Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Power of court to release certain offenders on probation.-(i) When any addict is found guilty of an offence ounishable under section 27 l[or for offences relating to small quantiiy of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substancel and if the court by which he is found guilty is of the opinion, regard being had to the age, character, antecedents or physical or mental condition of the offender, that it is expedient so to do, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, the court may, instead of sentencing him at once to any imprisonment, with his consent, direct that he be released for undergoing medical treatment for de-toxification or de-addiction from a hospital or an institution maintained or recognised by Govemment and on his entering into a bond in the form prescribed by the Central Government, with or without sureties, to appear and furnish before the court within a period not exceeding one year, a report regarding the result of his medical treafment and, in the meantime, to abstain fiom the commission of any offence under Chapter IV. (2) If it appears to the court, having regard to the report regarding the result of the medical treatrnent fumished under sub-section (1), tlrat it is expedient so to do, the court may direct the release of the offender after due admonition on his entering into a bond in the form prescribed by the Central Government, with or without sureties, for abstaining from the commission of any offence under Chapter IV during such period not exceeding three years as the court may deem fit to specify or on his failure so to abstain, to appear before the court and receive sentence when called upon during such period.