Customs Department, GST Officials Get Arrest Powers
▪ The Supreme Court confirmed that legislative amendments granting arrest powers to Customs and Goods and Services Tax (GST) officials are constitutionally valid
▪ In 2011, the Supreme Court had ruled that before making arrests under the Customs Act of 1944 and Central Excise Act, officials must obtain warrants from a judicial magistrate as per the Criminal Procedure Code
Following this ruling, the central government made amendments under Section 104 of the Customs Act
▪ Similarly, under the GST Act of 2017, officials have been granted arrest powers in specific cases. Around 280 petitions were filed regarding this issue
