Section 35
Presumption of culpable mental state.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
About this Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to narcotic drugs, to make stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances , to provide for the forfeiture of property derived from, or used in, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to implement the provisions of the International Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and for matters connected therewith.
(1) In any prosecution for an offence under this Act
which requires a culpable mental state of the accused, the court shall presume the existence of such
mental state but it shall be a defence for the accused to prove the fact that he had no such mental state
with respect to the act charged as an offence in that prosecution.
Explanation.-- In this section "culpable mental state" includes intention motive, knowledge of a fact and belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purpose of this section , a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to exist beyond a reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.
Explanation.-- In this section "culpable mental state" includes intention motive, knowledge of a fact and belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purpose of this section , a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to exist beyond a reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.