NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court recently clarified that a single Rolex watch cannot be deemed a commercial quantity and allowed the redemption of the detained item, while emphasising caution in future adjudications. A division bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Sahil Jain was hearing a petition challenging an order passed by the office of the Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport, New Delhi, regarding the detention and proposed confiscation of a Rolex watch belonging to a Dubai resident. The bench observed that while the order by the Customs Commissioner correctly allowed redemption of the detained goods, it erred in concluding that a single Rolex watch constituted a commercial quantity. The court said, “Clearly, this Court is of the view that one Rolex watch cannot be held to be a commercial quantity, and there is no reason why the same cannot be kept for personal use.” The petitioner, a Dubai resident, had travelled to India and, upon arrival at the airport, his single Rolex watch was detained for alleged non-declaration. He approached the high court, challenging the order—particularly the classification of a single watch as a commercial quantity—and sought clarity on the redemption procedure. Counsel for the petitioner argued that a single Rolex watch could not be considered a commercial quantity and could legitimately be kept for personal use. The petitioner requested the court to allow redemption without dispute over the personal use claim, while upholding the payment of the previously imposed redemption fine. Highlighting the need for careful adjudication, the court allowed the petition, directing the petitioner to pay the redemption fine by October 31 and redeem the detained Rolex watch in accordance with the original order.