Section 18(Powers of Inspectors)

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 19 and of any rules made in this behalf, an Inspector may, within the local limits for which he is appointed, and in any other area within the permission of the licensing authority,-

(a) inspect any premises-wherein any drug is manufactured, the plant and process of manufacture, the means employed for standardising and testing the drugs and all relevant records and registers;

(b) inspect any premises wherein any drug is sold or is stocked or exhibited for sale or is distributed, the storage arrangements and all relevant records and registers;

(c) take samples of any drug which is being manufactured, or being sold or is stocked or exhibited for sale or is being distributed;

(d) enter and search, with such assistance, if any, as he considers necessary, any building, vessel or place, in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act or any rules has been or is being committed or may continue to be committed;

(e) call any person to be present as witness in the course of search or seizure or in connection with any other matter where the presence of witnesses is necessary;

(f) seize such drug and all materials used in the manufacture thereof and any other articles, including registers, cash memos, invoices and bills, which he has reason to believe may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or any rules:

[Provided that where the contravention is such which can be remedied, the stocks shall not be seized upon undertaking in writing of the person not to sell drug without remedying the defect, under intimation to the Board concerned]

(g) require any person to appear before him at any reasonable time and place to give statement, assistance or information relating to or in connection with the investigation of an offence under this Act or the rules:

Provided that the exemptions under Sections 132 and 133 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908), shall be applicable to requisitions for attendance under this Clause;

(h) lock and seal any factory, laboratory, shop, building, store-house or godown, or a part thereof, where any drug is or is being manufactured, stored, sold or exhibited for sale in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules;

(i) forbid for a reasonable period, not exceeding [two] weeks or such further period, which shall not be more than three months, as the Inspector may, with. the approval of the Provincial Quality Control Board, the Central Licensing Board, the Registration Board, or the licensing authority, as the case may be, specify, any person in charge of any premises from removing or dispensing of any drug, article or other thing likely to be used in evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act or the rules; and

(j) exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act or any rules:

Provided that the powers under causes (f) to (j) shall be exercisable only by an Inspector specifically authorised in this behalf, by an order in writing, by the Government appointing him, subject to such conditions as may be specified in such order. [omitted]

(2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall apply to searches and seizures made under this Act.