Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation
Full Text
Whoever knowingly sells, or offers or exposes for sale, or issues from a dispensary for medicinal purposes, any drug or medical preparation, as a different drug or medical preparation, 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, or dispenses a drug or medical preparation while falsely representing it as a different drug or preparation.
Key Legal Elements
- Selling, offering/exposing for sale, or dispensing from a dispensary a drug or medical preparation.
- The article is sold or issued as a completely different drug or medical preparation.
- The accused did so knowingly (with knowledge of the substitution).
Punishment
Imprisonment of either description up to 6 months, or fine up to 5,000 rupees, or both.
Practical Note
This section addresses mislabeling or substitution of drugs. Unlike Section 277 which deals with adulterated (degraded) drugs, Section 278 targets selling a completely different drug (e.g., substituting a generic or different medicine under a false name). It must be done 'knowingly'. It is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई, किसी औषधि या भेषजीय निर्मिति (चिकित्सकीय तैयारी) को, जानबूझकर भिन्न औषधि या भेषजीय निर्मिति के रूप में बेचेगा, या बेचने के लिए प्रपेश (पेश) करेगा या प्रदर्शित करेगा, या औषधालय से चिकित्सीय प्रयोजनों के लिए जारी करेगा, वह दोनों में से किसी भी भांति के कारावास से दंडित किया जाएगा, जिसकी अवधि छह महीने तक की हो सकती है, या जुर्माने से, जो पाँच हजार रुपये तक का हो सकता है, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।