Sabha) on disposal
of passenger baggage detained at International Air ports; action taken by the
Govt. on the recommendations contained in the 49th Report of Estimates Committee
(10th Lok Sabha on the
Circular No. 72 dated
24th September 1998
In the Estimates Committee (1994-95) of the 10th Lok
Sabha, the Government had undertaken to review the Baggage Rules permitting the
travellers to bring in Note Book Computers and other essential items so that
harassment to the general passengers could be eliminated. The Committee has
desired an expeditious review of the matter. The matter has been examined, under
Tourist Baggage Rules, 1987, Notification No. 45/ 92-Cus (NT) dated 19/6/92
was issued listing the personal effects which could be imported temporarily free
of duty. This list included 14 items of day-to-day use of the tourist.
2. The Tourist
Baggage Rules was replaced by the Baggage Rules, 1994 which contained a chapter
on concession for tourists. In Rule 11, the personal effects imported by the
tourists temporarily have been allowed duty free entry and the explanation of
Rule 11 defined the wording 'personal effect' such as clothings and other
articles, new or used, which a tourist may personally and reasonably required
taking into account of circumstances for his visit but excluding all merchandise
imported for commercial purposes. The list contained in Notifn. 92, though the
Notifn. has expired, continue to the guiding the customs formations at the
Airport to give this benefit.
3. The Baggage
Rules, 1998 issued vide Notifn. No. 30/ 98-Cus (NT) dated 2/6/98 has provided
for import of duty free goods by tourists in Regulation 7 as contained in
Appendix 'E' of the said rules. There is no definition for personal effects in
the present Baggage Rules. However, for the sake of uniformity it is considered
necessary to reiterate that the personal effects would include the following
goods:
(i)
Personal jewellery
(ii)
One camera with film rolls not exceeding twenty
(iii)
One video camera/ camcorder with accessories and with video cassettes not
exceeding twelve
(iv)
One pair of binoculars
(v)
One portable colour television (not exceeding 15 cms in size)
(vi)
One music system including compact disc player
(vii)
One portable typewriter
(viii)
One perambulator
(ix)
One tent and other camping equipment
(x)
One computer (laptop/ notebook)
(xi)
One electronic diary
(xii)
One portable wireless receiving set (transistor radio)
(xiii)
Professional equipments, instruments and Apparatus of appliances
including professional audio/ video equipments
(xiv) Sports equipments such as one
fishing outfit, one sporting fire arm with fifty cartridges, one non-powdered
bicycles, one canoe or ranges less than 51 metres long, one pair of skids, two
tennis rackets, one golf set (14 pcs. with a dozen of golf balls).
(xv)
One cell phone.
4. It may kindly be
noted that while Ntfn. No. 45/92 defined personal effects as articles both new
or used and Rule 11 of Baggage Rules 1994 allowed personal effects of tourists
for duty free import, the Baggage Rules 1998 allows only used personal effects
of the tourists. It is not the intention of the Board to verify the newness of
every product, which a traveller brings so long as it is not prima facie new
goods in their original packaging, which can be disposed of off hand.
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