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POISONS ACT, 1919
12 of 1919
[3rd September, 1919]
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS "The Poisons Act of 1904 was intentionally limited in scope so as to restrict interference with legitimate industries as much as possible. As the result of these limitations however, the control afforded by the Act over the traffic in poisons has been proved by experience to be inadequate. In 1910 and 1914, the Government of U.P. suggested certain radical amendments in the Act to remedy this defect. The suggestions were referred to Local Governments and Administrations for opinion. The replies received showed a general, agreement in
favour of the suggestions of the Government of the United Provinces. A new Bill has accordingly been prepared which will repeal the Poisons Act of 1904. The more important features of the Bill are - (1) The substitution of a single clause (clause 2) for
Sections 2,4and6of the existing Act with the object of empowering Local Governments to regulate the possession for sale and the sale, whether wholesale or retail, of any specified poison anywhere within their respective territories, instead of in municipalities and cantonments only. (2) All expansion of the provisions of Sections 3and5of the Act so as to make them cover, not only white arsenic but any poison specified in notifications or issued in accordance with those sections (Clauses 3 and 4). (3) The exclusion of the classes (b), (c) and (d) mentioned in S. 10(1) of the Act with the effect of reducing the number of exempted classes to one, viz., medical and veterinary practitioners. (4) The addition of a clause (Cl. 9(3)(b)) empowering Government to exclude individual members of the exempted class (i.e. medical and veterinary practitioners) for the benefit of the exemption conferred by Section 10( 1 )of the Act. The opportunity has also been taken to make some verbal alterations in the Act; and Section 11, which is spent has been omitted." -Gaz. of Ind., 1919, Part V, page 22. Amending Act 47 of 1958.- The Poisons Act, 1919, which deals with the importation possession and Sale of Poisons, does not extend to the territories comprised in the former Part B States. After the passing of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, it was found that in certain States like Andhra Pradesh and Madras, the Central Poisons Act was in force in the greater part of the State, but local Acts like the Hyderabad Poisons Act and the Travancore-Cochin Poisons Act, continued to be in force in other parts which were included as a result of the reoganisation. In consultation with the State Governments it is now proposed, in the interests of uniformity, to extend the Central Poisons Act to the territories comprised in the former Part B States and to repeal any corresponding laws in force therein. The Bill seeks to achieve this object -Gaz. of India, 17-9-1958, Pt. II, S. 2, Ext.. p. 999.
An Act to consolidate and amend the law regulating the importation, possession and sale of poisons 1[* * *] WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law regulating the importation, possession and sale of poisons1[* * *]; It is hereby enacted as follows :- This Act has been extended to the new Provinces and merged States by the Merged States (Laws) Act, 1949 (59 of 1949), Section 3(1-1-1950) and to the States of Manipur, Tripura and Vindhya Pradesh bythe Union Territories (Laws) Act, 1950 (30 of 1950). Section 3(16-4-1950), Manipur and Tripura are States now but Vindhya Pradesh is a part of Madhya Pradesh State -See Act 37 of 1956, Section 9 ( 1 )(c). It has also been extended to States merged in the State of- Bombay : see Bom. Act 4 of 1950, Section 3 (30-3-1950). Punjab : see Punj. Act 5 of 1950. Section 3 (15-4-1950). The Act was extended to Berar by Act 4 of 1941. It was declared to be in force in the districts of Khondamals and Angul by Regns.4 and 5 of 1936, Section 3 and Schedule. Anguul and Khondmals are parts of Orissa State now. Regulation 5 of 1936 has been repealed by Orissa Act 19 of 1967 (15-9-1967). The Act has now been extended to the Union territory of- (1) Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Regn. 6 of 1963; (2) Laccadive, Minicoy and
Amindivi Islands by Regn. 8 of 1965 (1-10-1967); (3) Pondicherry by Act 26 of 1968 (18-12-1968).
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE AND EXTENT
(1) This Act may be called The Poisons Act, 1919.
2[(2) It extends lo the whole of India: Provided that it shall not apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir except to the extent to which the provisions of this Act relate to the importation into India of any specified poison.]
SECTION 02: POWER OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE POSSESSION FUR SALE AND SALE OF ANY POISON
(1)3[* * *] The4[State Government] may by rule regulate within the whole or any part of the territories under its administration the possession for sale and the sale, whether wholesale or retail, of any specified poison.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for
(a) the grant of licences to possess any specified poison for sale, wholesale or retail, and fixing of the fee (if any) to be charted for such licences;
(b) the classes of persons to whom alone such licences may be granted;
(c) the classes of persons to whom alone, any such poison may be sold;
(d) the maximum quantity of any such poison which may be sold to any one person;
(e) the maintenance by vendors of any such poison of registers of sales, the particulars to be entered in such registers, and the inspection of the same;
(f) the safe custody of such poisons and the labelling of the vessels, packages or coverings in which any such poison is sold or possessed for sale, and
(g) the inspection and examination of any such poison when possessed for sale by any such vendor.
SECTION 03: POWER TO PROHIBIT IMPORTATION INTO THE STATES OF ANY POISON EXCEPT UNDER LICENCE
The5[Central Government] may, by notification in the5[Official Gazette], prohibit except under and in accordance with the conditions of a licence, the importation into6[India]7[across any customs frontier defined by the Central Government] of any specified poison, and may by rule regulate the grant of licences.
SECTION 04: POWER TO REGULATE POSSESSION OF ANY POISON IN CERTAIN AREAS
(1) The 8[State Government]9[* * *] may by rule regulate the possession of any specified poison in any local area in which the use of such poison for the purpose of committing murder or mischief by poisoning cattle appears to it to be of such frequent occurrence as to render restrictions on the possession thereof desirable.
(2) In making any rule under sub-section (1), the8[State Government] may direct that any breach thereof shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both, together with confiscation of the poison in respect of which the breach has been committed, and of the vessels, packages or coverings in which the same is found.
SECTION 05: PRESUMPTION AS TO SPECIFIED POISONS
Any substance specified as a poison in a rule made or notification issued under this Act shall be deemed to be a poison for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 06: PENALTY FOR UNLAWFUL IMPORTATION, ETC
(1) Whoever-
(a) commits a breach of any rule made under section 2-, or
(b) imports 10[* * *] without a licence11[into12[India] across a customs frontier defined by the Central Government any poison the importation of which is for the time being restricted under section 3-, or
(c) breaks any condition of a licence for the importation of any poison granted to him under section 3-, shall be punishable,-
(i) on a first conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both, and
(ii) on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
(2) Any poison in respect of which an offence has been committed under this section, together with the vessels, packages or coverings in which the same is found shall be liable to confiscation.
SECTION 07: POWER TO ISSUE SEARCH WARRANT
(1) The District Magistrate, the Sub-divisional Magistrate and, in a presidency-town, the Commissioner of Police, may issue warrant for the search of any place in which he has reason to believe or to suspect that any poison is possessed or sold in contravention of this Act or any rule thereunder, or that any poison liable to confiscation under this Act is kept or concealed.
(2) The person to whom the warrant is directed may enter and search the place in accordance therewith, and the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 -, relating to search-warrants shall, as far as may be, be deemed to apply to the execution of the warrant.
SECTION 08: RULES
(1) In addition to any other power to make rules hereinbefore conferred13[* * *] the 14[State Government] may make rules generally to carry out the purposes and objects of this Act.
(2) Every power to make rules conferred by this Act shall be subject to the condition of the rules being made after previous publication.
(3) All rules made by the 16[Central Government] or by the14[State Government] under this Act shall be published" in the16 [Official Gazette] and on such publication shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.
17[(4) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.
(5) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature.]
SECTION 09: SAVINGS
(1) Nothing in this Act or in any licence granted on rule made thereunder shall extend to, or interfere with; anything done in good faith in the exercise of his profession as such by a medical or veterinary practitioner.
(2) Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained the 20[State Government] may19[* * *] by general or special order declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act21[except section 3-] shall be deemed not to apply to any article or class of articles of commerce specified in such order, or to any poison or class of poisons used for any purpose so specified.
(3) The authority on which power to make rules under this Act is conferred may, by general or special order, either wholly or partially-
(a) exempt from the operation of any such rules, or
(b) exclude from the scope of the exemption provided by sub-section (1), any person or class of persons wither generally or in respect of any poisons specified in the order.
SCHEDULE 1 SCHEDULE
1. The Cochin Poisons Act. 1111 (30 of 1111). 2. The (Hyderabad) Persons Act (4 of 1322 F.). 3. The Madhya Bharat Poisons Act. 2008 (5 of 2008 Smt.). 4. The Mysore Poisons Act, 1910 (5 of 1910). 5. The Patiala Poisons Act, 1989 BK (1 of 1989 Bk.). 6. The Rajasthan Poisons Act, 1956 (2 of 1956). . 7. The Saurashtra Poisons Act, 1952 (25 of 1952). 8. The Travancore Poisons Act, 1918(11 of 1918)
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