The Tamil Nadu Drugs and Other Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1986

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The Tamil Nadu Drugs and Other Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1986

Act 6 of 1988

Keyword(s): Drug, Inspector, Other Stores

. ,r. . 5. TAMIL .-.NADU ' ' ' The following Act of the Tamil Nadu Legislature received the assent of the President on the 17th -bar 1988 and is hereby published for generd informatioa :- ACT No. 6 OF 1988. An Act to provide for the punishment of thr oflence of unlawful possession of drugs and other stores belonging to the Government- of Tamil Nadu.

BE it enacted by the iegisiature oi the State of Tamil Nada h the!

Thirty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :-

(1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Drugs and Other Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1986. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (1) "drug" includes— (i) all medicines for internal or external use of human beings or animals and all substances intended to be used for, or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of, disease in human beings or animals; and (ii) such substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the human body or, intended to be used for the destruction of vermin or insects which cause disease in human beings or animals as may be specified from time to time by the Government, by notification, and such substances which have been specified by the Central Government from time to time under sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of section 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (Central Act XXIII of 1940), and belonging to, or in the charge or possession of, a department of the Government and having such seal or mark as may be notified by the Government in this behalf indicating that they belong to a department of the Government; (2) "Government" means the State Government; (3) "Inspector" means an Inspector appointed under section 21 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (Central Act XXIII of 1940), by the Government and includes any officer of the Police Department not below the rank of Sub-Inspector and any other officer of the Government specified by Government by notification, in this behalf; (4) "other stores" includes articles of linen, instruments, appliances or such other articles as may be specified by the Government in this behalf belonging to, or in the charge or possession of, a department of the Government and having such seal or mark as may be notified by the Government in this behalf indicating that they belong to a department of the Government.

(1) If any person is found, or is proved to have been, in possession of any drugs or other stores belonging to, or in the charge or possession of, a department of the Government and having such seal or mark as notified under clauses (1) and (4) of section 2, which are reasonably suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained, and if he cannot account satisfactorily how he came to possess the same, he shall be punished for a first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to Rs. 3,000 but such imprisonment shall not be less than one year and such fine shall not be less than Rs. 1,000. (2) In the case of a second or subsequent offence, any such person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to Rs. 5,000 but such imprisonment shall not be less than two years and such fine shall not be less than Rs. 2,000.

(1) An Inspector may, within the local limits of the area for which he is appointed,— (a) enter and search at all reasonable times, with such assistants, if any, as he considers necessary any place in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been or is being committed, seize the stock of such drugs and other stores in respect of which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been or is being committed; and (b) examine any record, register, document or any other material object found in any place mentioned in clause (a) and seize the same if he has reason to believe that it may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act. (2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this Act as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said Code. (3) Where an Inspector seizes the stocks of drug or other stores under clause (a) of sub-section (1), he shall as soon as may be, inform a Magistrate and take his orders as to the custody thereof. (4) Where an Inspector seizes any record, register, document or any other material object under clause (b) of sub-section (1), he shall, as soon as may be, inform a Magistrate and take his orders as to the custody thereof. (5) If any person willfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by or under this Act, he shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs. 1,000 or with both.

In any case in which an offence has been committed against this Act, the drug or other stores in respect of which the offence has been committed, shall be confiscated to the Government.

(1) When the offender is convicted or when the person charged with an offence against this Act is acquitted, but the court decides that anything is liable to confiscation, such confiscation may be ordered by the court.

When any drug or other stores has been confiscated under this Act, such drug or other stores shall be taken possession of by such officer of the Medical Services Department as may be prescribed.

The Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

(1) (a) All rules made under this Act shall be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and, unless they are expressed to come into force on a particular day, shall come into force on the day on which they are so published. (b) All notifications issued under this Act, shall, unless they are expressed to come into force on a particular day, come into force on the day on which they are published. (2) Every rule made or notification issued under this Act shall, as soon as possible, after it is made or issued be placed on the table of both Houses of the Legislature and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so placed, or the next session, both Houses agree in making any modification in any such rule or notification or both Houses agree that the rule or notification should not be made or issued, the rule or notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or notification.