Punishment for external dealings in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in contravention of section 12
Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 deals with punishment for external dealings in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in contravention of section 12. Whoever engages in or controls any trade whereby a narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance is obtained outside India and supplied to any person outside India without the previous authorisation of the Central Government or otherwise than in accordance with the condition (if any) of such authorisati The Act came into force on 14 Nov 1985.
Whoever engages in or controls any trade whereby a narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance is obtained outside India and supplied to any person outside India without the previous authorisation of the Central Government or otherwise than in accordance with the condition (if any) of such authorisation granted under section 12, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to twenty years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but may extend to two lakh rupees:
Provided that the court may, for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a fine exceeding two lakh rupees.
Section 24, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (Act 61 of 1985).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Sanjay Kumar Kedia vs Narcotics Control Bureau
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A person or company cannot claim immunity under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (which protects intermediaries from liability for third-party information) when engaged in illegal drug trafficking operations. Section 79 provides immunity only from prosecution under the Information Technology Act itself, not from prosecution under other statutes such as the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. When a company uses technology platforms and internet services as a facade to actively facilitate, design, develop, host, and control the distribution of banned psychotropic substances, it is not a mere intermediary but an active participant in the illegal trade and can be prosecuted under Sections 24 and 29 of the NDPS Act. Bail should be denied when overwhelming inculpatory evidence establishes a prima facie case and there are no reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty or would not resume illegal activities.
On this section: Punishes engagement in or control of trade whereby narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances obtained outside India are supplied to persons outside India without authorization; primary charge against appellant
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… A seizure list was prepared. Both the appellants were arrested and were made accused in Sikti (Bardaha) P.S. Case No. 74 of 2016 dated 09.05.2016 for the offences under Sections 20, 22, 23 and 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 6. The police after investigation submitted chargesheet whereupon cognizance was taken and the case was committed to the learned Special Court for trial. 7. The Trial Court, after having examined nine witnesses on behalf of the prosecution, convicted …
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… Special Case No. 02 of 2016, arising out of Singheshwar P.S. Case No. 62 of 2016 whereby and whereunder the appellant has been found and held guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 20, 22 and 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (in short 'NDPS Act'). The appellant has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 20 years (twenty years) with a fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rs. One Lac only) for the offence under Section 20 of the NDPS Act and in default …
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… Station, recorded on 09.05.2016 at 6:30 am at the site where 30 kg Ganja was recovered from a Scorpio vehicle occupied by these appellants, according to the prosecution's case, is the basis for registration of the concerned Tarabari P.S. Case No. 34 of 2016, disclosing commission of the offences punishable under Sections 20, 22, 23 and 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act). According to him, he had received a secret information to the effect that Gulabi Singh @ Gulab Chand Mandal (Appellant No. 2) in Cr. Appeal (D.B.) No. 361 of 2019 was planning to sell huge quantity of Ganja which he had brought from Nepal. An …
Questions about Section 24
What have the courts held on Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act?
Sanjay Kumar Kedia vs Narcotics Control Bureau (03 Dec 2007) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Punishes engagement in or control of trade whereby narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances obtained outside India are supplied to persons outside India without authorization; primary charge against appellant.
How do I find court cases under Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: NDPS Act 24, section 24 NDPS Act, section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. People searching for it also type 24 ndps act and section 24 ndps act punishment. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Sanjay Kumar Kedia vs Narcotics Control Bureau (03 Dec 2007).
What should I read with Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 12 (Restrictions over external dealings in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.
When did Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act come into force?
Section 24 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, cited as NDPS Act 24, came into force on 14 Nov 1985, having been enacted on 16 Sep 1985. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1747 words
- 68B. Definitions819 words
- 9. Power of Central Government to permit, control and regulate816 words
- 36A. Offences triable by Special Courts631 words
- 10. Power of State Government to permit, control and regulate568 words
- 42. Power of entry, search, seizure and arrest without warrant or authorisation507 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.