SC clears way for authorities to search jewellery shops

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the customs authorities to conduct search at the jewellery shops in the country to find whether the jewellery were imported legally or not.

The apex court stayed a High Court order that directed the customs authorities not to conduct search at the jewellery shops without due process of law.

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why they should not be directed to formulate a policy on the import and export of jewellery.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order and the rule following a leave to appeal petition filed by the government against the HC order.

The SC chamber judge also sent the leave to appeal petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division for its hearing on October 12 after the government moved the petition before the court today.

Deputy Attorney General SM Moniruzzaman told The Daily Star that now there is no legal bar for the customs authorities to conduct search at the jewellery shops to find whether the jewellery were imported legally or not.

Following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Jewellery Samity (Association), the HC on June 8 directed the customs authorities not to conduct search at the jewellery shops without due process of law and also asked the National Board of Revenue to settle in a month their application for formulating a policy on the import and export of jewellery.

Barrister ABM Altaf Hossain appeared for the writ petitioner.