Supreme Court of India upholds confiscation of excess-quota pulses

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the absolute confiscation of imported beans, peas, and pulses that exceeded permitted quotas. The ruling follows a dispute involving the Union of India and customs authorities against importers who brought restricted commodities into the country under the cover of interim orders from various High Courts.

The court maintained that importers cannot claim a bona fide belief regarding the legality of their imports simply because they were conducted under interim judicial orders. The decision reinforces notifications issued under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and trade notices from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which restrict the import of specific quantities of these commodities.