The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Opium Smoking Prohibition Regulation 1955

,-- --._ --- --- . - -:---- -- --:- - - -- ------ -------~- .-.- .•.. _-_ .. _------ -- 

f 

OFFICE OF THE omss COlDlISSIONER, 
ANDAlIAN AND N lOOBA:a 18W.ND8. 

NOTIFICATION. 

PPrt Blair, the 4t1t 8sptsmb-er 1955. 
No.90/55.-Ttla following Regulation P'r<mlulgated 

- -by the President uDder elsase (2) of article 243 .of the 
Constitution. which was published in the Gazette ()f 

India, BriraordiMl'Y. p&ri II, Section I, datod the 29th . 
M.arob 1965, is hereby republished for general inform.&tioo. 

THE ANDAMA.N AND NICOBA.R ISLANDS 
O:f-IUM SMOKING (PROHIBITION) 

-n.EGULATION, 19M. 
f 

No. S'OF 1955 
\ 

Promulgated by the ~ident in th e Sixth Year 
of the Republic of India. 

A Regulation to amead and consolidate the law 
rela.ting to the prohibition of opium smoking in 
the Andaman sud .K ioober Islands. 

In exercise 'Of the VO'Vfers conferred by olause (2) 
'Of article 243 of the Constitution, the President is 
pleased to promulgate the foUowing Regulation m80de 
hy him~ 

1. (1) This Regulation ma,'! be caUed the Andam, ,an, and Nkobar 
Islands Opium Smoking (Prohibition} Regulation, 1955. 

-(2) It extends- to the whole of the territol'y of the Andaman and 
Nlcobar Islands. 

(3) It shall come into focce at once. 
2. In this Regulation, lUl}e,a the context otherwlse .•.•••.• UilU,- n._" .. 

-'""'"S 'VcUDltu"n. 
(a) "Chid' Comaussiceee " means the Chief Coromi •. 

sionet of the Andaman and Nicobar lIiands; 
(b) U CoIIectnr" means the Collector of land ~e in 

the lsianda and includes any other penon appointed by the 
Chief Commis8ioner to di.tcharge allot' any of the functions or 
to exercise all or any ol the powers of the Collector under thi.l 
Regulation in relation to any. loctl area; 

(c) "Exciae--offi.cet" means any penon who may be 
appoint.ed by the Ch~ Commissioner to dischaqe aU or any of 
the functions or to exercise all or any of the- powea of .n 
Exciae--olficer under this Regula. tion in rdation many loca. I ua; 

(d) "Islands" means the Andunan and Nicobu Wa.nd.a. 
_. (e) •• notification" means a notib.cation published in the 

Official Gazette ; , ro "?Piwn smoker" meeas a penon who smoJces 
prepattd opium ; 

(II) "place" includes a building, howe, shop, booth, tent, 
vessel, raft, vehicle and enclosure, and any part thereof; 

(b) "prepred opium" means ~... ~ or any 
product of opium obtained by any series of opentions d-estgned 
to transform ':h: into an extract suitable for 6fDOkiog and 
includes the at' other residue mnaining after opium is 
amoked; and 

(i) "r~" in relation. to any penoo meana ~ 
_ op or before the thirtieth day of Seotember. 1953. as a smoker 

Short litLe. utect 
aAd commence. 
lII •• t. 



of. ~~, not being regiater!d, smOkes prepared opium s.ha11 
be P*dshed f()t tht fitst oIfence with impriwDment which may 
extend to six months, or with nne which may ~ to five hundred 
t'u~, or ~ both, and for every such subsequent offence with 
imPrlsonmertt_ which may extend to one year, or with fine whrch 
may ~ ttl ooe thousand rupees, or with both. 

5. If •• y ~ not bt!oc ~. is found in po&SeSSioc 0( 
PRPUed _o¢.um or of any apparatus u.scd fot' the amoking of, or 
in the mmutaCture of. pceparea opium, it shan be pruumed. until 
the contrary Is-proved, that such person smoke!' prepared opi~ .. 

6. Wboevc:r manufactures, ~, buten • .en.. t~ or 
expoees for sale Ot ataaptll10 teD anv. ~ opium, or assiAts 
any other person whether rqistered 06 DOt. in the manufacture of 
prepared opium. shall be punished'widl imprisonment which nay 
extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thoasan~ 
rupees. or with both. 

£.u,e~.-Manufacture, oe poasesrion for his own use, by a 
~ opium IZDOKer of prepared opium. not exoeedtng.ooe tala 
in weight or such othet- leuet' quantity u the Chief Commisaonn 
InAY. by notification, direct, ehall not be an 06~ undcl' t:hia section. 

J(eepi~ Of J..1Ft,. . 1. Whoever opens, keeps or uses any place, or penuits any 
c:n.,.e J ~ pW:e.tiO be used, for the purpose of enabling two or ~ pet"IOnS, 
used foe Imokint. whether ngiatered or not. to meet _lo._ to smoke----I llI"e.-red opium. ""'lS"'u.~ (J'V"p""''OU 

opium. oe has the eare of management of 0(' in any way u"ists in 
conductinc the lmsiness of, any place used Of kept for the aid 
purpose, shall be punished with nnpl'isonment which may ettend 
to two years or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, 
or with both. 

II .ti4.ti_ 0 f 
certai. ~ .06 
llI"«:eesiiqs. 

S.oki.. • pre· 
,.red opiu •• 

PfCllllDpti.. crl 
.melin. pl'e,.,. 
•• .,ium i. 
c:ert&i. C&1ft. 

Mea_title, 
~OQ_U. 
J '_pued 
GplU". 

Sm oIri"c • pre_ 
.-reel opilt. iD 
Assemhl,. ol two 
« more. 

"Clam ptioa 
fr_ 
preseecc 
.I.prepared 
opJllI'lI. erc., 
fa cerl.;" 
places. ,. 

;",.. 
::'s- 
Secvit}' f. 
-abat.tUltI 'Ff" "eACCt. 

OJ. Al1.~ and ~ whkh bave. bea done U¥l ~ 
with respect to ~d.oo 01 opilUJl smokers in the b1anda on 01' 
before the thirtieth day of September, 1953. by the Chief Q:m.. 
missioo.er or by any person acti1lI wader the autbmity of the Chief 
Commiaaioner or otherwise in pursuance of any orc1et or l\OtiiaJiOll 
made or issued by the Chief ~ before the comft'leT1C"b' 
mart of this Regulation. shaH be valid and operative, as if &uch acts 
aod·~bad·heea~mdtakmin ~ wfth law; 
and all pe:f8Ol\A ~ in pursuaace of Ul'V auch otder oc 
notdicteioe a.de Ol' iaaued by the Chief (Agmill.'Sjoner, shalf be 
deemed CO have been t'egistemd under this ~ u if this 
Regulation was in force on 1be date of such order oe n.otifica.tion 
and authorised the ~n of opium smokers in the Wands on 
or before the tbktIdh <Jlv of September, 19S3. in accordance with 
the provi3iona of such order or notification. 

8. If two or more persoes, whether registered or not, assemple 
in an, place for the purpose of sznoking prepared opium, each such 
pet'SOft'shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 
one yat', or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or 
with~ 

9. If any prepared opium or any apparaa:u. used for .~ 
at' in the manuf~ of, peepared oplUO!. is found in any place 
where two or moee persoN. whether r~ or not, are 
aseembled. it shalt be presumed, until the conttary is proved, that 
the place is used, and that the persons are ~ in such place. for 
the purpose 0[ smoking prepared opium. 

10. (1) 'When~ allY persoo is convicted of an df'eooe punish.. 
able under this Regulation, the Magistrate may, in addition to my 
aentence whic.h may be passed by him. ordee such ~ to execute 
a hood for a sum proportionate to hia meana, with or without 
aufeties. for a~ from the comrni.-ion of ~ under tIlI$ 
~ during- auch' period, not excecadina thiee years, u be 
thinb fit to nx. 

(Z) The bond .wI be in the form ~ in the Schedule 
~~xed. tp ~ ~ and the proviaioDa of the Code of 



-------- - - - ---------- 
11. (l) If the Collector or a M&iistrate of the om dua or 

second class. upon information received and after such ulquiry. if 
any. as be considers necessary, has reason to believe that any place is 
used fOtt the commission ·of an offence under this Regulation, he 
may, after «:COr9m& fhe s~e of the inform.ation.- 

_ (a) entet $UCh place by day or night with such assistants 
as be may eon.i4er ~; 

(b) search aU part'S of .ach pI.ee in wbi.ch he bas reason 
to belieee that any prepe:ftCi Gplum Of .•• :~ foe the 
smok.ing of mch bpiwn or tor the _ _ ~. is 
concealed and aU oe any of the penon. whom he _, find in 
sueh place; 

(cl attest any person found in such place, whom·be 
has reason to believe to be gu.ilty of an offence under thia 
Regulation i and 

(d) ~~ aU ~ed opium and ~ratus for the smok­ 
ing or for the ~ thereof. whk:h may be found in . 
such~ior . 

tel iaue a warrant to eny ~ Of aDJ Police 
06ac:cr Coot below the rank of a ~) a~ IIICh 
officer to do any of the acts specified in clauses (a). (b); (C) and 
(d) of this sub-section. 
(2) Whenever any Excise-officer or any Police 06'icet (not below 

the rank of a Sub-Inspector) has reason to- believe that any place is 
used for the commission of an offence ~ this Regulation and 
that a search warrant cannot be obtained without affording the 
offender an opportunity of escape or of concealing evidence 0( the 
offence. such officeT may. after recording the grounds of his belief, 
do any of the acts specified in clauses (a). (b). (c) and (d) of 
sub-sectlon (1). 

V 01 1898. 12. (1) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 1898 
shall apply to the execution of warrants and to searches made under 
section 11. . 

(2) For the purpose of the said provisions of the aid Code. Jbe 
Collector shall be deemed to be a Court. 

V 011698. 

'V 01 1896. 

13. (1) Whenever any officer malcea an arrest or seizure under 
this Reaulation. he sb.ll without delay .• and in any case within 
twenry..{our hour., fOcward every pet'SlOO. arrested and everything 
seized with iUD perticuJ8rs of the arrest OT' seizure to the Collector 
or to the Malisttate. as rhe case may be, by whom the warrant was 
issued. or to the nearest poUce..-station. if the attellt or set%\lfe W'U 
made by such alicer while exercising his powers under sub-­ 
section (1) of section 11. 

(2) In <the case .t1.,. arrest or seizure made under the authority 
of a warrant issued by the Collector, the said officer: shall, unless the 
Collector proceeds under section 14. within the aforesaid period of 
twenty-four hours. forward the person and things produced befere 
the Collector to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the case 
together with full particulars of the arrest or seizure. 

14. (1) The Collector may. without the order of a Mapatmte. 
investicate any offence punishable under this ~oa whtch . a 
Court having junsdiction over the local area within the limits of the 
Collector's jurisdiction would have power to try. 

(2) The Collector may. after recording in writing his reason for 
suspecting the commilllion of an offence which he is empowered to 
investigate. exercise lIllY of the powers conferred upon a Police 
Officer ma1cing an investigation, or upon an officer in charge of a 
polke-station by sections 160 to 111 of the Code of Criminal Proee­ 
dure.1898. 

(3) The Collector may, without reference to a Ma~te and 
{or reasoos to be recorded by him in writing. stop further proceed­ 
ings against any person concerned. or supposed to be ca.occmed in 
any offence which. he has investigated. 

(4) A3 soon as an investigation by the Colleeeoe has been 
compleeed, if it appears to him. that there Is su8icient evidence to 
justify the forwarding of the accused to a Magist:r'Ue, the Collector 
shan submit. report [which shall, for the purposes of section 190 
n;~ •• r",~ ... ",(("..t ••• ",,,t 'D,.""'4A •• _4 1QOQ I..~ ,.f~~M~ •. ~ L_ - __ 1:-- 

P_r to 
ARter a~ 
"'C:"&BJ 
place and •• 
•• in article. 
.00 '0 arT."t 
peflona 
found 
i. aUoCa place. 

Ap~ti •• 
01 C ••••••• 
Criai_1 
••••••••••••• 
• '" to _rr.ltu 
.ad leuclt •. 
ea under 
seetioa II. 
~p«t to 
be made in 
UK of 
ee,'" 0. 
ware. 

Powera 01 
Collect III to 
in veatiaat.e 
alJeeces. 



(5) The powers conferred on the Collector by this section may. 
subject to the OOII.l.tI'ol of the Collector, be .eRrcised by Ml &cae.. 
ofti¢er, duly empowered by the Chief Commi.s.sione:r in this behalf .. 

I 

15. Whenever any persotl arrested under this ~~tion is 
prepared to furnish bail to the satisfaction of the officer making the 
arrest, be mall be ~l.eued on bail, or at the discretion of the officer 
makinc the arrest on his own bond. -, c.- 16. Every aBicer of the Police, 'Forest or Land Revenue 

tce,.~ad Department ehaU be bound to live reasonable aid to the 
Collector and Exciee-officera ill c:vrying out the provisions of this 
'Rt!gula~on upon a request made by aueh officer. 

01 . 17. On. the. cord ••••.• a trial for an cMfeoc.e ~ true R~ 
e "ticn, the Ma~ may order that any prepared ~ and fA-:L 
ld:'tcOJ ~ Or aPPliance in respecr of, or by mean. 0{ Wbkh 
ized. •••.•••••• •••••••• COIIUDit$ed, or appeata to have been ommrittt.d. Of 

aa, ~l~ •. padc.age or covering in which such prepared opium. 
iutrument ot appliance was found aad any other contents of such 
receptacle, pa~ge or covering shall be confiscated or destroyed. . 

18. No M~te Othu than a Magistrate of the ~ cJ.a.,s or a 
certain Magistrate of the second class specially empowered by the Chief 

el Comtoiaaioner 10 tlU behaJl. "U try an, o4fence punl.shab~ tmdet 
this R",datioa . - 

Ct" 19. No Magistrate ahall take cognizance of an oI.fence punishable 
under this Regulation except on the complaint or report of the 
.coIlector or an Excise--ofice-r or a Police Officer (not below the rank 
of a Sub-Inspector). - . 

'T- 20. No suit, prosecution Ot" other tepl proceeding shall lie 
against any-person in respect of anything which is in good fatth 
done or intended to be done under th~s Regulation. 

•••• 1L '1M Chief o.m~ x.aay. by nod6catj.on. make ruIes 
(or the Purpoee of c:a.nyios Into e:ftict the provi$ions of tbia Regu- 
lation. . 

triable 

Provided that no such rule ab.aIl authorise the ~tion of 
~um smokers after the commencement of this Regulation. 

Provided further that in making such rules, the Chief Commis­ 
sioner may cancel, rescind, vary or otherwise amend any ordee or 
noti6cation made or ilsued by him before the commencement of 
thU Regulation. . 

22. The Andamaa Islands Opium Smoking Regwation, 1940 is 
hereby repealed. 



THE 8CHEDULE. 
Bosn TO .1IIJt.UX no)( THZ eo •• IS810Y OP OffC!lTCIS UlfDU. 'II. 

AJr04IUlr .un" NlCOllAi. bL.l·ND OPIUl( S.OIJXG (PflOHIBITIO~,> 

Rio ULUI I)lr, 1~!)l). 
( SN seetioa 10 ) 

Whereas I --_ _-~ __ ._ _._ .. _ _ _ - . 
. aon (name) -.- _~ ~ .• ~- _.- •...... _ _ •. _ ~of- :.-~-:-----.- - 

(fat:het"s DiIIDiC or husband's 0Jft)e ) ...• - •...•... : •.......•• ~._- .•. _.::.:..__:..-.- ••.• :----._.- ..•....• 

inhabitant of"...~_! ..•.... __ ._., _ (p~) ~ - --_.~ .••••••••••• , 

have been called upon to enter into a baod to abstain frOom the' CQmmitlion of 
~ under the AndNMn and NkaI. &lands Opiwu Smoking (Prohibition) 
Regu)atioo, 19S5 for •· •• ·of ...•••.•....•..••......................• _ •..••....................•... 
(period ~ .••••••••••.••• tt-~ ••• - •. I hereby biDd tnyadf not 10. ~ aay ~ offence 
during the said term,: Iod in cue of my mllQ", ~ ~ I heJeby bind my- 
sdf to fOtfeIf..,~traI Government, me sum a( fupees ..•.••..• ~ •• __ ..• r ••. - ••••.•••••.• 
............ , ...•..... _ ..............•....• , , _ 
'Dat:ec:l th.i.s •.••••••••••..•...•.....••.... , ..•.•..•...• day of ....•.•.••••.•••.•••• , .••••.• , ..••••• ,.. •..• 19 ... - .... 

(WheR a bond widl ••••• is to be ~ted, ~ ) 
We do bereby-&ct.re ~ ~ for the ~~DI~ •• _ ••••• - •••• _ ••••••••• 

tNt be will u...m from the coitilm" •• ,-·of o6ucea under the' Andameo and 
NJcobar I.Imdt Opium Smokiac (Probibtdgn) lleJuIatloA, '195S during the Mid 
tmn, anc:I. in cue of'his making default c:herein, lIVe bind outselves. joiDdy and 
lleYeraDy to forfeit to the ~traI Goftt'DlQeftt the sum of rupees .• _ ••.•••••••••••••••..• 
•••••• •••••• •• ••••••• •••• I ••• ~ •• Da.tr!CI tins .......••..•.••..•.••. , •... davof - ...•.......... 19 . 

RA.JENDRA PJUSAD 
Pruided. 

K. Y. 8H.-\NJ)ARKAR.. 
S'~l' [o de Go 111. ,f I.llia. 

RRAOW AN SINGH. 
s.cmv, to tbt qllH' eo",eIaion." 

A ttdamaD • MUIobtlr Islll"dB. 

• 

/