Section 27 of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 - Penalty for manufacture, sale, etc., of drugs in contravention of this Chapter

Section 27 Penalty for manufacture, sale, etc., of drugs in contravention of this Chapter1: Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940

Whoever, himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or for distribution, or sells, or stocks or exhibits or offers for sale or distributes,-

(a) any drug deemed to be adulterated under section 17A or spurious under section 2 [17B and which] when used by any person for or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of any disease or disorder is likely to cause his death or is likely to cause such harm on his body as would amount to grevious hurt within the meaning of section 320 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) solely on account of such drug being adulterated or spurious or not of standard quality, as the case may be, shall be 3 [punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees or three times value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more]:

4[Provided that the fine imposed on and released from, the person convicted under this clause shall be paid, by way of compensation, to the person who had used the adulterated or spurious drugs referred to in this clause:

Provided further that where the use of the adulterated or, spurious drugs referred to in this clause has caused the death of a person who used such drugs, the fine imposed on and realised from, the person convicted under this clause, shall be paid to the relative of the person who had died due to the use of the adulterated or spurious drugs referred to in this clause.

Explanation.-For the purposes of the second proviso, the expression "relative" means-

(i) spouse of the deceased person; or

(ii) a minor legitimate son, and unmarried legitimate daughter and a widowed mother; or

(iii) parent of the minor victim; or

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1. Subs. by Act 68 of 1982, s. 22, for sections 27 and 27A (w.e.f. 1-2-1983).

2. Subs. by Act 26 of 2008, s. 6, for "17B or which" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to a term of life and with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees;" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

4. The provisos ins. by s. 6, ibid. (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

(iv) if wholly dependent on the earnings of the deceased person at the time of his death, a son or a daughter who has attained the age of eighteen years; or

(v) any person, if wholly or in part, dependent on the earnings of the deceased person at the time of his death,-

(a) the parent; or

(b) a minor brother or an unmarried sister; or

(d) a widowed sister; or

(e) a minor child of a pre-deceased son; or

(f) a minor child of a pre-deceased daughter where no parent of the child is alive; or

(g) the paternal grandparent if no parent of the member is alive;]

(b) any drug-

(i) deemed to be adulterated under section 17A but not being a drug referred to in clause (a), or

(ii) without a valid licence as required under clause (c) of section 18, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall 1 [not be less than three years but which may extend to five years and with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees or three times the value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more]:

Provided that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of 2
[less than three years and of fine of less than one lakh rupees];

(c) any drug deemed to be spurious under section 17B, but not being a drug referred to in clause (a) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall 3 [not less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and with fine which shall not be three lakh rupees or three times the value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more]:

Provided that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of 4
[less than seven years but not less than three years and of fine of less than one lakh rupees];

(d) any drug, other than a drug referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c), in contravention of any other provision of this Chapter or any rule made thereunder, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to two years 5 [and with fine which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees]:

Provided that the Court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than one year

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1. Subs. by Act 26 of 2008, s. 6, for "not be less than one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

2. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "less than one year and of fine of less than five thousand rupees" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "not be less than three years but which may extend to five years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

4. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "less than three years but not less than one year" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009).

5. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "and with fine" (w.e.f. 10-8-2009)