Section 18
Proceedings for offences
(1)
All proceedings in respect of an offence against this Act shall be taken in a summary manner before a Sessions Court or the
Court of a First Class Magistrate.
(2)
The summons in any such proceedings shall not be made returnable in less than fourteen days from the day on which it is served.
(3)
There shall be served with the summons a copy of the analyst’s certificate, if any, on which the prosecution is based.
(4)
When any article of drug has been purchased or procured from any person for test purposes, no proceedings in respect of the sale thereof or of any offence against this Act shall be instituted after the expiration of sixty days from the time of purchasing or procuring the same.
No defence that offence not wilfully committed 19.
In a prosecution for selling any drug contrary to this Act or of any regulations made thereunder it shall be no defence that the defendant did not act wilfully unless he also proves that he took all reasonable steps to ascertain that the sale of the article would not constitute an offence against this Act or against any regulations made thereunder.