He said they were seeking legal advice on the issue as they had been importing such maps for six years now.

“While we had maps showing our global network imported every year, these were physical maps. This time political maps were also published and that is what is holding back the consignment. However, the intent is not even remotely dangerous or malicious on our part”, the executive said.

Customs officials say the “destruction” of such a consignment is fully within rules. “Only a map certified by the Surveyor General of India can be published. If the map published in any printed material that is imported does not have that clearance, it is liable to be confiscated and destroyed under Section 11 of the Customs Act. It is fully within our purview to detain such material, issue show cause notice to the party importing it and to impose a penalty. There is also a Delhi High court order on this issue. In some cases the map is stamped to declare its inauthenticity subject to a close scrutiny — that is usually done for foreign news magazines but this being a brochure, we need to destroy it,” said A K Khanna, Assistant Commissioner (Technical), Customs department, IGI airport.

In 2004, on the issue of import and sale of Chinese-made toy globes incorrectly depicting India’s external boundaries, the Delhi High Court ruled that Customs officials should not permit imports of globes or maps which depict the territory of India incorrectly.