4. Central Government to take measures for preventing and combating abuse of and illicit
traffic in narcotic drugs, etc.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall
take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of preventing and combating
abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and the illicit traffic therein 2
[and for ensuring their
medical and scientific use].
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the
measures which the Central Government may take under that sub-section include measures with respect
to all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) coordination of actions by various officers, State Governments and other authorities—
(i) under this Act, or
(ii) under any other law for the time being in force in connection with the enforcement of the
provisions of this Act;
(b) obligations under the International Conventions;
1. Ins. by Act 2 of 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-5-1989).
2. Ins. by Act 16 of 2014, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-5-2014).
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(c) assistance to the concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international
organisations with a view to facilitating coordination and universal action for prevention and
suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances;
(d) identification, treatment, education, after care, rehabilitation and social re-integration of
addicts;
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[(da) availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific use;]
(e) such other matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of
securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and preventing and combating the
abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and illicit traffic therein.
(3) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the purposes of
this Act, by order, published in the Official Gazette, constitute an authority or a hierarchy of authorities
by such name or names as may be specified in the order for the purpose of exercising such of the powers
and functions of the Central Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect to such of
the matters referred to in sub-section (2) as may be mentioned in the order, and subject to the supervision
and control of the Central Government and the provisions of such order, such authority or authorities may
exercise the powers and take the measures so mentioned in the order as if such authority or authorities had
been empowered by this Act to exercise those powers and take such measures.
5. Officers of Central Government.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of
section 4, the Central Government shall appoint a Narcotics Commissioner and may also appoint such
other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Narcotics Commissioner shall, either by himself or through officers subordinate to him,
exercise all powers and perform all functions relating to the superintendence of the cultivation of the
opium poppy and production of opium and shall also exercise and perform such other powers and
functions as may be entrusted to him by the Central Government.
(3) The officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the general control and direction
of the Central Government, or, if so directed by that Government, also of the Board or any other authority
or officer.
6. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropie Substances Consultative Committee.—(1) The Central
Government may constitute, by notification in the Official Gazette, an advisory committee to be called
“The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Consultative Committee” (hereafter in this section
referred to as the Committee) to advise the Central Government on such matters relating to the
administration of this Act as are referred to it by that Government from time to time.
(2) The Committee shall consist of a Chairman and such other members, not exceeding twenty, as
may be appointed by the Central Government.
(3) The Committee shall meet when required to do so by the Central Government and shall have
power to regulate its own procedure.
(4) The Committee may, if it deems it necessary so to do for the efficient discharge of any of its
functions, constitute one or more sub-committees and may appoint to any such sub-committee, whether
generally or for the consideration of any particular matter, any person (including a non-official) who is
not a member of the Committee.
(5) The term of office of, the manner of filling casual vacancies in the offices of and the allowances,
if any, payable to, the Chairman and other members of the Committee, and the conditions and restrictions
subject to which the Committee may appoint a person who is not a member of the Committee as a
member of any of its sub-committees, shall be such as may be prescribed by rules made by the Central
Government.
7. Officers of State Government.—(1) The State Government may appoint such officers with such
designations as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Act.
1. Ins. by Act 16 of 2014, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-5-2014).
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(2) The officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the general control and direction
of the State Government, or, if so directed by that Government, also of any other authority or officer.