(1)Any person who holds a pass may possess Excise opium to the extent to three totals in the Naga Hills and the administered areas of Mylliem State in Shillong and two and half totals in the North Cachar Hills sub-division in the district of Cachar, the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract, the Sadiya Frontier Tract, the Balipara Frontier Tract, and the Tirap Frontier Tract; Provided that all the following conditions have been fulfilled :(i)that the opium has been purchased from a licensed vendor;(ii)that the amount of opium possessed by the pass- holder at any one time does not exceed the monthly ration entered in his pass ; and(iii)that when the full ration of opium allowed to a pass-holder in any particular month has already been purchased and consumed, no further opium may be possessed by the pass- holder during that month.In these areas, opium to the above extent (that is to say three tolas in the Naga Hills and the administered areas of Mylliem State in Shillong and two and half tolas in the North Cachar Hills Sub-division, the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract, the Sadiya Frontier Tract, the Balipara Frontier Tract and the Tirap Frontier Tract) may also be possessed at any one time by any person who has obtained it for bona fide medicinal or veterinary purposes from his medical attendant who must be a qualified medical practitioner or permit holder or the veterinary' officer, as the case my be.(2)By licensed vendor. - Subject to the conditions mentioned in Rule 31 (1) and the other conditions of his licence, a licensed vendor of opium in these areas may possess any quantity of Excise opium if bought from the Government treasury or taken over from a person who has been a licensed vendor, a licensed druggist or a permit-holder under Rule 13 :Provided that he shall at no time possess more than one month's ration.(3)By licensed druggist and others. - Subject to the conditions of his licence, a licensed druggist in these areas may possess Excise opium to the extent of one seer if bought from the Government treasury, and a qualified medical practitioner, veterinary officer or a permit-holder may possess Excise opium to the extent of 10 tolas if bought from a licensed druggist, or where there is no licensed druggist, from licensed vendor specially authorised by the Deputy Commissioner :Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may fix a limit to the amount to be possessesd in a year by the druggist, medical practitioner, veterinary officer or permit-holder to meet their lawful requirements.(4)On expiry of licence or permit. - Any person who has been a licensed vendor, a licensed druggist or a permit-holder in these areas may, with the sanction of the Deputy Commissioner, possess for a period not exceeding 4 days from the date of expiration of his licence or permit, any quantity of Excise opium, of which at the time of the expiry of his licence or permit he is in lawful possession in accordance with the conditions of such licence or permit and the provisions of these rules.
