#seizure procedure

The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that a magistrate’s judicial record under Section 52A NDPS Act, certifying non-production of seized vehicles, is final and cannot be challenged via writ petition if the error was not raised before the same court. The decision reinforces the binding nature of judicial records in NDPS cases and limits recourse to post-facto legal challenges.

The Karnataka High Court quashed a conviction for illicit liquor transport after finding the prosecution failed to conduct mandatory chemical analysis of seized samples and violated procedural safeguards under Sections 43-A and 54 of the Karnataka Excise Act. This ruling reinforces that procedural compliance is not optional - it is the bedrock of admissibility in excise prosecutions, directly impacting police evidence collection and trial outcomes across the state.

Chhattisgarh High Court sets aside conviction under the Excise Act due to procedural non-compliance, emphasizing that failure to seal seized liquor and conduct a test identification parade undermines evidentiary value. The ruling reinforces strict adherence to seizure protocols to sustain convictions in excise offenses.