Adulteration of drugs
Full Text
Whoever adulterates any drug or medical preparation in such a manner as to lessen the efficacy or change the operation of such drug or medical preparation, or to make it noxious, intending that it shall be sold or used for, or knowing it to be likely that it will be sold or used for, any medicinal purpose, as if it had not undergone such adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Plain English Summary
Punishes anyone who adulterates a drug or medical preparation to reduce its efficacy, alter its function, or make it noxious, with the intent or knowledge that it will be sold or used for medicinal purposes.
Key Legal Elements
- Adulteration of any drug or medical preparation.
- Adulteration reduces the drug's efficacy, alters its operation, or makes it noxious.
- Intent or knowledge that the drug will be sold or used as unadulterated for medicinal purposes.
Punishment
Imprisonment of either description up to 1 year, or fine up to 5,000 rupees, or both.
Practical Note
To secure a conviction under Section 276, the prosecution must show that the adulteration changed the drug's effect, reduced its strength/efficacy, or made it noxious (harmful). Selling the drug as unadulterated is a key element. It is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई किसी औषधि या भेषजीय निर्मिति (चिकित्सकीय तैयारी) में इस प्रकार अपमिश्रण करेगा कि उस औषधि या भेषजीय निर्मिति की प्रभावकारिता कम हो जाए या उसकी क्रिया बदल जाए या वह अपायकर (हानिकारक) बन जाए, इस आशय से कि वह किसी औषधीय प्रयोजन के लिए इस प्रकार बेची या उपयोग में लाई जाए मानो उसमें ऐसा अपमिश्रण न हुआ हो, या यह जानते हुए अपमिश्रण करेगा कि यह सम्भाव्य है कि वह इस प्रकार बेची या उपयोग में लाई जाएगी, वह दोनों में से किसी भांति के कारावास से, जिसकी अवधि एक वर्ष तक की हो सकेगी, या जुर्माने से, जो पांच हजार रुपये तक का हो सकेगा, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।