21. Inspectors. – (1) The Central Government or a State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such persons as it thinks fit, having the prescribed qualifications, to be Inspectors for such areas as may be assigned to them by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be.

(2) The powers which may be exercised by an Inspector and the duties which may be performed by him, the drugs or [(Note: Subs. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.17 for "class of drugs" (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) classes of drugs or cosmetics or classes of cosmetics] in relation to which and the conditions, limitations or restrictions subject to which, such powers and duties may be exercised or performed shall be such as may be prescribed.

(3) No person who has any financial interest [(Note: Subs. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.17, for "in the manufacture, import or sale of drugs" (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) in the import, manufacture or sale of drugs or cosmetics] shall be appointed to be an Inspector under this section.

(4) Every Inspector shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, and shall be officially subordinate to such authority [(Note: Ins. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.18 (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)), having the prescribed qualifications,] as the Government appointing him may specify in this behalf.]

COMMENTS

Judicial notice can be taken ofthe fact of a person being appointed as Inspector of Drugs under section 21(1) of the Act when the relevant notification published in the Official Gazette has been referred to; Ramlagun Singh v.State of Bihar, AIR 1960 Pat. 243.

22. Powers of Inspectors. – (1) Subject to the provisions of section 23 and of any rules made by the Central Government in this behalf, an Inspector may, within the local limits of the area for which he is appointed, -

(a) [(Note: Subs. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19, for clauses (a), (b) and (c) (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)). inspect, --

(i) Any premises wherein any drug or cosmetic is being manufactured and the means employed for stand arising and testing the drug or cosmetic ;

(ii) Any premises wherein any drug or cosmetic is being sold, or stocked or exhibited or offered for sale, or distributed ;

(b) Take samples of any drug or cosmetic, -

(i) Which is being manufactured or being sold or is stocked or exhibited or offered for sale, or is being distributed ;

(ii) From any person who is in the course of conveying, delivering or preparing to deliver such drug or cosmetic to a purchaser or a consignee ;

(c) At all reasonable times, with such assistance, if any, as he considers necessary, -

(i) Search any person, who, he has reason to believe, has secreted about his person, any drug or cosmetic in respect of which an offence under this Chapter has been, or is being, committed ; or

(ii) Enter and search any place in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Chapter has been, or is being, committed ; or

(iii) Stop and search any vehicle, vessel or other conveyance which, he has reason to believe, is being used for carrying any drug or cosmetic in respect of which an offence under this Chapter has been, or is being, committed, and order in writing the person in possession of the drug or cosmetic in respect of which the offence has been, or is being, committed, not to dispose of any stock of such drug or cosmetic for a specified period not exceeding twenty days, or, unless the alleged offence is such that the defect may be removed by the possessor of the drug or cosmetic, seize the stock of such drug or cosmetic and any substance or article by means of which the offence has been, or is being committed or which may be employed for the commission of such offence ;

[(cc) (Note: Ins. by Act 35 of 1960, sec.5 (w.e.f. 16-3-1961)) examine any record, register, document or any other material object found [(Note: Subs. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)) with any person, or in any place, vehicle, vessel or other conveyance referred to in clause (c)], 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 or the rules made thereunder ;]

[(cca) (Note: Ins. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19 (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)) Require any person to produce any record, register, or other document relating to the manufacture for sale or for distribution, stocking, exhibition for sale, offer for sale or distribution of any drug or cosmetic in respect of which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Chapter has been, or is being, or is being, committed ;]

(d) Exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Chapter or any rules made there under.

(2) The provisions of [(Note: Subs. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19, for "the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898" (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)) the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this Chapter as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under [(Note: Subs. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19, for "section 98" (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)) section 94] of the said Code.

[(2A) (Note: Ins. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19 (w.e.f. 1-2-1983)) Every record, register or other document seized under clause (cc) or produced under clause (cca) shall be returned to the person, from whom they were seized or who produce the same, within a period of twenty days of the date of such seizure or production, as the case may be, after copies thereof or extracts therefrom certified by that person, in such manner as may be prescribed, have been taken.]

(3) If any person willfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by or under this Chapter [(Note: Ins. by Act 68 of 1982, sec.19 (w.e.f. 1-2-1983) or refuses to produce any record, register or other document when so required under clause (cca) of sub-section (1),] he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.]

COMMENTS

(i) An order prohibiting disposal of certain drugs is invalid and illegal because it can be issued only for specified period not exceeding twenty days under section 22(1) (c); B.K.D. Rajeshwari v. State of Kerala, AIR 1984 Ker 95.

(ii) Since under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act a search or seizure by a Drugs Inspector is equated to a search and seizure under the authority of a warrant, it is not necessary for a Drugs Inspector to record his reasons for making a search; Public Prosecutor v. Mahaveer Prasad, 1972 Cri LJ 1546.

24. Persons bound to disclose place where drugs or cosmetics are manufactured or kept. – Every person for the time being in charge of any premises whereon any drug [(Note: Ins. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.15 (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) or cosmetic] is being manufactured or is kept for sale or distribution shall, on being required by any Inspector so to do, be legally bound to disclose to the Inspector the place where the drug [(Note: Ins. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.15 (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) or cosmetic] is being manufactured or is kept, as the case may be.

25. Reports of Government Analysts. – (1) The Government Analyst to whom a sample of any drug [(Note: Ins. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.15 (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) or cosmetic] has been submitted for test or analysis under sub-section (4) of section 23, shall deliver to the Inspector submitting it is signed report in triplicate in the prescribed form.

(2) The Inspector on receipt thereof shall deliver one copy of the report to the person from whom the sample was taken [(Note: Subs. by Act 13 of 1964, sec.17, for certain words (w.e.f. 15-9-1964)) and another copy to the person, if any, whose name, address and other particulars have been disclosed under section 18A], and shall retain the third copy for use in any prosecution in respect of the sample.

(3) Any document purporting to be a report signed by a Government Analyst under this Chapter shall be evidence of the facts stated therein, and such evidence shall be conclusive unless the person from whom the sample was taken [(Note: Subs. by Act 13 of 1964, sec.17, for "or the said warrantor" (w.e.f. 15-9-1964)) or the person whose name, address and other particulars have been disclosed under section 18A] has, within twenty-eight days of the receipt of a copy of the report, notified in writing the Inspector or the Court before which any proceedings in respect of the sample are pending that he intends to adduce evidence in contravention of the report.

(4) Unless the sample has already been tested or analysed in the Central Drugs Laboratory, where a person has under sub-section (3) notified his intention of adducing evidence in contravention of a Government Analyst’s report, the Court may, of its own motion or in its discretion at the request either of the complainant or the accused cause the sample of the drug [(Note: Ins. by Act 21 of 1962, sec.15 (w.e.f. 27-7-1964)) or cosmetic] produced before the Magistrate under sub-section (4) of Section 23 to be sent for test or analysis to the said Laboratory, which shall make the test or analysis and report in writing signed by, or under the authority of, the Director of the Central Drugs Laboratory the result thereof, and such report shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated therein.

(5) The cost of a test or analysis made by the Central Drugs Laboratory under sub-section (4) shall be paid by the complainant or accused as the Court shall direct.

COMMENTS

(i) Section 25 does not offend Article 21 of the Constitution as it has sufficiently protected the basic right of an accused to defend himself; T.Babulal v.Drugs Inspector, Madras, 1969 Cri LJ 699: (1970) 1 M LJ 124.

(ii) There can be no prejudice to the accused if the Drugs Inspector, instead of sending the sample to the Government Analyst, sends it to a higher authority namely the Central Drugs Laboratory; Ram Shankar Misra v. State of U.P., (1980) 1 SCC 255.

(iii) The Public Analyst can analyse the sample himself or cause it to be analysed by some other person; Bechan v.State, AIR 1966 All 91:1966 Cri LJ 122.

(iv) It is not necessary to mention in the analysis report the methods or technological processes adopted by the Analyst; Dhian Singh v.Municipal Board, Saharanpur, AIR 1970 SC 318: (1969) 2 SCC 371.

(v) If accused wants to call the Public Analyst as a witness it is his duty to take appropriate steps; Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Asa Ram, 1972 Cri LJ 1651 (Del.).