Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 · Chapter IV: Manufacture, Sale and Distribution of Drugs and Cosmetics
Section 20: Government Analysts
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such persons as it thinks fit, having the prescribed qualifications, to be Government Analysts for such areas in the State and in respect of such drugs or [classes of drugs or such cosmetics or classes of cosmetics] as may be specified in the notification.
(2) The Central Government may also, by notification in the Official Gaz ette, appoint such persons as it thinks fit, having the prescribed qualifications, to be Government Analysts in respect of such drugs or [classes of drugs or such cosmetics or classes of cosmetics] as may be specified in the notification.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), neither the Central Government nor a State Government shall appoint as a Government Analyst any official not serving under it without the previous consent of the Government und er which he is serving.
[(4) No person who has any financial interest in the import, manufacture or sale of drugs or cosmetics shall be appointed to be a Government Analyst under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of this section.]]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 20
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