KOCHI: Permission of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is needed for importing drones, stated the Kerala High Court.
The court made the observation while dismissing a petition filed by Jagdev Damodaran, a non-resident Indian, seeking a directive to release his drone detained by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs.
The petitioner said he had brought a drone from abroad, for use at his photo studio in Kochi. The Customs Department seized the drone, stating that permission/licence was required for importing drone.
“The passenger has not obtained clearance from the DGCA and import licence from the DGFT, hence failed to comply with the rules. Therefore, the drone brought by the petitioner comes under the category of ‘prohibited goods,’ as defined under the Customs Act-1962,” held the court.