(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation. – For the purposes of this section –
(a) "company" means a body corporate, and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.
38 34-A. Offences by Government Departments. – Where an offence under Chapter IV or Chapter IVA has been committed by any department of Government, such authority as is specified by the Central Government to be in charge of manufacture, sale or distribution of drugs or where no authority is specified, the head of the department, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall render any such authority or person liable to any punishment provided in Chapter IV or Chapter IVA, as the case may be, if such authority or person proves that the offence was committed without its or his knowledge or that such authority or person exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
34-AA. Penalty for vexatious search or seizure. — Any Inspector exercising powers under this Act or the rules made there under, who,-
(a) Without reasonable ground of suspicion searches any place, vehicle, vessel or other conveyance; or
(b) Vexatiously and unnecessarily searches any person; or
(c) Vexatiously and unnecessarily seizes any drug or cosmetic, or any substance or article, or any record, register, document or other material object; or
(d) Commits, as such Inspector, any other act, to the injury of any person without having reason to believe that such act is required for the execution of his duty shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.