PUNJAB EXCISE ACT, 1914 (Amended upto 2021)

Section 1 - Short title, extent and commencement

1)       This Act may be called the Punjab Excise Act, 1914.

2)       It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Delhi.

3)       It shall come into force on such date as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, direct.

Section 2 - Repeal of enactments

The enactments mentioned in Schedule (3)(I) are repealed to the extent specified in the fourth column thereof.

Section 3 - Definitions

In this Act, and the rules made under it, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context ?

1)       ?Beer? includes ale, porter, stout and all other fermented liquors made from malt;

2)       ?to bottle? means to transfer liquor from a cask or other vessel to a bottle, jar, flask or similar receptacle whether any process of manufacture be employed or not, and bottling includes re-bottling;

3)       ?Collector? includes any revenue officer in independent charge of a district and any official appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to discharge throughout any specified local area, the functions of a Collector under this Act;

4)       Omitted.

5)       ?denatured? means effectually and permanently rendered unfit for human consumption;

6)       ?exicsable article? means-

a.        any alcoholic liquor for human consumption; or

b.        any intoxicating drug;

6a) ? ?excise bottle? means a bottle of such type or description as may be or may have been at any time permitted for the bottling of liquor or beer by rules made under his Act.

6b) ? ?excise duty? and ?countervailing duty? mean any such excise duty or countervailing duty, as the case may be, as is mentioned in entry 51 of list II in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.

7)       Excise Commissioner means the officer appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi under section 9;

8)       ?excise officer? means any officer or person appointed, or invested with powers, under this Act;

9)       ?excise revenue? means revenue derived or derivable from any payment, duty, fee, tax, confiscation or fine, imposed or ordered under the provisions of this Act, or of any other law for the time being in force relating to liquor or intoxicating drugs, but does not includes fine imposed by a court of law;

10)     ?export? means to take out of the Union Territory of Delhi otherwise than across customs frontier as defined by the Central Government.

11)     Omitted.

12)     ?import? except in the phrase ?import into India means to bring into the Union Territory of Delhi otherwise than across a customs frontier as defined by the Central Government;

12a) ?intoxicant? means any liquor or intoxicating drugs;

13)     ?Intoxicating drug? means ?

1)       the leaves, small stalks and flowering or fruiting tops of the Indian hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa L) including all forms known as bhang, saddhi or ganja;

2)       charas, that is, the resin obtained from the Indian hemp plant, which has not been submitted to any manipulations other than those necessary for packing and transport;

3)       any mixture, with or without neutral materials of any of the above forms of intoxicating drug or any drink prepared therefrom; and

4)       any other intoxicating or narcotic drug substance which the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification declare to be an intoxicating drug, such substance not being opium, coca leaf or a manufactured drug, as defined in section 2 of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930.

14)     ?Liquor? means intoxicating liquor and includes all liquid consisting of or containing alcohol also any substance which the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification declare, to be liquor for the purpose of this Act;

15)     ?magistrate? means any magistrate exercising powers not less than those of a magistrate of the second class, or any magistrate of the third class specially authorized in this behalf by the district magistrate;

16)     ?manufacture? includes every process, whether natural or artificial by which any intoxicant is produced or prepared, and also redistillation, and every process for the rectification, reduction, flavouring, blending or colouring of liquor;

[1][16-A) "Offender" means any person, who in contravention of any provision of this Act, the rules framed thereunder, any notification issued or any order made or any licence, permit or pass granted under this Act, imports or exports or transports or possesses any liquor.]
 

17)     ?place? includes a building, shop, tent, enclosure, booth, vehicle, vessel, boat and raft;

18)     expressions referring to ?sale? includes any transfer otherwise than by way of gift;

19)     ?spirit? means any liquor containing alcohol obtained by distillation, whether denatured or not;

20)     ?tari? means fermented or unfermented juice drawn from any kind of palm tree;

21)     ?transport? means to move from one place to another within the Union Territory of Delhi.

Section 4 - Country liquor and foreign liquor

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may by notification, declare what, for the purposes of this Act or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to be ?country liquor? and ?foreign liquor?.

Section 5 - Power of State Government to declare limit of sale by retail and by wholesale

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may be notification declare, with respect either to the whole of the Union Territory of Delhi or to any local area comprised therein and as regards purchasers generally or any specified occasion the maximum or minimum quantity or both of any intoxicant which for the purposes of this Act may be sold by retail and by wholesale.

Section 6 - Power to limit application of notifications, permits, etc. made under this Act

Where under this Act any notification is made, any power conferred, any appointment made or any license, pass or permit granted, it shall be lawful to direct:-

(a)      that it shall apply to the whole of the Union Territory of Delhi or to any specified local area or areas;

(b)      that it shall apply to all or any specified intoxicant or intoxicants or classes thereof;

(c)      that it shall apply to all or any class or classes of persons or officers;

(d)      that it shall be in force only for some special period or occasion.

Section 7 - Saving of enactments

Save as provided by Schedule I nothing contained in this Act shall effect the provisions of the Sea Customs Act, 1878[2], the Cantonment Act, 1910 or the Indian Tariff Act, 1894 or any rule or order made thereunder.

Section 8 - Omitted

Omitted.

Section 9 - Superintendence and control of the excise administration and excise officers

(a)      The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may by notification, appoint an Excise Commissioner and subject to the control of the Lieutenant Governor and unless the Lieutenant Governor shall by notification otherwise direct, the general superintendence and administration of matters relating to excise shall vest in the Excise Commissioner.

(b)      Subject to the control of the Excise Commissioner and unless the Lieutenant Governor, shall by notification, otherwise direct, the Collector shall control all the Excise Officers in the Union Territory of Delhi.

Section 10 - Other classes of excise officers, their powers and the mode of conferring powers

(a)      There shall be such other classes of excise officers as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, declare, and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may appoint as many persons as he deems fit to be excise officers of these classes.

(b)      The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi shall, by notification, declare what powers under this Act shall be exercised by excise officers of each class.

(c)      In conferring powers under this Act the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may empower persons by name or in virtue of their office or classes of officials generally by their official titles.

Section 11 - Power to invest persons with special powers

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, invest any person, not being an excise officer, with power to perform all or any of the functions of an excise officer under this Act, and such person shall in the exercise of these functions be deemed to be an excise officer.

Section 12 - Local limits of jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Collector and other excise officers shall, unless the Excise Commissioner otherwise direct, extend to the whole of the Union Territory of Delhi.

Section 13 - [Omitted]

Omitted.

Section 14 - Appeal

An appeal shall lie from an original or appellate order of an excise officer in such cases or classes of cases and to such authority as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi shall, by notification, declare.

Section 15 - Revision

(a)      The Excise Commissioner may, at any time, revise any order passed by any excise officer subordinate to him.

(b)      The Collector may call for the record of any case pending before, or disposed of by, any excise officer subordinate to him, and, if he is of opinion that the proceedings taken or order made should be modified or reversed, he shall report the case with his opinion thereon for the orders of the Excise Commissioner.

Provided that the Excise Commissioner shall not under this section pass an order revising or modifying any proceedings or order of a subordinate excise officer and affecting any person without giving such person an opportunity of being heard.

Section 16 - Import, export and transport of intoxicants

No intoxicant shall be imported, exported or transported except ?

(a)      after payment of any duty to which it may be liable under this Act or execution of a bond for such payment, and

(b)      in compliance with such conditions as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may impose.

Section 17 - Power of sate government to prohibit import, export and transport of intoxicants

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification-

(a)      prohibit the import or export of any intoxicant into or form the Union Territory of Delhi or any part thereof; or

(b)      prohibit the transport of any intoxicant

Section 18 - Passes necessary for import, export and transport

Except as otherwise provided by any rule made under this Act, no intoxicant exceeding such quantity as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may prescribe by notification shall be imported, exported or transported except under a pass issued under the provisions of the next following section;

Provided that in the case of duty paid foreign liquor such passes shall be dispensed with, unless the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi shall by notification, otherwise direct.

Provided further that on such conditions as may be determined by the Excise Commissioner a passgranted under the excise law in force in another State may be deemed to be a pass granted under this Act.

Section 19 - Grant of passes for import, export and transport

Passes for the import, export or transport of intoxicants may be granted by the Collector;

Provided that passes for the import and export of such intoxicants as the Excise Commissioner may, from time to time determine shall be granted only by the Excise Commissioner.

Section 20 - Manufacture of intoxicants prohibited except under the provisions of the Act

(1)     (a) No intoxicant shall be manufactured or collected;

(b) No hemp plant shall be cultivated;

(c) No tari producing tree shall be tapped;

(d) No tari shall be drawn from any tree; and

(e) No person shall use, keep or have in his possession, any materials, still, utensil, implement or apparatus, whatsoever, for the purpose of manufacturing any intoxicant other than tari, except under the authority and subject to the terms and conditions of a license granted in that behalf by the Collector.

(2)     No distillery or brewery shall be constructed or worked except under the authority and subject to the terms and conditions of a license granted in that behalf of the Excise Commissioner under section 21.

Section 21 - Establishment or licensing of distilleries

The Excise Commissioner subject to such restrictions or conditions as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may impose, may ?

(a)      establish a distillery in which spirit may be manufactured under a license granted under section 20;

(b)      discontinue any distillery so established;

(c)      license the construction and working of a distillery or brewery;

(d)      make rules regarding ?

1.        the granting of licenses for distilleries, stills or breweries;

2.        the security to be deposited by the licensee of a distillery or brewery;

3.        the period for which the license shall be granted;

4.        the inspection and examination of such distillery or brewery and the warehouses connected therewith and of the spirit or fermented liquor made and stored therein;

5.        the management and working of the distillery or brewery;

6.        the form of accounts to be maintained and the returns to be submitted by the licensee;

7.        the upkeep of buildings and plant;

8.        the size and description of stills, and other plant;

9.        the manufacture, storing and passing out of spirit and the contents of passes;

10.     the prices to be charged by the licensee;

11.     any other matters connected with the working of distilleries or breweries.

Section 22 - Establishment or licensing of warehouses

The Excise Commissioner subject to such restrictions or conditions as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may impose, may ?

(a)      establishment or license a warehouse wherein any intoxicant may be deposited and kept without payment of duty;

(b)      discontinue any warehouse so established.

Section 23 - Removal of intoxicants from distillery etc.

No intoxicant shall be removed from any distillery, brewery, warehouse or other place of storage established or licensed under this Act, unless the duty (if any) payable under Chapter V has been paid or a bond has been executed for the payment thereof.

Section 24 - Possession of intoxicants, exceptions, restrictions and prohibitions

1)       No person shall have in his possession any quantity of any intoxicant in excess of such quantity as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has under section 5, declared to be the limit of retail sale, except under the authority and in accordance with the terms and conditions of ?

(a)      a license for the manufacture, sale or supply of such article; or

(b)      in the case of intoxicating drugs, a license for the cultivation or collection of the plants from which such drugs were produced; or

(c)      a permit granted by the Collector in that behalf.

2)       Sub-section (1) shall not apply to ?

(a)      any intoxicant in the possession of any excise officer, common carrier or warehouseman as such.

3)       A licensed vendor shall not have in his possession at any place, other than that authorized by his license, any quantity of any intoxicant in excess of such quantity as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has under section 5 declared to be the limit of sale by retail, except under a permit granted by the Collector in that behalf.

4)       Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-sections, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may by notification prohibit the possession of any intoxicant or restrict such possession by such conditions as he may prescribe.

Section 25 - Prohibition of possession of intoxicants unlawfully manufactured, imported, etc.

No person shall have in his possession any quantity of any intoxicant, knowing the same to have been unlawfully imported, transported, manufactured, cultivated or collected, or knowing the prescribed duty not to have been paid thereon.

Section 26 - Sale of intoxicants

No liquor shall be bottled for sale and no intoxicant shall be sold, except under the authority and subject to the terms and conditions of a license granted in that behalf; provided that

1)       a person licensed under section 20 to cultivate the hemp plant, may sell without a license those portions of the plant from which intoxicating drugs can be manufactured, to any person licensed under this Act to deal in the same or to any officer whom the Excise Commissioner may appoint in this behalf;

2)       a person having the right to the tari drawn from any tree may sell the same without a license to a person licensed to manufacture or sell tari under this Act;

3)       on such condition as the Excise Commissioner may determine, a license for sale under the excise law for the time being in force in other parts of India may be deemed to be a license granted in that behalf under this Act;

4)       nothing in this section applies to the sale of any foreign liquor procured by any person for his private use and sold by him or on his behalf or on behalf of his representative-in-interest upon quitting a station or after his decease.

Section26-A. [Location of the liquor vends

(1)     The location of the liquor vends shall be regulated by the Government:

Provided that this section shall be applicable only to liquor vends situated in areas adjoining the National Highways and State Highways for consumption, off the premises:

[4][Provided that the above restriction shall not apply to the licensed liquor vends within the limits of Municipal areas.]

(2)     No licence for sale of liquor shall be granted to a liquor vend situated within the road reservation of National Highways and State Highways and beyond road reservation neither the liquor vends nor their entry points shall be visible or directly accessible from the National Highways and State Highways.

Explanation.- (i) "Visibility" means existence of any signboard, direction mark, display of stock of liquor, display of rates or any direct/indirect invitation to the commuter traveling on such Highway; and

(ii) "Directly Accessible" means such liquor vend shall not be directly approachable from the National Highway and State Highway.

(3)     The restrictions referred to in sub-section (2) shall not apply to the liquor vends situated in the areas adjoining to National Highway and State Highway, passing through the limits of Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council/Municipal Committee/Notified Area Committee/Nagar Council/Cantonment Board or any other Authority having a population of twenty thousand or more.][3]

Section 27 - Grant of lease of manufacture, etc.

1)       The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may lease to any man not below the age of twenty five years on such conditions and for such period as he may deem fit, the right ?

(i)       of manufacturing or of supplying by wholesale, or of both, or

(ii)      of selling by wholesale or by retail, or

(iii)     of manufacturing or of supplying by wholesale, or of both, and of selling by retail, any country liquor or intoxicating drug within any specified local area.

2)       The Collector shall grant to a lessee under subsection (1) a license in the terms of his lease; and, when there is no condition in the lease which prohibits subletting may, on the application of the lessee, grant a license to any sub-lessee approved by the Collector.

Section 28 - Manufacture and sale of liquor in Military Cantonments

Within the limits of any military cantonments and within such distance from these limits as the Central Government in any case may prescribe no license for the manufacture or sale of liquor and no lease of the retail vend of liquor, such as is described in section 27, shall be granted unless with the consent of the Commanding Officer.

Section 29 - Prohibition of sale to persons under the age of twenty-five years

No licensed vendor and no person in the employ of such vendor or acting on his behalf shall sell or deliver any liquor or intoxicating drug to any person apparently under the age of twenty-five years whether for consumption by such person or by another person and whether for consumption on or off the premises of such vendor.

Section 30 - Prohibition of employment of men under the age of twenty-five years and of women

No person who is licensed to sell any liquor or intoxicating drug for consumption on his premises shall, during the hours in which such premises are kept open for business, employ or permit to be employed, either with or without remuneration, any man under the age of 25 years or any women in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public.

Section 31 - Duty on excisable articles

An excise duty, or countervailing duty [5][or extra license fee and other chargeable levies], as the case may be at such rate or rates as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi shall direct, may be imposed, either generally or for any specified local area, on any excisable article-

(a)      imported, exported or transported in accordance with the provisions of Section 16; or

(b)      manufactured or cultivated under any license granted under section 20; or

(c)      manufactured in any distillery established or any distillery or brewery licensed under section 21;

Provided as follows :-

(i)       Duty [6][or extra license fee and other chargeable levies] shall not be so imposed on any article which has been imported into (India) and was liable on importation to duty under the India Tariff Act, 1894 or the Sea Customs Act, 1878;

(ii)      ??????????????? Explanation :- Duty [7][or extra license fee and other chargeable levies] may be imposed under this section at different rates according to the places to which any excisable article is to be removed for consumption or according to the varying strengths and quality of such article.
 

Section 32 - Manner in which duty may be levied

Subject to such rules regulating the time, place and manner, as the Excise Commissioner may prescribe, such duty shall be levied ratably, on the quantity of excisable article imported, exported, transported, collected or manufactured in, or issued from a distillery, brewery or warehouse.

(a)      on intoxicating drugs by an average rate levied on the cultivation on the quantity collected;

(b)      on spirit or beer manufactured in any distillery established, or any distillery or brewery licensed under this Act in accordance with such scale of equivalents calculated on the quantity of material used, or by degree of attenuation of the wash or work, as the case may be, as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may prescribe;

(c)      on tari, by a tax on each tree from which the tari is drawn;

Provided further that, where payment is made upon issue of an excisable article for sale from a warehouse established or licensed under Section 22(a) it shall be made-

(a)      if the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi by notification so directs, as the rate of duty which was in force at the date of import of that article, or

(b)      in the absence of such direction by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi at the rate of duty which is in force on that article on the date when it is issued from the warehouse.

Section 33 - Payment for grant of leases

Instead of or in addition to any duty leviable under this chapter the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may accept payment of a sum in consideration of the Lease of any right under section 27.

Section 33A - [Omitted]

Omitted.

Section 34 - Fees for, terms, conditions and form of, and duration of licenses, permits, passes and security

(1)     Every license, permit or pass granted under this Act shall be granted ?

(a)      on payment of such fee, if any,

(b)      subject to the such restrictions and on such conditions,

(c)      in such form and containing such particulars,

(d)      for such period, as the Excise Commissioner may direct.

(2)     Any Authority granting a license under this Act may require the licensee to give such security for the observance of the terms of his license, or to make such deposit in lieu of security as such authority may think fit.

Section 35 - Grant of licenses for sale; ascertainment of public opinion

(1)     Subject to the rules made by the Excise Commissioner under the powers conferred by this Act, the Collector may grant licenses for the sale of any intoxicant within his district.

(2)     Before any license is granted in any year for the retail sale of liquor for consumption on any premises which have not been so licensed in the preceding year, the Collector shall take such measures, in accordance with rules to be made by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in this Behalf, as may best enable him to ascertain local public opinion in regard to the licensing of such premises.

(3)     Omitted.

Section 36 - Power to cancel or suspend licenses, etc.

Subject to such restrictions as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may prescribe, the Authority granting any license, permit or pass under this Act may cancel or suspend it-

(a)      if it is transferred or sublet by the holder thereof without the permission of the said authority or

(b)      if any duty or fee payable by the holder thereof be not duly paid; or

(c)      in the event of any breach by the holder of such license, permit or pass or by his servants, or by any one acting on his behalf with his express or implied permission of any of the term or conditions of such license, permit or pass; or

(d)      if the holder thereof is convicted of any offence punishable under this Act or any other law for the time being in force relating to revenue, or for any cognizable and non-bailable offence, or any offence punishable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 or under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1889 or of any offence punishable under Sections 482 to 489 both inclusive of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

(e)      If the holder thereof is punished for any offence referred to in clause (8) of Section 167 of the Sea Customs Act 1878.

(f)       Where a license, permit or pass has been granted on the application of the grantee of a lease under this Act, on the requisition in writing of such grantee; or

(g)      At will, if conditions of the license or permit provide for such cancellation or suspension.

Section 37 - Power to cancel any other license

When a license, permit or pass held by any person is cancelled under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Section 36, the authority aforesaid may cancel any other license, permit or pass granted to such person by or by the authority of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi within the same district under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force relating to excise revenue or under the Opium Act, 1878 and the Excise Commissioner, may cancel any such license permit or pass granted to such person in any district to which this Act applies.

Section 38 - Power to recover fee

In the case of cancellation or suspension of license under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Section 36 the fee payable for the balance of the period for which any license would have been current but for such cancellation or suspension, may be recovered from the ex-licensee as excise revenue.

Section 39 - Power of Collector to take grants under management or to resell

If any holder of a license granted under this Act, or any person to whom a lease has been granted under Section 27, makes default in complying with any condition imposed upon him by such license or lease, the collector may take the grant under management at the risk of the person who has so defaulted or may resell it any recover in the manner laid down in Section 60 of this Act any deficiency in price and all expenses of such resale.

Section 40 - No compensation or refund claimable for cancellation or suspension of licenses etc., under this section

When a license, permit or pass is cancelled or suspended under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Section 36 or under section 37, the holder shall not be entitled to any compensation for its cancellation or suspension nor to be refund of any fee paid or deposit made in respect thereof.

Section 41 - Power to withdraw licenses Compensation in the case of withdrawal and refund of fee or deposit

(1)     Whenever the authority which granted a license, permit or pass under this Act considers that such license, permit or pass should be withdrawn for any cause other than those specified in section 36, it may, on remitting a sum equal to the amount of the fees payable in respect thereof for fifteen days, withdraw the license either-

(a)      on the expiration of fifteen days notice in writing of its intention to do so, or

(b)      forthwith without notice. 

(2)     If any licence, permit or pass be withdrawn under clause (b) of sub-section (1) in addition to the sum remitted as aforesaid, there shall be paid to the licencee such further sum (if any) by way of compensation as the Excise Commissioner may direct.

(3)     When a licence, permit or pass is withdrawn under this section, any fee in advance or deposit made by the licensee in respect thereof shall be refunded to him, after deducting the amount (if any) due to the Government.

Section 42 - Technical irregularities in license, etc.

(1)     No licence, permit or pass granted under this Act shall be deemed to be invalid by reason merely of any technical defect, irregularity or omission in the license or in any proceedings taken prior to the grant thereof.

(2)     The decision of the Excise Commissioner as to what is a technical defect, irregularity or omission shall be final.

Section 43 - No claim in consequence of refusal to renew a license, etc.

No person to whom a licence, permit or pass may have been granted, shall be entitled to claim any renewal thereof and no claim shall lie for damages or otherwise in consequence of any refusal to renew a license permit or pass on the expiry of the period for which it remains in force.

Section 44 - Surrender of license

(1)     No holder of a licence granted under this Act to sell any intoxicant shall surrender his licence except on the expiration of one month?s notice in writing given by him to be Collector of his intention to surrender the same and on payment of the fee payable for the licensee for the whole period for which it would have been current but for the surrender:

Provided that, if the Collector is satisfied that there is sufficient reason for surrendering the license, he may remit to the holder thereof the sum so payable on surrender or any portion thereof.

(2)     Sub-section (1) shall not apply in the case of any licence granted under Section 27(2).

Explanation :- The words ?holder of a Licence? as used in this Section include a person whose tender bid for a licence has been accepted, although he may not actually have received to licence.

Section 45 - Power to enter and inspect places of manufacture and sale

Any excise officer not below such rank, as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may prescribe, may-

(a)      enter and inspect, at any time by day or by night any place in which any licenced manufacturer carries on the manufacture of or stores any (intoxicant);

(b)      enter and inspect at any time within the hours during which sale is permitted, and at any other time during which the same may be open, any place in which any intoxicant is kept for sale by any person holding a licence under this Act;

(c)      examine accounts and registers, test measures or weigh any material, stills, utensils, implements, apparatus or intoxicant found in that place;

(d)      seize any accounts, registers, measures, weights or testing instruments which he has reason to believe to be false.

Section 46 - Powers of excise officers to investigate offences punishable under the Act

(1)     The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, invest any excise officer, not below the rank of sub-inspector, with the power to investigate any offence, punishable under this Act, committed within the limits of the area in which the officer exercises jurisdiction.

(2)     Every officer so empowered may, within these limits, exercise the same powers in respect of such investigation as an officer in charge of a police station may exercise in a cognizable case under the provisions of Chapter XIV of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.[8]

Section 47 - Powers of arrest, seizure and detention

Any officer of the excise, police, salt or land revenue department, not below such rank and subject to such restrictions as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may prescribe, and any other person duly empowered by notification by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in this behalf, may arrest without warrant any person found committing an offence punishable under Section 61 or Section 63, and may seize and detain any intoxicant or other article which he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this Act or other law for the time being in force relating to excise revenue, and may detain and search any person upon whom and any vessel, raft, vehicle, animal, package, receptacle or covering in or upon which he may have reasonable cause to suspect any such article to be.

Section 48 - Power of magistrate to issue warrant for search or arrest

A magistrate having reason to believe that an offence under Section 61 or 63 has been, is being or is likely to be, committed, may ?

(a)      issue a warrant for the search of any place in which he has reason to believe that any 2(intoxicant), still, utensil, implement, apparatus or material, in respect of which such offence has been, is being, or bis likely to be committed, are kept or concealed; and

(b)      issue a warrant for the arrest of any person whom he has reason to believe to have been, to be, or to be likely to be, engaged in the commission of any such offence.

Section 49 - Power of excise officer to search without warrant and further powers of seizure, detention, search and arrest

(1)     Whenever any excise officer, not below such rank as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification prescribe, has reason to believe that an offence punishable under section 61, section 62, section 63 or section 64, has been, is being, or is likely to be committed in any place, and that a search warrant cannot be obtained without affording the offender an opportunity of escape or of concealing evidence of the offence, he may, at any time, by day or night, enter and search such place.

(2)     Every excise officer as aforesaid may seize anything found in such place which he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this act, and may detain and search and, if he thinks proper, arrest any person found in such place whom he has reason to believe to be guilty of such offence, as aforesaid.

Section 49A - Power of excise officers to obtain information

(1)     Any excise officer, not below such rank as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification prescribe, may by order require any person to furnish to any specified authority or person any such information in his possession concerning any unlawful import, transport, manufacture or possession of any intoxicant, or any material, still, utensil, implement, or apparatus, whatsoever, for the purpose of manufacturing any intoxicant, or any unlawful cultivation of any plants from which an intoxicating drug can be produced as may be specified in the order.

(2)     Any person upon whom an order is served under sub-section (1) shall be bound, in the absence of reasonable excuse, to furnish correct information.

Section 50 - Procedure relating to arrest, searches, etc.

Save as in this Act otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898[9] relating to arrests, detentions in custody, searches, summons, warrants of arrest, search warrants, production of persons arrested and investigation of offences shall be held to be applicable to all action Taken in these respects under this Act, Provided that:

(1)     Any offence under this Act may be investigated by an officer empowered under section 46 without the order of a magistrate.

(2)     Whenever an excise officer below the rank of Collector makes any arrest, seizure born search, he shall, within twenty-four hours thereafter, make a full report of all the particulars of the arrest, seizure or search to his immediate official superior, and shall, unless bail be accepted under section 73 take or send the person arrested, or the article seized, with all convenient dispatch to a magistrate for trial or adjudication.

Section 51 - Police to aid excise officers

All police officers are required to aid the excise officers in the due execution of this Act upon request made by such excise officers.

Section 52 - Duty of land holders and others to give information

(a)      Every owner or occupier of land or any building and the agent of any owner of land or any building on which ?

(b)      Every lambardar, village headman, village accountant, village watchman, village policeman and every officer employed in the collection of the revenue or rent of land on the part of Government or the Court of Wards in whose village ?

There shall be any manufacture of illegal important or collection of any intoxicant not licensed underthis Act, or any unlawful cultivation of any plants from which an intoxicating drug can be produced, shall be bound, in the absence of reasonable excuse, to give notice of the same to a magistrate or to an officer of the excise, police or land revenue department as soon as the fact comes to his knowledge.

Section 53 - Duty of officer in charge of policy station to take charge of article seized

Every officer in-charge of a police station shall take charge of, and keep in safe custody, pending the orders of a magistrate or of the Collector or of an officer empowered under Section 46 (1) to investigate the case, all articles seized under this Act which may be delivered to him, and shall allow any excise officer who may accompany such articles to the police station, or may be deputed for the purpose by his superior officer to affix his seal to the articles and take samples of and from them. All samples so taken shall also be sealed with the seal of the officer-in-charge of the police station.

Section 54 - Power to close shops for the sake of public peace

(1)     The District magistrate or a Sub-Division Magistrate, by notice in writing to the licensee, may require that any shop in which any 1(intoxicant) is sold shall be closed at such times or for such periods as he may think necessary for the preservation of the public peace.

(2)     If a riot or unlawful assembly is apprehended or occurs in the vicinity of any such shop, a magistrate of any class may require such shop to be kept closed for such period as he may think necessary.

Provided that where any such riot or unlawful assembly occurs, the licensee shall, in the absence of a magistrate, close his shop without any order.

(3)     When any Sub-Divisional Magistrate makes a direction under sub-section (1) or any magistrate makes a direction under sub-section (2), he shall forthwith inform the Collector of his action band his reasons therefore.

Section 55 - Measures, weights and testing instruments

Every person who manufacturers or sells any intoxicant under a license granted under this Act, shall be bound ?

(a)      to supply himself with such measures, weights and instruments as the Excise Commissioner may prescribe, and to keep the same in good condition; and

(b)      on the requisition of any excise officer, duly empowered by the Collector in that behalf, at any time to measure, weigh or test any intoxicant in his possession in such manner as the said excise officer may require.

Section 56 - Power of Lieutenant Governor to exempt intoxicants from the provisions of the Act

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, either wholly or partially and subject to such conditions as he may think fit to prescribe, exempt any intoxicant from all or any of the provisions of this Act.

Section 57 - Bar of certain suits

No suit shall lie in any civil court against the Government or any officer or person for damages for any act in good faith done, or ordered to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any other law for the time being in force relating to the excise revenue.

Section 58 - Power of Lieutenant Governor to make rules; previous publication of rules

(1)     The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may, by notification, make rules for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force relating to excise revenue.

(2)     In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may make rules ?

(a)      prescribing the duties of excise officers;

(b)      Omitted

(c)      prescribing the time and manner of presenting and the procedure for dealing with, appeals from orders of the excise officers;

(d)      regulating the import, export, transport or possession of any intoxicant, or excise bottle and the transfer, price or use of any type of description of such bottle;

(e)      regulating the periods and localities for which, and the persons, or classes of persons to whom licenses, permits and passes for the vend by wholesale or by retail of any intoxicant may be granted and regulating the number of such licences which may be granted in any local area;

(f)       prescribing the procedure to be followed and the matters to be ascertained before any licence is granted for the retail vend of liquor for consumption on the premises;

(g)      for the prohibition of the sale of an intoxicant to any person or class of persons;

(h)     Regulating the power of excise officers to summon witnesses from a distance;

(i)       Regulating he grant of expenses to witnesses and compensation to persons charged with offences under this Act and subsequently released, discharged or acquired;

(j)       for the prohibition of the employment by a licence-holder of any person or class of persons to assist in his business in any capacity whatsoever;

(k)      for the prevention of drunkenness, gambling and disorderly conduct in or near any licensed premises, and the meeting or remaining of persons of bad character in such premises;

(l)       prohibiting the printing, publishing or otherwise displaying or distributing any advertisement or other matter commending or soliciting the use of, or offering any intoxicant; and

(m)    prohibiting within the Union Territory of Delhi the circulation, distribution or sale of any newspaper, book, leaflet, booklet, or other publication printed and published, outside the Union Territory of Delhi which contains any advertisement or matter of the nature described in clause(1);

(n)     declaring any newspaper, book, leaflet, booklet or other publication, wherever printed or published, containing any advertisement or matter [10][of the nature described in clause (1)], to be forfeited to the Government; and

(o)      implementing generally he policy of prohibition.

(3)     The power conferred by this Section of making rules is subject to the condition that the rules be made after previous publication.

Provided that any such rules may be made without previous publication if the (Lieutenant Governor) of Delhi considers that they should be brought into force at once.

Section 59 - Power of Excise Commissioner to make rules

The Excise Commissioner may, be notification, make rules ?

(a)      regulating the manufacture, supply, storage or sale of any intoxicant, including:-

(i)       the character, erection, alteration, repair, inspection, supervision, management and control of any place for the manufacture, supply, storage, or sale of such article and the fittings, implements, apparatus and registers to be maintained therein;

(ii)      the cultivation of the hemp Plant and the collection of spontaneous growth of such plant and the preparations of any intoxicating drug;

(iii)     the tapping or drawing of tari from any tari producing tree;

(b)      regulating the bottling of liquor for purposes of sale;

(c)      regulating the deposit of any intoxicant in a wharehouse and the removal of any intoxicant from any warehouse or from any distillery or brewery;

(d)      prescribing the scale of fees or the manner of fixing the fees payable in respect of any license, permit or pass or in respect of the storing of any intoxicant;

(e)      regulating the time, place and manner of payment of any duty or fee;

(f)       prescribing the authority by, the restrictions under and the conditions on which, any license permit or pass may be granted including provision for the following matters:-

(i)       the prohibition of the admixture with any (intoxicant) of any substance deemed to be noxious or objectionable;

(ii)      the regulation or prohibition of the reduction of liquor by a licensed manufacturer or licensed vendor from a higher to a lower strength;

(iii)     [11][the fixing of strength and price below and above which any intoxicant shall not be sold, supplied or possessed;]

(iv)    the prohibition of sale of any intoxicant except for cash;

(v)      the fixing of the days and hours during which any licensed premises may or may not be kept open, and the closure of such premises on special occasions;

(vi)    the specification of the nature of the premises in which any intoxicant may be sold, and the notices to be exposed at such premises;

(vii)   the form of the accounts to be maintained and the returns to be submitted by license-holders; and

(viii)  the prohibition or regulation of the transfer of licenses:

(g)      (i) declaring the process by which spirit shall be denatured;

(ii) for causing spirit to be denatured through the agency or under the supervision of its own officers;

(iii) for ascertaining whether such spirit has been denatured;

(h)     providing for the destruction or other disposal of any intoxicant deemed to be unfit for use;

(i)       regulating the disposal of confiscated articles;

(j)       prescribing the amount of security to be deposited by the holders of leases, licenses, permits or passes for the performance of the conditions of the same.

Section 60 - Recovery of dues

(1)     The following moneys namely ?

(a)      all excise revenue,

(b)      any loss that may accrue, when in consequence of default a grant has been taken under management by the Collector or had been resold by him under Section 39, and

(c)      all amounts due to the Government by any person on account of any contract relating to the excise revenue,  May be recovered from the person primarily liable to pay the same, or from his surety (if any), by distressand sale of his movable property, or by any other process for the recovery of arrears of land revenue due from land-holders or from farmers of land or their sureties,

(2)     When a grant has been taken under management by the Collector or has been resold by him under Section 39, the Collector may recover in any manner authorized by sub-section (1), any money due to the defaulter by any lessee or assignee.

(3)     In the event of the default by any person licensed or holding a lease under this Act all his distillery, brewery, warehouse or shop, premises, fittings or apparatus and all stocks of (intoxicant) or materials for manufacture of the same held in or upon premises shall be liable to be attached in satisfaction of any claim for excise by revenue or in respect of losses incurred by the Government through such default and to be sold to satisfy such claim, which shall be a first charge upon the sale proceeds.

Section 61 -[Penalty for offences triable by a court]

(1)     Whosoever, in contravention of any Section of this Act or of any rule, notification issued or given thereunder or order made, or of any license, permit or pass granted under this Act.

(a)     [12][manufactures or collects any intoxicant; or]

[13][(aa) ???????? imports, exports, transports or possesses intoxicants, namely, lahan or all liquid consisting of or containing alcohol manufactured otherwise than in a licensed distillery, brewery or bottling plant in the State of Punjab; or]
 

(b)     constructs or works any distillery or brewery; or

(c)     uses, keeps, or has in his possession any material, still, utensil, implement or apparatus, whatsoever, for the purpose of manufacturing any intoxicant other than tari; shall be punishable for every such offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [14][(five years)] and with fine upto two thousand rupees and if found in possession of a working still for the manufacture of any intoxicant shall be punishable with the minimum sentence of six months imprisonment and fine of two hundred rupees.

[15][Provided that in the case of an offence relating to the possession of--

(i)       a working still for the manufacture of any intoxicant, such imprisonment shall not be less than one year and such fine shall not be less than five thousand rupees;

(ii)      lahan, such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees;

(iii)     country liquor manufactured otherwise than in a licensed distillery in Punjab, in a quantity not exceeding ten bottles, each bottle containing 750 millilitres, such imprisonment shall not be less than three months and such fine shall not be less than five hundred rupees; and in a quantity exceeding ten bottles of the aforesaid capacity, such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees;

(iv)    foreign liquor other than?

(a)      manufactured in a licensed distillery or brewery in India; or

(b)      imported into India on which custom duty is leviable under the Indian Tariff Act, 1934, or the Customs Act, 1962;

such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such fine shall not be less than

two thousand rupees.] [16]  

(2)     Whosoever, in contravention of any section other than sections 29 and 30 of this Act or of any rule, notification issued or given thereunder or order made, or of any license, permit or pass granted under this Act ?

(a)      sells any intoxicant; or

(b)      cultivates the hemp plant, or

(c)      removes any intoxicant from any distillery, brewery or warehouse established or licensed under this Act; or

(d)      bottles any liquor for the purpose of sale; or

(e)      taps or draws tari from any tari-producing tree;

Shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.

It should be noted, moreover, that the infliction of a penalty under this chapter does not debar the Collector from canceling a license under Section 36 or Section 37.

Section 61(1)*(b) refers to distilleries and breweries as the terms are generally understood, large works not as a rule capable of concealment. A case might arise of illicit distillation being carried on, on so large a scale as to come under this sub-clause but no such case has so far arisen, and the sub-clause should not be applied to the ordinary illicit still found in the Union Territory of Delhi, which is covered by sub-clause 61 (1)(a) Doubt often arises as to whether punishment should be asked for under both sub-clauses 61(1)(a) and 61(1)(c).

Such cases arise ?

(1)     when a still at work is seized with a quantity of lahan and of the resultant spirit;

(2)     when illicity distilled spirit and lahan are seized without apparatus;

(3)     when apparatus and lahan are seized;?

(4)     when illicity distilled spirit and apparatus not at work are seized.

In such cases there is a certain degree of overlapping, as (a) covers ?manufacture? and (c) covers ?use of a still? for manufacture. When the offence is ?manufacture by a still? or otherwise comes within the more definite terms of clause (c), that clause (c) should be used in preference to the more general clause (a). In practice indeed, it will not often be possible to convict and punish under both sub-clauses as Section 71, Indian Penal Code, will come into operation. Where the possession of the illicity distilled spirit or of the lahan is really only one part of the process of manufacture, the offender can be sentenced only to 3 years, whether he is convicted under (a) or (c).

It is not easy to lay down general rules; but if a reference is made in each case to Section 71 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and care is taken to distinguish between distinct offences and separate offences, i.e., the separable elements in themselves offences of one combined offence no difficulty should arise.

Section 61-A. [Penalty for mixing or permitting to mix with liquor any noxious drug.

(1)   Whoever mixes or permits to be mixed with any liquor sold or manufactured or possessed by him any noxious drug or any foreign ingredient likely to cause disability or grievous hurt or death to human beings, shall be punishable-
 

(a)   if as a result of such an act, death is caused, with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to twenty lakh rupees;
 

(b)   if as a result of such an act, disability or grievous hurt is caused, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees;
 

(c)   if as a result of such an act, any other consequential injury is caused to any person, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees; and
 

(d)   if as a result of such an act, no injury is caused, with imprisonment which may extend to six months and with fine which may extend to two lakh and fifty thousand rupees.

Explanation.- For the purpose of this section, the expression "grievous hurt" shall have the same meaning as in section 320 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

(2)   (i) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), the court, when passing an order under this Act, if it is satisfied that death or injury has been caused to any person due to consumption of liquor sold in any place, order the manufacturer and seller, whether or not he is convicted of an offence, to pay, by way of compensation, an amount not less than five lakh rupees to the legal representatives of each deceased or three lakh rupees to the person to whom grievous hurt has been caused, or fifty thousand rupees to the person for any other consequential injury:

Provided that where the liquor is sold in a licensed shop, the liability to pay the compensation under this section shall be on the licensee;

(ii) Any person aggrieved by an order under clause (i) may, prefer an appeal to the High Court within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of certified copy of order:

Provided that no appeal can be filled by the accused unless the amount ordered to be paid under clause (i) is deposited by him in the court:

Provided further that the High Court may entertain appeal after the expiry of the said period of ninety days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time."][17]

If any licensed vendor, or any person in his employ or acting on his behalf-

(a)      in contravention of Section 29 sells or delivers any liquor or intoxicating drug to any person apparently under the age of (twenty five) years; or

(b)      In contravention of Section 30 employs or permits to be employed on any part of his licensed premises referred to in that Section any man under the age of twenty-five years or women; or

(c)      Sells any intoxicant to a person who is drunk or intoxicated; or

(d)      Permits drunkenness, intoxication, disorderly conduct or gaming on the licensed premises of such licensed vendor; or

(e)      Permits any person whom he knows or has reason to believe to have been convicted of any non bailable offence or any reputed prostitute to frequent his licensed premises, whether for the purposes of crime or prostitution or not;

He shall, in addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable, be punishable with a fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

When any licensed vendor or any person in his employ or acting on his behalf is charged with permitting drunkenness or intoxication on the licensed premises of such vendor, and it is proved that any person was drunk or intoxicated on such premises, it shall lie on the person charged, to prove that licensed vendor or the person employed by him or acting on his behalf took all reasonable steps for preventing drunkenness or intoxication on such premises.

Section 63 - Penalty for rendering or attempting to render denatured spirit fit for human consumption

Whoever renders or attempts to render fit for human consumption any spirit, whether manufactured in India or not, which has been denatured, or has in his possession any spirit rendered fit for human consumption in respect of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such attempt has been made, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [18][three year], and with fine which may extend to [19][ten thousand] rupees. 

Section 64 - Penalty for fraud by licensed manufacturer or vendor or his servant

If any licensed manufacturer or licensed vendor or person in his employ or acting on his behalf-

(a)      Sells or keeps, or exposes for sale, as foreign liquor, any liquor which he knows or has reason to believe to have been manufactured from rectified spirit or country liquor; or

(b)      marks any bottle, case, package or other receptacle containing liquor so manufactured from rectified spirit or country liquor, or the cork of any such bottle, or deals with any bottle, case, package or other receptacle containing such liquor with the intention of causing it to be believed that such bottle, case, package, or other receptacle contains foreign liquor;

he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extent to three months and with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

(Indian made whisky, brandy, and gin are manufactured from plain spirit. Thus every distiller who makes these sophisticated spirits is technically guilty of an offence under this section. As, however, the sanction of the Collector is, under section 75 of the Act, necessary before a prosecution under this section can be instituted, there is little danger of its being abused).

Section 65 - Penalty for certain acts by licensee or his servant

Whoever, being the holder of license, permit or pass granted under this Act, or being in the employ of such holder or acting on his behalf ?

(a)      fails willfully to produce such license, permit or pass on the demand of any excise officer or of any other officer duly empowered to make such demand; or

(b)      in any cash not provided for in section 61 willfully contravenes any rule made under section 58 or section 59; or

(c)      willfully does or omits to do anything in breach of any of the conditions of the license, permit or pass not otherwise provided for in this Act; shall be punishable in case (a) with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, and in case (b) or case (c) with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

Section 66 - Penalty for consumption in chemist?s shop, etc.

(1)       If any chemist, druggist, apothecary or keeper of a dispensary allows any intoxicant which has not been bonafide medicated for medicinal purposes to be consumed on his business premises by any person not employed in his business, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extent to thee months and with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.

(2)       If any person not employed as aforesaid consumes any such intoxicant such premises, he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Section 67 - Manufacture, sale or possession by one person on account of another

(1)       When any intoxicant has been manufactured or sold or is possessed by any person on account of any other person and such other person knows or has reason to believe that such manufacture or sale was, or that such possession is on his account, the article shall for the purpose of this Act be deemed to have been manufactured or sold by or to be in the possession of such other person.

(2)       Nothing in sub-section (1) shall absolve any person who manufactures, sells or has possession of any intoxicant on account of another person from liability to any punishment under this Act for the unlawful manufacture, sale or possession of such article.

Section 68 - Penalty for offences not otherwise provided for

Whoever is guilty of any act or intentional omission in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, notification or order made, issued or given thereunder and not otherwise provided for in this Act, shall be punishable for every such act or omission with a fine which may extent to two hundred rupees.

Section 68A - Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction

Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under sub-section (1) of section 61 of this Act, shall be guilty of a similar offence, shall be subject for every such subsequent offence to twice the sentence of imprisonment and fine awarded on previous conviction provided that the enhanced punishment does not exceed the imprisonment of three years and a fine of two thousand rupees; provided that if on a previous conviction the sentence awarded was that of fine only, the sentence of imprisonment on subsequent conviction shall be in addition to the enhanced penalty of fine provided further that the enhanced punishment would not in any way affect the minimum sentence prescribed for the offence of possession of a working still for the manufacture of any intoxicant.

Section 69 - Attempt to commit offences punishable under the Act

Whoever attempts to commit or abets any offence punishable under this Act shall be liable to the punishment provided for the offence.

Section 69A - Security for abstaining from commission of certain offences

(1)        Whenever any person is convicted of an offence punishable under sections 61, 63 or 69 and the court convicting him is of the opinion that it is necessary to require such person to execute a bond for abstaining from the commission of offences punishable under these sections, the court may, at the time of passing sentence on such person, order him to execute a bond for a sum proportionate to his means, with or without sureties for abstaining from the commission of such offences during such period not exceeding three years, as it thinks fit to fix.

(2)       The bond shall be in the form contained in schedule II and the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898[20], shall, in so far as they are applicable, apply to all matters connected with such bond, as if it were a bond to keep the peace ordered to be executed under section 106 of the said Code.

(3)        If the conviction is set aside on appeal or in revision, the bond so executed shall become void.

(4)       An order under this Section may also be made by an appellate court, or by the High Court when exercising its powers of revision.

Section 70 - Penalty for excise officer making vexations search, etc.

If an excise officer ?

(a)      Vexatiously and unnecessarily enters or searches, or causes to be entered or searched, any place under colour of exercising any power conferred by this Act;

(b)      Vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes the moveable property of any person on the pretence of seizing or searching for any article liable to confiscation under this Act; or

(c)      Vexatiously and unnecessarily searches, arrests, or detains any person; or

(d)     Without lawful excuse ceases or refuses to perform or withdraws himself from the duties of his office unless expressly allowed to do so in writing by the Collector or unless he shall have given to his immediate superior officer two months notice in writing of his intention to do so;

He shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Section 71 - Report by investigating officer for instituting proceedings

If on an investigation by an excise officer, empowered under section 46 sub-section (1), it appears that there is sufficient evidence to justify the prosecution of the accused, the investigating officer, unless he submits the case for the orders of the Collector under section 80, shall submit a report which shall for the purposes of section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898[21], be deemed to be a police report to a magistrate having jurisdiction to enquire into or try the case and empowered to take cognizance of offence on police report.

Section 72 - Offences to be bailable

[22][All offences, punishable under this Act shall be bailable within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973:

Provided that the offences punishable under clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) and of possession of country liquor and foreign liquor in a quantity exceeding twelve bottles of 750 millilitres capacity each, punishable under clauses (iii) and (viii) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 61, shall be non-bailable.]

Section 73 - Security for appearance, in case of arrest without warrant

(1)     The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi may empower any excise officer to grant bail, notwithstanding that such officer is not empowered under section 46.

(2)     When a person is arrested under this Act, otherwise than on warrant, by a person or officer who is not empowered to grant bail, he shall be produced before or forwarded to ?

(a)      the nearest excise officer empowered to grant bail, or

(b)      the nearest officer in charge of a police station.

(3)     Whenever any person arrested under this Act, otherwise than on a warrant is prepared to give bail, and is arrested by, or produced in accordance with sub section (2) before an officer empowered to grant bail, he shall be released upon bail, or at the discretion of the officer releasing him, on his own bond.

(4)     The provisions of sections 499 to 502, 513, 514 and 515 of the Code of Criminal procedure, 1898 shall apply, so far as may be, in ever case in which bail is accepted or a bond taken under, this section,

Section 74 - Repealed

Repealed.

Section 75 - Cognizance of offences

(1)     No magistrate shall take cognizance of an offence, punishable-

(a)      Under Section 61 or Section 66, except on his own knowledge or suspicion or on the complaint or report of an excise officer, or

(b)      Under section 62, section 63 and section 64 section 65, Section 68 or Section 70, except on the Compliant or report of the Collector or an excise officer authorized by him in that behalf.

(2)     Except with the special sanction of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, unless the prosecution is instituted within a year after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

Section 76 - Presumption as to commission of offences in certain cases

Whenever any person is found in possession of-

(a)      any still, utensil, implement or apparatus whatsoever or any part or parts thereof, such as are ordinarily used for the manufacture;

(b)      any material which have undergone any process towards the manufacture of an intoxicant or from which an intoxicant has been manufactured;

It shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that his possession was in contravention of the provisions of this Act.

Section 76A - Presumption as to commission of offences under section 63 of the Act

In prosecutions under Section 63, it shall be presumed without further evidence, until the contrary is proved, that the accused person has committed an offence under that Section in respect of any denatured spirit which has been or attempted to be rendered fit for human consumption.

Section 77 - Liability of employer for offence committed by employee or agent

The holder of a licence, permit or pass under this Act, as well as the actual offender, shall be liable to punishment for any offence punishable under section 61, section 62, section 63, section 64 or section 65, committed by any person in his employ or acting on his behalf as if he had himself committed the same, unless he shall establish that all due and reasonable precautions were exercised by him to prevent the commission of such offence;

Provided that no person, other than the actual offender, shall be punished with imprisonment except in default of payment on fine.

Section 78 - Confiscation of article in respect of which offence committed and order of confiscation

(1)     Whenever an offence punishable under this Act has been committed-

(a)      every intoxicant or excise bottle in respect of which such offence has been committed together with the contents of such excise bottle, if any

(b)      every still, utensil, implement or apparatus and all material in respect of or by means of which such offence has been committed;

(c)      every intoxicant or excise bottle lawfully imported, transported manufactured, had in possession or sold along with, or in addition to, any intoxicant or excisable liable to confiscation under clause (a);

(d)      every receptacle, package and covering in which any intoxicant or excise bottle material, still, utensil, implement or apparatus as aforesaid is or are found together with the other contents (if any) of such receptacle or package, and

(e)      every animal, cart vessel, raft or other Conveyance used in carrying such receptacle, package, covering or articles as aforesaid;

Shall be liable to confiscation.

[23][Provided that when it is proved that the receptacles, animals or other articles specified in clauses (d) and (e) (except public undertaking vehicles) are not the property of offender, they shall not be liable to confiscation if the owner thereof establishes that he had no reason to believe that such offence was being or was likely to be committed.

Explanation.- "Public undertaking vehicles" means any vehicle owned/run by,-

(i)       the Central Government or a State Government;

(ii)      any municipality or any corporation or company owned or controlled by the Central Government and one or more State Governments for the purpose of providing transport and goods services.]

(2)     When in the trial of any offence punishable under this Act the magistrate decides that anything is liable to confiscation under sub section (1), he may order confiscation.

[24][Provided further that in cases where the quantity of liquor found at the time or in the course of detection of such offence exceeds twenty-seven bulk liters of country liquor and foreign liquor, the Magistrate shall order the confiscation of conveyance. However, in lieu of ordering confiscation of conveyance, the Magistrate may give the owner of the conveyance liable to be confiscated an option to pay an amount equal to the value thereof as estimated by the Magistrate:

Provided further that during pendency of trial, conveyance shall only be released on submission of security (in form of cash security or bank guarantee) equivalent to the value of the conveyance thereof.]

Section 79 - Further provisions for confiscation

When there is reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been committed, but the offender is not known or cannot be found and when anything or animal liable to confiscation under this Act and not in the possession of any person cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, the case shall be enquired into and determined by the Collector, who may order confiscation.

Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of one month from the date of seizing the thing or animal in question or without hearing the person (if any) claiming any right thereto, and the evidence (if any) which he produces in support of the claim.

Provided further, that if the thing in question is liable to speedy and natural decay, or if the Collector is of opinion that the sale of the thing of animal in question would be for the benefit of its owner, the Collector may, at any time, direct it to be sold; and the provisions of this section shall, so far as may be apply to the net proceeds of such sale.

Section 80 - Power of excise officers to compound offences

(1)       The Collector may accept from any person who is reasonable suspected of having committed an offence punishable under section 62, section 65 or section 68 of this Act, a sum of money by way of composition for such offence; and on the payment of such sum of money to the Collector, the accused person, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offences.

(2)       The cancellation or suspension of any license, permit or pass under section 36(a),(b) and (c) of this Act may be foregone or revoked by and at the sole discretion of the authority having the power to cancel or suspend it on payment by the holder of such license, permit or pass of such penalty as such authority may fix.

(3)       Where any intoxicant has been seized under the provisions of this Act, the Collector may, in his discretion, at any time before a magistrate has passed an order under section 78, sub-section (2), release it on receiving payment of the value thereof.

Section80-A. [Imposition of penalty.

If any violation of any of the provisions of this Act except Sections 61, 61-A, 62, 65 and 68 of this Act or the rules made thereunder, is brought to the notice of the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner in-charge of the Division, he may, in lieu of criminal proceedings against the offender, pass an order, imposing a penalty, not exceeding the maximum amount of fine as provided for such an offence in the relevant provisions of this Act and also confiscate the liquor and other connected or related goods after giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard. On payment of such penalty, the offender, if in custody or on bail, shall be discharged and no further criminal proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence.][25]

Section 80-AA. [Penalty for sale of liquor on prohibited days.

Whosoever opens a liquor vend on any day on which the sale of liquor is prohibited under this Act, or any rules framed, notification issued or order made thereunder, shall be liable to be imposed a minimum penalty of fifty thousand rupees.][26]

Section 80-B. [Appeal.

Any person aggrieved by the order of the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner in-charge of the district, under section 80-A and 80-AA, may file an appeal to the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, within a period of one month from the date of passing of the order.][27]

[Section 81.

(1)     Any offence relating to type and quantity of liquor as specified in clauses (vi), (vii) and (viii) (except quantity of foreign liquor exceeding twelve bottles of 750 milliliters capacity each) of proviso to sub-section (1) of section 61, may either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by such officers or authorities and for such amount as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.][28]

Schedule - SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE (1)

(See Section 2)

ENACTMENTS REPEALED

1.        The existing Schedule renumbered as Schedule I by the Punjab Excise (East Punjab Amendment) Act, 1948, (IX of 1948) Section 9, as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi vide Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs notification No. 8/31/49-Judl. Dated the 20th June, 1949.

Schedule - SCHEDULE I

I

(SCHEDULE II)

Bond to Abstain from the Commissioner of Offences Under the Punjab Excise Act, 1914

(See Section 69- A)

Whereas I, (name) ?????????? Son of ?????????. (name) caste?????.. inhabitant of (place) ??????????., district ?????????.. have been called upon to execute a bond to abstain from the commission of offences under section 61, 63 and 69 of Punjab Excise Act, I of 1914, for the term of ?????????????. (time), I hereby bind myself not to commit any such offence during the said term, and, in case of my making default therein, I hereby bind myself to forfeit to the (Government) the sum of rupees ???????????????????

Dated this ?????????. Day of ????????. 19

(Wherein a Bond with Sureties is to be Executed, Add)

We do hereby declare ourselves sureties for the above named????. ?????? that he will abstain from the commission of offences under Section 61,63 and 69 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, as in force in the Union Territory of Delhi during the said term and in case of his making default therein, we bind ourselves jointly and severally to forfeit to the (Government) the sum of rupees ??????????????..

Dated this ?????????? day of ??????.. 19

(Signature)

1.        Schedule II added by the Punjab Excise (East Punjab Amendment) Act, 1948 (IX of 1948), Section 9, as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi vide Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs notification No.8/11/49-Judl. Dated the 20th June, 1949.

2.        Substituted for the word ?Provincial? by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.