The Punjab Opium Orders , 1956

1 · . In these order unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context :

2 · . All transactions in pure and excise opium and poppy-heads on account of Government may be carried on without restrictions :

3 · . Save as provided in order 2 above the import , export or transport of excise opium and poppy heads , into from or within Punjab is permitted only by means other than that of the post .

4 · . Any officer of Government may , as such , possess pure and excise opium and poppyheads which has come into his possession in the course of his official duties:

5 · . The possession of opium (including poppy-heads) in any quantity by any person except under and in accordance with conditions of a permit granted under the Punjab Opium Prohibition Rules , 1958 , or under an appropriate licence or permit granted under the Opium Act , 1878 , or the Dangerous Drugs Act , 1930 or the Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act , 1932 prohibited .

6 · . to 9 .

10 · . Deleted

11 · . Pure and Excise Opium and poppy-heads may be transported by any Government Officer acting in regard to such transport in the performance of his official duties .

12 · . to 19 . Deleted .

20 · . The Excise and Taxation Officer of any district through which a consignment of poppy -heads may be passing under cover of a transport pass , may on due cause being shown by the consignor , consignee or person incharge of the consignment , extend the period for which such transport pass to remain in force . Every extension of time so granted shall be endorsed upon the pass by the Excise and Taxation Officer granting it , and every such endorsement shall be dated and signed by him .

21 · . The poppy-heads transported under cover of a transport pass shall , on arrival within the limits of a tehsil or district in which its place of destination is situated , be taken for examination and weighment direct to the office designated in the transport pass in that behalf .

22 · . On arrival at such office the consignee or person incharge of the consignment shall deliver up his copy of the transport pass and all poppy- heads in his possession-

23 · . Deleted .

24 · . The import of pure and excise opium and poppy heads is permitted by a Government servant acting in regard to such import in the performance of his official duties .

25 · . The import of excise opium from the Government Opium Factory at Gazipur and Neemuch shall be regulated by the Central Opium Rules , made by the Central Government under section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act (II of 1930) .

26 · . Pure and excise opium and poppy heads may be exported by any officer of Government under the orders of Government .

27 · . to 29 . Deleted .

30 · . Every consignment of poppy-heads to be transported , imported or exported under these orders shall be properly packed , and firmly secured and sealed so that it cannot be opened and its contents tampered with or extracted without breakage of or damage to the seals or pack in material . 31 . Every Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner and every Excise Officer of the first or second class is authorised to detain , so long as may be necessary for the inspection of the same and to inspect any consignment of poppy-heads in transit through his jurisdiction and to call for the production of the pass under which such poppy -heads are being transported , imported or exported . 32 . If upon any inspection made under the powers conferred by order 31 above any excess or deficiency between the quantity of poppy-heads specified in the pass and the actual quantity contained in any parcel or package to which the pass relates is found to exist , and the consignor , consignee or person incharge thereof cannot satisfactorily account for such excess or deficiency , the fact shall forthwith be reported to the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner of the Division in which such inspection is made , and pending the orders of such Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner the parcel or package in question shall be detained by the inspecting officer . 33 . If when any poppy-heads shall be weighed under the provision of order 28 or in the course of inspection made under the provisions of orders 31 and 32 , a deficiency between the quantity specified in the pass and the actual quantity contained in any parcel or package to which the pass relates is found to exist , such allowance on account of dryage shall be made in reduction of that deficiency as may from time to time be prescribed by the Excise Commissioner in that behalf . 34 . Deleted .

35 · . Any consignment of poppy-heads which in the course of transit by rail but which is not covered by a pass issued under the Punjab Opium Prohibition Rules , 1959 or is not being transported in accordance with any other rules or law , relating to opium , for the time being in force may be seized and detained by any railway police or excise officer .

36 · . Excise opium or poppy-heads may be sold by any Government Officer on behalf of Government in accordance with such directions as the Excise Commissioner may , from time to time , issue on behalf .

37 · . to 42 . Deleted .

43 · . to 47 . Deleted .

48 · . to 68 . Deleted .

69 · . An appeal shall lie from an original or appellate order of an Excise Officer as follows , namely :-

70 · . Every memorandum of appeal must be presented within one month from the date of the order appealed against .

71 · . Every memorandum of appeal shall be accompanied by the order appealed against , in original , or by an authenticated copy of such order unless the omission to produce such order or copy is explained to the satisfaction of the appellate authority . The time spent in obtaining an authenticated copy of such order , shall be excluded from the period of limitation prescribed under Order 70 above .

72 · . (1) The Excise Commissioner or a Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner may review and on so reviewing modify , reverse or confirm any order passed by himself or any of his predecessors in office under these rules , provided that ;

73 · . The Excise Commissioner or a Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner may call for the record of any case under these orders pending before or disposed of by any officer subordinate to him and pass such order in conformity with these orders as he thinks fit . An order shall not be modified or reversed unless reasonable notice has been given to the parties affected thereby to appear and to be heard in support of the order .