Lawgist125Option to pay fine in lieu of confiscation
(1) Whenever confiscation of any goods is authorised by this Act, the officer adjudging it may, in the case of any goods, the importation or exportation whereof is prohibited under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force, and shall, in the case of any other goods, give to the owner of the goods 1[or, where such owner is not known, the person from whose possession or custody such goods have been seized,] an option to pay in lieu of confiscation such fine as the said officer thinks fit:
2[Provided that where the proceedings are deemed to be concluded under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 28 or under clause (i) of sub-section (6) of that section in respect of the goods which are not prohibited or restricted, 3[no such fine shall be imposed]:
Provided further that], without prejudice to the provisions of the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 115, such fine shall not exceed the market price of the goods confiscated, less in the case of imported goods the duty chargeable thereon.
4[(2) Where any fine in lieu of confiscation of goods is imposed under sub-section (1), the owner of such goods or the person referred to in sub-section (1), shall, in addition, be liable to any duty and charges payable in respect of such goods.]
5[(3) Where the fine imposed under sub-section (1) is not paid within a period of one hundred and twenty days from the date of option given thereunder, such option shall become void, unless an appeal against such order is pending.
Explanation.--For removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that in cases where an order under sub-section (1) has been passed before the date on which the Finance Bill, 2018 receives the assent of the President and no appeal is pending against such order as on that date, the option under said sub-section may be exercised within a period of one hundred and twenty days from the date on which such assent is received.]
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1. Ins. by Act 80 of 1985, s. 9 (w.e.f. 27-12-1985).
2. Subs. by Act 13 of 2018, s. 95, for Provided that (w.e.f. 28-3-2018).
3. Subs. by Act 23 of 2019, s. 78, for "the provisions of this section shall not apply" (w.e.f. 1-8-2019).
4. Subs. by Act 80 of 1985, s. 9, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 27-12-1985).
5. Ins. by Act 13 of 2018, s. 95 (w.e.f. 28-3-2018).
- 111 Confiscation of improperly imported goods, etc
- 112 Penalty for improper importation of goods, etc
- 113 Confiscation of goods attempted to be improperly exported, etc
- 114 Penalty for attempt to export goods improperly, etc
- 114A Penalty for short-levy or non-levy of duty in certain cases
- 114AA Penalty for use of false and incorrect material
- 115 Confiscation of conveyances
- 116 Penalty for not accounting for goods
- 117 Penalties for contravention, etc., not expressly mentioned
- 118 Confiscation of packages and their contents
- 119 Confiscation of goods used for concealing smuggled good
- 120 Confiscation of smuggled goods notwithstanding any change in form, etc
- 121 Confiscation of sale-proceeds of smuggled goods
- 122 Adjudication of confiscations and penalties
- 122A Adjudication Procedure
- 123 Burden of proof in certain cases
- 124 Issue of show cause notice before confiscation of goods, etc
- 125 Option to pay fine in lieu of confiscation
- 126 On confiscation, property to vest in Central Government
- 127 Award of confiscation or penalty by customs officers not to interfere with other punishments
