PUNJAB EXCISE ACT, 1914
(1) This Act may be called The Punjab Excise Act, 1914;.and
(2) Extent.-It extends to 1[the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966.]
(3) Commencement.-It shall come into force on such 2[date] as the 3[State] Government may by notification direct.
1. Substituted by A.O. 1968 for the words "the whole of Punjab" the word "Punjab" was substituted for the words "East Punjab" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
2. The first February, 1915. - see Punjab Gazette 1914, Part I: page 60.
3. Substituted for "Central Government" (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by
The enactments mentioned in 5 Schedule 1[1] are repealed to the extent specified in the fourth column thereof.
1. The word "the" omitted and the figure "(I)" inserted by East Punjab Act No.1 of 1948, section 2.
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 w hether any process of manufacture be employed or not, and bottling includes re-bottling;
(3) "Collector" includes any revenue officer in impendent charge of a district and any official appointed by the [State] Government to discharge throughout any specified local area, the functions of a Collector under this Act;
(4) 1[Omitted] (5) "denatured" means effectually
The 1[State} Government may 2[omitted] by 3[notification] declare what, for the purposes of this Act or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to be "country liquor" and "foreign liquor".
4[omitted]
1. Substituted for the Central Government (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The word "State" was substituted for "Provincial" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
2. The words "with the previous sanction of the Governor General in Counsel were omitted by the Devaluation Act, 1920 (XXXVIII of 1920).
3. For notification, see Punjab Gazette 1915, Part I, page 219.
4. The proviso which was added by the Devolution Act, 1920 (XXXVIII of 1920)
The [State] Government may by notification declare w ith respect either to the whole of 1[the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966] or to any local area comprised therein, and as regards purchasers generally or any specified class of purchasers and generally or any specified occasion, the maximum or minimum quantity or both of any 2[intoxicant] which for the purpose of this Act may be sold by retail sale and w hole sale.
1. Substituted for "East Punjab" by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
2. Substituted for the words "excisable article or articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
Where under this Act any notification is made, any power conferred, any appointment made or any license, pass or permit granted, it shall be law ful to direct;--
(a) that it shall apply to the whole of 1[the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Re-Organisation Act, 1966] or to any specified local area or areas;
(a) that it shall apply to all or any specified [intoxicant or intoxicants] or classes thereof;
(b) that it shall apply to all or any class or classes of persons or officers;
(c) that it shall be in force only for some special period or occasion.
1. Substituted by A.O. 1968 for the word "Punjab" which has been substituted "East Punjab" by Adaptation
Save as provided by the 1[Schedule-I], nothing contained in this Act shall affect the provisions of the 2[the Customs Act, 1962, the Cantonment Act, 1924, or the Customs Tariff Act, 1975] or any rule or order made thereunder.
1. Substituted for the words "the schedule" on account of the schedule having been numbered as Schedule I by East Punjab Act, IX of 1948, section 9.
2. Substituted for the words and figures "the Sea Custom Act, 1878, the Cantonment Act, 1910, or the Indian Tarrif Act, 1894" by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990
(a) Subject to the control of the 1[State] Government and unless the [State] Government shall by notification otherwise direct, the general superintendence and administration of all matters relating to excise shall vest in the Financial Commissioner.
(b) subject to the general superintendence and control of the Financial Commissioner and unless the [state] Government shall by notification otherw ise direct, the 2[Collector] shall control all other Excise offices in his [district].
(c) 3[Omitted].
1. Substituted for the Central Government (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The word "State" was substituted for "Provincial" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
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(a) The [State] Government may by notification appoint an Excise Commissioner, and, subject to such conditions and restrictions as it may deem fit, may invest him with all or any of the pow ers conferred on the Financial Commissioner by this Act.
(a) There shall be such other classes of excise officers as the [State] Government may by notification declare, and the [State] Government may appoint as many persons as it deems fit to be excise officers of these classes.
(b) Their Power.- The [State] Government shall by notification declare what powers under this Act shall be exercised by excise officers of each class.
(c) Mode of conferring pow ers.-In conferring pow ers under this Act the [State] Government may empow er persons by name or in virtue of their office or classes of officials generally by their official titles.
The 1[State] Government may by notification invest any person, not being an excise officer, with pow er 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.
1. Substituted for the Central Government (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The word "State" was substituted for "Provincial" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
The jurisdiction of Financial Commissioner 1[shall extend to the territories specified in sub- section (1) of section (5) of the Punjab Re-organization Act, 1966] and the jurisdiction of Collectors and other Excise Officers shall unless the [State] Government shall otherw ise direct extent to the districts in which they are for the time being employed.
1. Substituted by Act No. 3 of 1990 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
(a) The [State] Government may by notification delegate to the Financial Commissioner 1[omitted] or any of its powers under this Act, except the pow ers conferred by sections 14, 21, 22, 31 56 and 58 of this Act.
(b) The [State] Government may by notification permit the delegation by the Financial Commissioner [omitted] or Collector to any person or class of persons specified in such notification of any powers conferred by this Act or exercised in respect of excise revenue under any Act for the time being in force.
1. The words "or commissioner" and "Commissioner" omitted by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
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 [State] Government shall by notification declare.
(a) The Financial Commissioner may at any time revise any order passed by any excise officer subordinate to him.
(b) A 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 Financial commissioner:
Provided that the Financial Commissioner shall not under this section pass an order revising or modifying any proceeding or order of a subordinate excise officer and affecting any person without giving such person an opportunity of being heard.
No 1[intoxicant] shall be imported, exported or transported except, ---
(a) after payment of any 2[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 [State] Government may impose.
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
2. Substituted for the words "duty of customs or excise to which it may be liable" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
The Government may by notification.-
(a) [omitted] prohibit [the import or export] of any [intoxicant] into or from [the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Re-organization Act, 1966], or any part thereof; or
(b) [prohibit the transport] of any [intoxicant]. [Omitted]
Except as otherwise provided by any rule made under this Act, no [intoxicant] exceeding such quantity as the [State] Government may prescribe by notification shall be imported, exported or transported except under a pass issued under the provisions of the next follow ing section.-
Provided that in the case of duty-paid foreign liquor such passes shall be dispensed with, unless the 1[State] Government shall by notification otherwise direct.-
Provided, further that on such conditions as may be determined by the Financial commissioner, a pass granted under the excise law in force in another [State] may be deemed to be a pass granted under this Act.
1. Substituted for "C
Passes for the import, export or transport of 1[intoxicant] may be granted by the Collector.
Provided that passes for the import and export of such [intoxicant] as the Financial Commissioner may from time to time determine shall be granted only by the Financial Commissioner.
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
(1)
(a) No [intoxicant] shall be manufactured or collected;
(b) No hemp plant [omitted]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 brew ery shall be constructed or worked except under the authority and subject to the terms and conditio
The Financial Commissioner, subject to such restrictions or conditions as the 1[State] Government 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 brew ery;
(d) make rules regarding---
(1) the granting of licenses for distilleries, stills or brew eries;
(2) the security to be deposited by the licensee of a distillery or
brew ery;
(3) the period for which
The Financial Commissioner, subject to such restrictions or conditions as the 1[State] Government may impose, may---
(a) establish or license a warehouse w herein any 2[intoxicant] may be deposited and kept w ithout payment of duty.
(b) Discontinue any warehouse so established.
1. Substituted for "Central Government" (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The word "State" was substituted for "Provincial" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.
2. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
No [intoxicant] shall be removed from any distillery, brew ery, w arehouse, or other place of storage established or licensed under this Act, unless the duty (if any) 1[payable under Chapter V] has been paid or a bond has been executed for the payment thereof.
1. Substituted for the words "imposed under section 31" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
(1) No person shall have in his possession any quantity of any 1[intoxicant] in excess of such quantity as the 2[State] Government has, under section 5, declared to be the limit of retail sale, except under the authority and in accordance w ith 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 w hich such drugs w ere produced; or
(c) a permit granted by the Collector in that behalf.
Exceptions.- 3[(2) Sub-section (1) shall not apply to any intoxicant in the possession of any excise officer, common carrier of warehouseman as such.] or
No person shall have in his possession any unused and printed label, cork, capsule or seal duly approved by any authority under this Act or under any rule or order made there under for use by a person licensed to establish or work a distillery or brew ery or to bottle liquor, or any other label, cork, capsule, or seal which is an imitation of such unused and printed label, cork, capsule, or seal, as the case may be.- Provided that nothing herein shall apply to.---
(a) a person licensed to establish of work a distillery or brew ery or to bottle liquor, or
(b) a person who, in exection of an order received from a person specified in clause (a), manufactures or prints any such label, cork, capsule or seal.]
1. Substituted by the Punjab Act 31 of 1963, section 2.
No person shall have in his possession any quantity of any 1[intoxicant] knowing the same to have been unlaw fully imported, transported, manufactured, cultivated or collected, or know ing the prescribed duty not to have been paid thereon.
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937
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 1[Omitted] 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 Financial Commissioner may appoint in this behalf;
(2) a person having the right to the tari draw n 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 conditions as the Financial Commissioner may determine, a licen
No licensed vendor and no person in the employ of such vendor or acting on his behalf shall adulterate any liquor, which the vendor is licensed to sell, in such a manner as to change the strength fixed and quality or such liquor and no such vendor or person shall possess, store, sell or expose for sale, any such adulterated liquor.]
1. Inserted by Act No. 8 of 1995 published in RHP Extraordinary dated 23.6.1995.
(1) The 1[State] Government may lease to 2[any man not below the age of twenty five years] on such conditions and for such period as it may deem fit, the right---
(i) of manufacturing or of supplying by w holesale, 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 a lessee under sub-section (1) A license in the term 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.
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Within the limits of any military cantonment, and within such distance from those limits as the 1[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 w ith the consent of the Commanding Officer.
1. Substituted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
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 1[tw enty five] years whether for consumption by such person or by another person and w hether for consumption on or off the premises of such vendor.
1. Substituted for the word "eighteen" by the East Punjab Act XII of 1949, section 4.
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 w ithout remuneration, 3[any man under the age of tw enty one years or any women or any, child] in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public.]
1. Substituted by Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
2. The heading substituted by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
3. Substituted by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
1[An excise duty, or a countervailing duty, as the case may be] at such rate or rates as the 2[State] Government 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 brew ery licensed under section 21.-
[Provided that the duty shall not be so imposed on any article, which has been imported into India and was liable on importation to duty under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 or the Customs Act, 1962.]
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Subject to such rules regulating the time, place and manner as the Financial Commissioner may prescribe, such duty shall be levied ratably, on the quantity of excisable article imported, exported, transported or manufactured in, or issued from, a distillery, brew ery or w arehouse.-
Provided that duty may be levied---
(a) on intoxicating drugs by an acreage rate levied on the cultivation of the hemp 1[omitted] plant, or by a rate charged on the quantity collected;
(b) on spirit or beer manufactured in any distillery established, or any distillery or brew ery licensed, under this Act in accordance with such scale of equivalents calculated on the quantity of materials used, or by the degree of attenuation of the wash or wort, as the case
Instead of or in addition to any duty leviable under this chapter the [State] Government may accept payment of a sum in consideration of the lease of any right under section 27.
(1) until provision to the contrary is made by 2[Parliament] the [State] Government may continue to levy and duty 3[Omitted] which it w as law fully levying immediately before the commencement of the 4[Constitution], under this Chapter as then in force.
(2) The duties to which this section applies are.-
(a) any duty on intoxicants which are not excisable articles within the meaning of this Act; and
(b) any duty on an excisable article produced outside India and imported into 5[the territories specified in sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966], whether across a customs frontier as defined by the Central Government or not.
(3) Nothing in this
(1) Every license, permit or pass granted under this Act shall be granted---
(a) on payment of such fees, if any,
(b) subject so such restrictions and on such conditions,
(c) in such form and containing such particulars,
(d) for such periods, as the Financial Commissioner may direct.
(2) Security.--- 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.
(1) Grant of licenses for sale.
Subject to the rules made by the Financial Commissioner under the powers conferred by this Act, the Collector may grant licenses for the sale of any 1[intoxicant] within his district.
(2) Ascertainment of public opinion.
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 2[State] Government in this behalf, as may best enable him to ascertain local public opinion in regard to the licensing of such premises.
(3) A license for sale in more than one district of 3[the territories specified in sub-
Subject to such restrictions as the [State] Government 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 w ith his express or implied permission, of any of the terms 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 relatin
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 1[by the authority of the [State] Government], within the same district under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force relating to excise revenue or under 2[the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985], and the Financial Commissioner may cancel any such license, permit or pass granted to such person in any district to w hich this Act applies.
1. Inserted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
2. Substituted for the word "opium Act, 1878" by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990
In the case of cancellation or suspension of a license under clause (a), (b), (c) (d) or (e) of section 36, the fee payable for the balance of the period for w hich any license would have been current but for such cancellation or suspension, may be recovered from the ex-licensee as excise revenue.
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 and recover in the manner laid down in section 60 of this Act any deficiency in price and all expenses of such resale.
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 not to the refund of any fee paid or deposit made in respect thereof.
Whenever the authority w hich granted a license, permit or pass under this Act considers that such license, permit or pass should be withdraw n for any cause other than those specified in section 36, it may, on remitting a sum equal to the amount of fees payable in respect thereof for fifteen days, withdraw the license either-
(a) on the expiration of fifteen days notice in w riting of its intension to do so, or
(b) forthw ith w ithout notice.
(2) Compensation in the case of withdrawal.
If any license, permit or pass be w ithdrawn under clause (b) of sub-section (1), in addition to the sum remitted as aforesaid, there shall be paid to the licensee such further sum (if any) by way
No license, 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 Financial Commissioner as to what is a technical defect, irregularity or omission shall be final.
No person to whom a license, 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.
No holder of a license, granted under this Act to sell an 1[intoxicant] shall surrender his license except on the expiration of one months notice in writing given by him to the Collector of his intention to surrender the same and on payment of the fee payable for the license for the w hole period for which it w ould have been current but for he 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 license granted under section 27(2).
Explanation:- The words "holder of a license" as used in this section include
Any excise officer not below such rank as the 1[State] Government may prescribe may-
(a) enter and inspect at any time by day or by night, any place in w hich any licensed manufacture carries on the manufacture of or stores any 2[intoxicant];
(b) enter and inspect, at any time w ithin the hours during w hich sale is permitted, and any other time which the same may be open, any place in w hich any [intoxicant] is kept for sale by any person holding a license under this Act;
(c) examine accounts and registers, test, measure or w eigh any materials, still, utensils, implements, apparatus or [intoxicant] founding that place;
(d) seize any accounts, registers, measures, w eights or testing instruments which he
(1) Pow ers of excise officers to investigate offences punishable under this Act.
The 1[State] Government may by notification invest a excise officer, not below the rank of sub-inspector, w ith pow er to investigate any offence punishable under this Act, committed w ithin the limits of the area in which the officer exercises jurisdiction.
(2) Every officer so empowered may w ithin those limits exercise the same pow ers 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 2[XII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.]
1. Substituted for "Central Government" (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The w
Any officer of the excise, police, salt or land revenue department, not below such rank and subject to such restriction as the [State] Government may prescribe, and any other person duly empowered by notification by the [State] Government 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 w hom, 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.
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 [intoxicant], still, utensil, implement, apparatus or materials, in respect of which such offence has been, is being, or is 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.
(1) Pow er of excise officer to search without warrant.
Whenever any excise officer not below such rank as the 1[State] Government may by notification prescribe, as reason to believe that an offence punishable under section 61 and 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) Further pow ers of seizure, detention, search and arrest.--- Every excise officer as aforesaid may seize anything found in such place w hich he has reason to believe to be liable to confiscation under this Act, and may detain an search and, if he thinks proper, arrest any person found
(1) Pow er of excise officers to obtain information.
Any excise officer, not below such rank as the [State] Government 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 unlaw ful import, transport, manufacture or possession of any intoxicant, or any materials, still, utensils, implement, or apparatus whatsoever, for the purpose of manufacturing any intoxicant, or any unlaw ful cultivation of any plants from which an intoxicating drug can be produced as may be specified in the order.
(2) Any person upon w hom an order is served under sub-section (1) shall be bound, in the absence of reasonable excuse, to furnish correct information.]
1. Added by East Punjab Act IX of 1948
Save as in this Act otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1[1973], 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 w ithout the order of a magistrate.
(2) Whenever an excise officer below the rank of Collector makes any arrest, seizure or search, he shall within tw enty four hours thereafter make a full report of all the particulars of the arrest, seizure or
All police officers are required to aid the excise officers in the due execution of this Act, upon request made by such excise officers.
(a) Duty of land-holders and other to give information.
Every ow ner or occupier of land 1[or any building] and the agent of any ow ner or occupier of land 2[or any building] on which---
(b) Every lambardar, village headman, village accountant, village watchman, village policeman and every officer employed in the collection of revenue or rent of land on the part of Government or the Court of Wards in w hose village---
There shall be any manufacture or illegal import or collection of any 2[intoxicant] not licensed under this Act, or any unlaw ful cultivation of any plants from which an intoxicating drug can be produced,
shall be bound, in the absence of reasonable excuse, to give notic
Every officer Incharge of a police station shall take charge of, and keep in safe [i]custody, pending the orders of a magistrate or of the Collector or of an officer empow ered 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 w ho 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 Incharge of the policestation.
(1). Power to close shop for the sake of public peace.
The District Magistrate or a Sub-Divisional Magistrate by notification in w riting 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 unlaw ful assembly is apprehended or occurs in the vicinity of any such shop 2[an Executive Magistrate] of any class may require such shop to be kept closed for such period as he may think necessary;
Provided that w here any such riot or unlaw ful assembly occurs the licensee shall, in the absence of a magistrate, close his shop without any order.
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Every person who manufactures 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 Financial Commissioner may prescribe, and to keep the same in good condition; and
(b) on the requisition of any excise officer, duly empow ered by the Collector in that behalf, at any time to measure, w eigh or test any [intoxicant] in his possession in such manner as the said excise officer may require.
The 1[State] Government may by notification, either w holly or partially and subject to such conditions as it may think fit to prescribe, exempt any [intoxicant] from all or any of the provisions of this Act.
1. Substituted for "Central Government" (which was substituted for "State Government" by A.O. 1968) by A.O. 1973. The word "State" was substituted for "Provincial" by Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government for any Officer of the State Government or any other person exercising any pow er or discharging any functions or performing any duties under this Act, for any thing in good faith done or ordered to be done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule or order made there under or under any other law for the time being in force relating to the excise revenue.]
1. Substituted by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
(1) The [State] Government 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 1[State] Government may make rules.---
(a) prescribing the duties of excise officers;
(b) Regulating the delegation of any powers by the Financial Commissioner, Commissioner or Collector, under section 13, clause (b);
(c) prescribing the time and manner of presenting, and the procedure for dealing with, appeals from orders of excise officers;
(d) regulating the import, expo
The Financial Commissioner may, by notification, make rules-
(a) regulating the manufacture, supply, storage or sale of any 1[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 2[omitted] and the collection of spontaneous growth of such plant and the preparation 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;
(1) The follow ing moneys, namely,--
(a) all excise revenue,
(b) any loss that may accrue, w hen in consequence of default a grant has been taken under management by the Collector or has been resold by him under section 39, and
(c) all amounts due to the 1[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 distress and sale of his moveable 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 m
(1) Penalty for unlawful import, export, transport, manufacture, possession, etc.(a) imports, exports, transports, manufactures, collects or possesses any
[intoxicants] or
(b) constructs or w orks any distillery or brew ery; or
(c) uses, keeps or has in his possession any materials, still, utensils, implement
or apparatus whatsoever, for the purpose of manufacturing any [intoxicant]
other than tari; shall be punishable for every such offence w ith imprisonment
for a term w hich may extend to 1[three] years and w ith fine w hich may extend
to 4[two lakh of rupees]
&n
(1) Notw ithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 61, any offence, whether committed before or after the commencement of the Punjab Excise (Himachal Pradesh) Amendment Act, 2001, relating to the imports, exports, transportation or
possession up to 60 litres of lahan or up to 18 bulk litres of liquor, may either before or after the institution of prosecution, be compounded by the Judicial Magistrate of the Ist Class, for an amount w hich shall not be less than one thousand rupees but shall not exceeds tw enty five thousand rupees.
(2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), the offender, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence:
&n
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 2[tw enty 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 3[any man under the age of tw enty one years or any w omen or any child]; or
(c) sells any 3[intoxicant] to a person w ho is drunk or intoxicated; or
(d) permits drunkenness, intoxication, disorderly conduct or gaming on the license premises of such licensed vendor; or
(e) permits any person w hom
Whoever renders or attempts to render fit for human consumption any spirit, w hether manufactured in India or not, w hich has been denatured, or has in possession any spirit rendered fit for human consumption in respect of w hich he knows or has reasons to believe that any such attempt has been made, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2[five years] [and w ith fine which may extend to 3[one lakh] rupees].
1. Substituted for the old section by East Punjab Act IX of 1948, section 6.
2. Substituted for the words "or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both by Punjab Act, 35 of 1956, section 3 and further amended by Act No.3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
3. S
Whoever in contravention of the provisions of section 24-A has in his possession any unused and printed label, cork, capsule or seal, or an imitation thereof, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine.]
1. Inserted by Punjab Act 31 of 1963, section 3.
If any licensed manufacturer or licensed vendor or any 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 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 w ith imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[one year] 2[and w ith fine which may extend to 5[two thousand] rupees.]
Whoever, being the holder of a license, permit or pass granted under this Act, or being in the employ of such holder or acting on his behalf---
(a) fails w illfully 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 case not provided for in section 61 w ilfully 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 1[w ith fine which may extend to tw enty five thousand rupees but shall not be less than five thousand rupees.]
&nbs
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 65 of this Act, if any licensed vendor, or any person in his employ or acting on his behalf, possesses, stores, sells, or exposes for sale any adulterated liquor in contravention of section 26-A of this Act, he shall be punishable with a fine w hich shall not be less than 2[five thousand] rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees.]
1. Inserted by Act No. 8 of 1995 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 23.6.1995.
2. Substituted for "twenty five thousand" by Act No. 9 of 1999 published in RHP (Extraordinary dated 4.5.1999.
(1). Penalty for consumption in chemists shops. etc.
If any chemist, druggist, apothecary or keeper of a dispensary allow s any 1[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 extend to 2[one year and w ith fine w hich shall not be less than two thousand rupees.]
(2) If any person not employed as aforesaid consumes any such [intoxicant] on such premises, he shall be punishable w ith a fine, w hich may extend to
3[two thousand rupees.]
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptatio
(1) Manufacture, sale or possession by one person on account of another.
when any 1[intoxicant] has been manufactured or sold or is possessed by any person on account of any other person and 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 unlaw ful manufacture, sale or possession of such article.
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937
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 w ith a fine which may extend to 1[one thousand rupees.]
1. Substituted for the words "two thousand" by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
Whosoever having being 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 tw ice the sentence of imprisonment and fine aw arded on previous conviction.
Provided that the enhanced punishment does not exceed the imprisonment of 2[five years and a fine of 3[tw o lakh] rupees];
4[Provided further that the enhanced punishment shall not in any way affect the minimum sentences prescribed for the offences specified in the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 61;
Provided further that where any contravention relates to intoxicating drugs, such contravention shall be punishable under section 31 o
Whoever attempts to commit or abets any offence punishable under this Act shall be liable to the punishment provided for the offence.
(1) Security for abstaining from commission of certain offences.
Whenever any person is convicted of an offence punishable under section 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, 2[1973] shall in so far as they are appl
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 pow er conferred by this Act; or
(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 law ful excuse ceases or refuses to perform or withdraw s 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 w riting of
If on an investigation by an excise officer, empow ered 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, 1[1973] be deemed to be a police report) to a magistrate having jurisdiction to enquire into or try the case and empow ered to take cognizance of offences on police reports.
1. Substituted for the figure "189 8" by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
All offences punishable under this Act shall be bailable within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, [1973].
1[Provided that the offences punishable under clause (1) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 61 and of possession of country liquor and foreign liquor in a quantity exceeding ten bottles of 750 millilitres capacity each, punishable under clauses (iii) and (iv) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 61 2[and the offences punishable under section 63] shall be non bail able.]
1. Proviso added by Punjab Act, 35 of 1956 section 7 which was further substituted by Act No. 3 of 1990 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 8.2.1990.
2. Substituted by Act No. 8 of 1995 published in RHP (Extraordinary) dated 23.6.1995.
(1) Security for appearance in case of arrest without warrant.
The 1[State] Government may empow er any excise officer to grant bail,
notw ithstanding that such officer is not empow ered under section 46.
(2) When a person is arrested under this Act, otherw ise than on warrant, by a person or officer w ho is not empow ered to grant bail, he shall be produced before or forw arded to---
(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 w ith sub-section (2) before an officer empow ered to grant bail, he shall be released upon bail, or, at the discretion of the officer releasing him, on
1. Section 74 relating to enhanced punishment after previous conviction repealed by the Punjab Act II of 1925, section 3.
(1) Cognizance of offences.
No [Judicial Magistrate] shall take cognizance of an offencpunishable---
(a) under section 61 or section 66, except on his ow n know ledge or suspicion
or on the complaint or report of an excise officer, or
(b) under section 62, section 63, section 64, section 65, section 68 or section 70, except on the complaint or report of the Collector or an excise officer authorized by him in that behalf.
(2) Except with the special sanction of the 1[State] Government, no 2[Judicial Magistrate] shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, unless the prosecution is instituted w ithin a year after the date on which th
Whenever any person is found in possession of -
(a) any still, utensil, implement or apparatus w hatsoever or any part or parts thereof, such as are ordinarily used for the manufacture of any 1[intoxicant] other than tari,
(b) any materials which have undergone any process tow ards 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.
1. Substituted for the words "excisable articles" by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.
In prosecutions under section 63, it shall be presumed w ithout 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.]
1. Added by East Punjab Act IX of 1948, section 8.
The holder of a license, permit or pass under this Act as w ell 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 w ere exercised by him to prevent the commission of such offence.
(1) Confiscation of article in respect of w hich offence committed.
Whenever an offence punishable under this Act has been committed.-
(a) every [intoxicant] or 1[excise bottle] in respect of w hich such offence has been committed, 5[together with the contents of such bottle, if any];
(b) every still, utensils, implement or apparatus and all materials in respect of or
by means of w hich such offence has been committed;
(c) every 2[intoxicant] 3[or excise bottle] law fully imported, transported,
manufactured had in possession or sold along with or in addition to, any
[intoxicant]
When there is reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been committed, but the offender is not know n or cannot be found and when any thing 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 w ithout hearing the person (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 or an
(1) Pow er of excise officers to compound offences.The Collector may accept from any person w ho is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence punishable under section 62, Section 65 or 1[section 65-A] 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 offence.
2[Provided that in respect of the offence punishable under section 65-A, the Collector shall not accept from the accused person a sum of money by way of composition, which is less than 3[five thousand] rupees.]
(2) The cancellation or suspension of any license, permit or pass under sectio
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