Section 24. Power to deal with postal articles containing goods contraband or liable to duty

24. Power to deal with postal articles containing goods contraband or liable to duty.—[4] [ Except as otherwise provided in this Act, where a postal article suspected to contain any goods of which the import by post or the transmission by post is prohibited by or under any enactment for the time being in force,] or anything liable to duty, is received for delivery at a post office, the officer in charge of the post office shall send a notice in writing to the addressee inviting him to attend, either in person or by agent, within a specified time at the post office, and shall in the presence of the addressee or his agent, or if the addressee or his agent fails to attend as aforesaid then in his absence, open and examine the postal article: Provided, first, that, if the Director General so directs in the case of any post office or class of post offices, the officer in charge of the post office shall call in two respectable persons as witnesses before he opens a postal article in the absence of the addressee or his agent: Provided, secondly, that in all cases a postal article, after being opened under this section, shall be delivered to the addressee, unless it is required for the purpose of any further proceeding under this or any other law or enactment for the time being in force, and that the opening of the postal article and the circumstances connected therewith shall be immediately reported to the Post Master General. 5* * * * * 6 — [ 24A. Power to deliver such articles to Customs authority. The Central Government may, by general or special order, empower any officer of the Post Office, specified in such order, to deliver postal article, received from beyond the limits of[7] [India] and suspected to contain anything liable to duty, to such Customs authority as may be specified in the said order, and such Customs authority shall deal with 1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1912, s. 3. 2. Ins. by Act 7 of 1958, s. 3. 3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1912, s. 3, for clause (b). 4. Subs. by s. 4, ibid ., for "Where a postal article, suspected to contain any contraband goods". 5. The proviso omitted by Act 15 of 1921, s. 2. 6. Ins. by s. 3, ibid . 7. Subs. by Act 25 of 1950, s. 11 and the Fourth Schedule, for "the States". such article in accordance with the provisions of the Sea Customs Act, 1878 (8 of 1878)[1] , or of any other law for the time being in force.]