Section 272: Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale

Whoever adulterates any article of food or drink, so as to make such article noxious as food or drink, intending to sell such article as food or drink, or knowing it to be likely that the same will be sold as food or drink, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-com­poundable.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Orissa

In section 272 for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both”, the following shall be substitut­ed, namely:—

“shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life.”

[Vide Orissa Act 3 of 1999, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 27-1-1999)].

Uttar Pradesh

In section 272 for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both” the following shall be substitut­ed, namely:—

“shall be punished with imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine:

Provided that the court may, for adequate reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life.”

[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 47 of 1975, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 15-9-1975)].

West Bengal

In section 272 for the words “of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both” the following shall be substituted, namely:—

“for life with or without fine:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is

less than imprisonment for life.”

[Vide West Bengal Act 42 of 1973, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 29-4-1973)].