Section 27 of The Manipur (Sales of Motor Spirit and Lubricants) Taxation Act, 1962
Punishment for vexatious search, etc.
Any officer or person exercising powers under this Act, who--
- (a)without reasonable ground of suspicion, enters or searches, or causes to be entered or searched, any building, vessel, vehicle or place; or
- (b)vexatiously or unnecessarily seizes the property of any person on the pretence of seizing or searching for anything liable to confiscation under this Act; or
- (c)vexatiously and unnecessarily detains or searches any person; shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
Summary
- This provision punishes any officer or person who abuses their authority under this law to harass others.
- It covers searching or entering any building, vehicle, vessel, or place when there is no reasonable ground for suspicion.
- It covers seizing someone's property unnecessarily or vexatiously, meaning maliciously to cause annoyance, under the false excuse that the items are liable to be confiscated.
- It covers detaining or searching any person vexatiously and unnecessarily.
- Anyone found guilty of these actions can be punished with a fine of up to five hundred rupees.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. What does "vexatious" mean in this provision?
It means doing something maliciously, without a proper legal reason, mainly to cause annoyance, distress, or harassment to another person.
2. What happens if an officer searches a vehicle without any reasonable suspicion?
Under this section, any officer who enters or searches a vehicle without reasonable grounds of suspicion can be punished with a fine of up to five hundred rupees.
3. Can an officer be punished for unnecessarily detaining a person?
Yes, vexatiously and unnecessarily detaining or searching a person is an offence under this section, punishable by a fine of up to five hundred rupees.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 27 of The Manipur (Sales of Motor Spirit and Lubricants) Taxation Act, 1962, what is the maximum punishment for an officer who performs a vexatious search or unnecessary seizure?
Q2.Which of the following actions is NOT explicitly listed as an offence under Section 27 of The Manipur (Sales of Motor Spirit and Lubricants) Taxation Act, 1962?
Q3.To trigger a punishment under Section 27(a) of The Manipur (Sales of Motor Spirit and Lubricants) Taxation Act, 1962, what must be true about an officer's search of a building?
Q4.Who can be punished under Section 27 of The Manipur (Sales of Motor Spirit and Lubricants) Taxation Act, 1962?