Custom Act, 1962
106.
Power to Stop and Search Conveyances. –
(1)
Where the proper officer has reason to believe that any aircraft, vehicle or
animal in India or any vessel in India or within the Indian customs waters has
been, is being, or is about to be, used in the smuggling of any goods or in the
carriage of any goods which have been smuggled, he may at any time stop any
such vehicle, animal or vessel or, in the case of an aircraft, compel it to
land, and –
(a) rummage and search any part of the aircraft, vehicle or vessel;
(b) examine and search any goods in the aircraft, vehicle or vessel or
on the animal;
(c) break open the lock of any door or package for exercising the powers
conferred by clauses (a) and
(b), if the keys are withheld.
(2)
Where for the purposes of sub-section (1) –
(a) it becomes necessary to stop any vessel or compel any aircraft to
land, it shall be lawful for any vessel or aircraft in the service of the
Government while flying her proper flag and any authority authorised in this
behalf by the Central Government to summon such vessel to stop or the aircraft
to land, by means of an international signal, code or other recognized means,
and thereupon, such vessel shall forthwith stop or such aircraft shall
forthwith land; and if it fails to do so, chase may be given thereto by any
vessel or aircraft as aforesaid and if after a gun is fired as a signal the
vessel fails to stop or the aircraft fails to land, it may be fired upon;
(b) it becomes necessary to stop any vehicle or animal, the proper
officer may use all lawful means for stopping it, and where such means fail, the
vehicle or animal may be fired upon.