Sale of adulterated drugs
Full Text
Whoever, knowing any drug or medical preparation to have been adulterated in such a manner as to lessen its efficacy, to change its operation, or to render it noxious, sells the same, or offers or exposes it for sale, or issues it from any dispensary for medicinal purposes as unadulterated, or causes it to be used for medicinal purposes by any person not knowing of the adulteration, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Plain English Summary
Punishes anyone who knowingly sells, offers for sale, issues from a dispensary, or causes someone to use an adulterated drug as if it were unadulterated.
Key Legal Elements
- Selling, offering/exposing for sale, issuing from a dispensary, or causing someone to use a drug or medical preparation.
- The drug or medical preparation was adulterated in a way that reduced its efficacy, altered its function, or made it noxious.
- The accused did so with knowledge of the adulteration, representing it as unadulterated.
Punishment
Imprisonment of either description up to 6 months, or fine up to 5,000 rupees, or both.
Practical Note
While Section 276 BNS penalizes the act of adulterating drugs, Section 277 BNS penalizes the sale or supply of such adulterated drugs. The crucial requirement is that the accused must have 'knowledge' of the adulteration at the time of sale or distribution. It is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई यह जानते हुए कि किसी औषधि या भेषजीय निर्मिति (चिकित्सकीय तैयारी) में इस प्रकार अपमिश्रण किया गया है कि उसकी प्रभावकारिता कम हो जाए या उसकी क्रिया बदल जाए या वह अपायकर (हानिकारक) बन जाए, उसे बेचेगा या बेचने के लिए प्रपेश (पेश) करेगा या प्रदर्शित करेगा या किसी औषधालय (dispensary) से औषधीय प्रयोजनों के लिए उसे अनपमिश्रित (बिना मिलावट वाली) के रूप में जारी करेगा या किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति द्वारा, जो उस अपमिश्रण को न जानता हो, औषधीय प्रयोजनों के लिए उसका उपयोग कराएगा, वह दोनों में से किसी भांति के कारावास से, जिसकी अवधि छह मास तक की हो सकेगी, या जुर्माने से, जो पांच हजार रुपये तक का हो सकेगा, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।