In Brief
ITC Limited's warehouse in Bengaluru was inspected by Legal Metrology officials, who seized 7,600 exercise book packages for allegedly violating Rule 24(a) by using affixed labels instead of printed declarations on wholesale packaging. No search warrant was obtained and no 'reasons to believe' were recorded. The Supreme Court held that the search and seizure were entirely illegal because they violated mandatory Criminal Procedure Code safeguards: no warrant, no recorded reasons, and no independent witnesses as required by law. The Court emphasized that special enactments like the Legal Metrology Act must comply with Criminal Procedure Code procedures unless explicitly excluded, and that the distinction between 'open' and 'closed' premises cannot bypass these protections. All proceedings stemming from the illegal search were quashed and the seized goods were ordered released.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.