Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977

Occupiers etc. permitting certain activities to take place on land, vehicle or vessel to be guilty of an offence.

19.—(1) A person who is the occupier or is in control or is concerned in the management of any land, vehicle or vessel and who knowingly permits or suffers any of the following to take place on the land, vehicle or vessel, namely—

(a) the cultivation contrary to section 17 of this Act of opium poppy or any plant of the genus Cannabis,

(b) the preparation of opium for smoking,

(c) the preparation of cannabis for smoking,

(d) the smoking of cannabis, cannabis resin or prepared opium,

(e) the manufacture, production or preparation of a controlled drug in contravention of regulations made under section 5 of this Act,

(f) the importation or exportation of a controlled drug in contravention of such regulations,

(g) the sale, supply or distribution of a controlled drug in contravention of such regulations,

(h) any attempt so to contravene such regulations, or

(i) the possession of a controlled drug in contravention of section 3 of this Act,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) of this section, where it is proved that an activity or contravention mentioned in the said subsection (1) took place on particular land or on a particular vehicle or vessel and that the defendant was, at the time of the alleged offence, the occupier of, or in control or concerned in the management of the land, vehicle or vessel, as the case may be, it shall be presumed until the court is satisfied to the contrary that the activity or contravention took place with the knowledge of the defendant.