Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962)

CHAPTER IV

PROHIBITIONS ON IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION OF GOODS

SECTION 11. Power to prohibit importation or exportation of goods. (1) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do for any of the purposes specified in sub-section (2), it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit either absolutely or subject to such conditions (to be fulfilled before or after clearance) as may be specified in the notification, the import or export of goods of any specified description.

(2) The purposes referred to in sub-section (1) are the following :-

(a)      the maintenance of the security of India;

(b)      the maintenance of public order and standards of decency or morality;

(c)   the prevention of smuggling;

(d)   the prevention of shortage of goods of any description;

(e)      the conservation of foreign exchange and the safeguarding of balance of payments;

(f)       the prevention of injury to the economy of the country by the uncontrolled import or export of gold or silver;

(g)      the prevention of surplus of any agricultural product or the product of fisheries;

(h)     the maintenance of standards for the classification, grading or marketing of goods in international trade;

(i)    the establishment of any industry;

(j)       the prevention of serious injury to domestic production of goods of any description;

(k)   the protection of human, animal or plant life or health;

(l)    the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value;

(m)  the conservation of exhaustible natural resources;

(n)   the protection of patents, trade marks and copyrights;

(o)   the prevention of deceptive practices;

(p)     the carrying on of foreign trade in any goods by the State, or by a Corporation owned or controlled by the State to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens of India;

(q)      the fulfilment of obligations under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security;

(r)      the implementation of any treaty, agreement or convention with any country;

(s)      the compliance of imported goods with any laws which are applicable to similar goods produced or manufactured in India;

(t)       the prevention of dissemination of documents containing any matter which is likely to prejudicially affect friendly relations with any foreign State or is derogatory to national prestige;

(u)     the prevention of the contravention of any law for the time being in force; and

(v)      any other purpose conducive to the interests of the general public.