Ludicrous declaration for domestic passengers travelling in international flights
RECENTLY I flew to Hyderabad from Bangalore by Air India's Bangalore-Muscat flight. Along with my Boarding Pass, I was given a declaration form which I was asked to sign and hand over to the Customs Officer. The form required me to give a declaration that I do not possess the following articles or that I have valid customs clearance adjustments. The form was to be signed before a Customs Officer and to be countersigned by the Customs escorting officer. [This escort business is a strange concept in itself. More on that a little later.]
1. Watches, watch movements or parts thereof – of foreign origin
2. Transistors and diodes
3. Photographic cameras including Video Cameras
4. TV sets
5. VCRs, VCPs and Video Tapes [ who has them these days?]
(All the goods listed at S.Nos . 1 to 5 above are also available in a single instrument called a cell phone – a majority of the cell phone models available in the market these days have all these features in-built into a single instrument. Nowadays every person has a fancy of buying a cell phone with all these features and they also travel by air and more likely end up in international flights for reaching domestic destinations. So, how about declaring a cell phone and more so a cell phone with all the above technological features. What is the point?)
6. Zip fasteners
[Every male (or) female wearing a trouser will invariably have a zip fastener – so what is the Customs gaining out of this piece of declaration. Hope they don't ask for a physical examination]
7. Any other electronic items
8. Gold bullion and gold jewellery
(Gold jewellery is fashionable. These days men are wearing more jewellery than women. And can't I carry a laptop or a flash drive?)
9. Silver bullion and coins
10. Foreign currency
11. Indian currency beyond Rs. 5000/-
(Are we living in medieval times? With inflation touching double digits, a sugar bag weighing a quintal is costing Rs. 5000/-. So, what are we trying to prove if we catch a person travelling with more than Rs. 5000/- that too to a domestic destination? Nowadays, banks are issuing international debit cards with far higher ceiling for cash withdrawal. What is the sanctity for this Rs. 5000/-?)
12. Any other dutiable/imported item
(All the goods tucked into a suitcase/ briefcase, worn by the passenger are dutiable goods. Will there be any dispute on that?)
With such outdated declaration forms, what is the Customs or for that matter Air India trying to prove? Why should we waste time and paper in such ridiculous activities?