Orissa High Court Issues New Guidelines to Prevent Indefinite Seizure of Property

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has introduced comprehensive guidelines to improve judicial efficiency and prevent the prolonged retention of seized assets, aiming to balance legal requirements with property rights.

The new guidelines seek to prevent the unjustified retention of confiscated items and expedite decisions regarding the return or disposal of assets. The guidelines aim to promote transparency in the management of seized assets.

According to the guidelines, seized cash must be released quickly once legal conditions are fulfilled or upon submission of security bonds.

Bank deposits and fixed deposits can be returned to owners in exchange for appropriate property security or bank guarantees.

Precious items, such as valuables, must be stored securely in court-supervised lockers.

Vehicles, liquor, narcotics, electronics, and perishable items should be kept in secure storage to prevent damage or misuse.

Items no longer required for trial must be returned promptly to their rightful owners.

A time-bound review mechanism requires regular compliance checks to prevent delays or mismanagement of seized assets, the court said.