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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUnder the current version of India’s CGST Act, Section 129(3) gives the proper officer two separate seven-day deadlines: issue a penalty notice within seven days of detention or seizure, then pass an order within seven days after that notice is served. The second period does not run from the detention date. Payment or equivalent security is connected to release, but Section 129(3) does not set a separate seven-day release deadline.
What are the two seven-day deadlines under Section 129(3)?
The current text of Section 129(3) sets two sequential statutory limits. The proper officer must issue a notice specifying the penalty within seven days of detention or seizure. The officer must then pass an order for payment within seven days from the date the notice is served. CBIC’s current Section 129 text states both triggers and periods.
| Stage | Clock starts | Responsible party and required action | What follows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty notice | Detention or seizure | Proper officer issues a notice specifying the penalty within seven days. | The person concerned must have an opportunity to be heard before a penalty is determined. |
| Payment order | Service of the penalty notice | Proper officer passes an order for payment within seven days from service. | The order is for the applicable penalty under Section 129(1)(a) or (b). |
| Possible disposal if unpaid | Receipt of a copy of the order | If the penalty remains unpaid for 15 days, the goods or conveyance may become liable to sale or other disposal, subject to the statutory provisos. | The Act allows a shorter period in specified cases and sets a separate ceiling for release of the conveyance. |
These are not a single 14-day deadline. The first clock begins with detention or seizure; the second begins only when the notice is served. Keep the dates of detention or seizure, notice service, and receipt of the order copy distinct.
When does the officer have to issue the notice?
The first period begins when the goods or conveyance are detained or seized. The officer must issue the penalty notice within seven days of that event. The Act also requires an order of detention or seizure to be served on the person transporting the goods before the detention or seizure.
When does the second seven-day period start?
It starts on service of the Section 129(3) notice—not on the detention or seizure date, and not simply when the notice is issued. Within seven days from service, the proper officer must pass the order for payment. Before determining the penalty, the officer must give the person concerned an opportunity of being heard.
How long after detention do I have to pay, and when are goods released?
Section 129(3) sets deadlines for the officer’s notice and order; it does not create a separate seven-day payment window for the person or a separate seven-day release deadline. Section 129(1) provides for release on payment of the applicable penalty or on furnishing equivalent security. Under Section 129(5), payment of the amount referred to in subsection (1) concludes the proceedings in respect of the notice.
CBIC Circular No. 41/15/2018-GST describes the procedural forms used in the interception and detention workflow: FORM GST MOV-06 for detention, FORM GST MOV-07 for the Section 129(3) notice, and FORM GST MOV-05 for release after the applicable amount has been paid. The [circular](https://cbic-gst.gov.in/pdf/ Circular_41_15_2018.pdf) predates the current deadlines, so use it for form and workflow context rather than as the authority for today’s time limits or penalty calculation.
What happens if the penalty remains unpaid?
Under the current Section 129(6), if the penalty is not paid within 15 days from receipt of a copy of the subsection (3) order, the goods or conveyance may become liable to sale or other disposal to recover the penalty. The provision allows a shorter period in specified cases involving perishable, hazardous, or depreciating goods, and separately limits the period for which the conveyance may be detained before release. Read the statutory provisos for the circumstances and conditions that apply.
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Which version of Section 129 applies?
CBIC’s Act page notes that subsection (3) was substituted by section 117(iii) of the Finance Act, 2021, with effect from 1 January 2022. The current wording expressly sets the seven-day notice period and the separate seven-day period after service for the order. Subsection (6) was also replaced with the current 15-day period measured from receipt of the order copy. Older explanations referring to a 14-day period from detention or seizure, or to a Section 130 proceeding under the former wording, do not describe these current provisions. See the current Act text and amendment history.
This explains the statutory sequence, not how a deadline or remedy applies to a particular detention. If goods are currently detained, the relevant dates, documents, and facts may affect the next step; consider obtaining case-specific GST legal advice.
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