Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
27. Punishment for illegal possession
in small quantity for personal consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic
substance or consumption of such drug or substance.
Whoever, in contravention of any provision of this Act, or any
rule or order made or permit issued thereunder, possesses in a small quantity,
any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance, which is proved to have been
intended for his personal consumption and not for sale or distribution, or
consumes any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance, shall, notwithstanding
anything contained in this Chapter, be punishable,-
(a) where the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance possessed
or consumed is cocaine, morphine, diacetyl-morphine or any other narcotic drug
or any psychotropic substance as may be specified in this behalf by the Central
Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both; and
(b) where the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance possessed
or consumed is other than those specified in or under clause (a), with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
Explanation .- (1) For the purposes of this section
"small quantity" means such quantity as may be specified by the
Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
(2) Where a person is shown to have been in possession of a
small quantity of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance, the burden of
proving that it was intended for the personal consumption of such person and
not for sale or distribution, shall lie on such person.