Sita Ram vs State
2004 Latest Caselaw 38 Del

JUDGMENT

R.S. Sodhi, J.

1. This revision petition is directed against the judgment and order dated 14.10.2000 of the learned Additional Sessions Judge arising out of the order dated 28.5.1990 of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate whereby the learned Magistrate held the petitioner guilty under Sections 7/16(1)(1A) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act for violation of Section 2(ia), (a), (j), (1) of the Act and further vide order dated 30.5.1998 sentenced him to undergo RI for two years and to pay a fine of Rs. 6,000 and in default of payment of fine to undergo further RI for six months. The learned Additional Sessions Judge vide order dated 14.10.2000 dismissed the appeal.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner does not challenge the order of conviction. He confines his arguments to the question of sentence only. He submits that although minimum sentence is prescribed under the Act, however, the Supreme Court has, in Braham Dass v. State of Himachal Pradesh, and Haripada Das v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1999 SC 1482, held that a sentence below the minimum prescribed can also be passed in the facts and circumstances of a case. He also relies upon a large number of judgments in B. Uma Maheshwara Rao v. State of A.P., 2003 (3) FAC 78, Gurdev Singh v. U.T. Chandigarh, 2003 (1) FAC 105; Sher Singh v. State of U.T. Chandigarh, 2003 (1) FAC 210; Mohinder Lal v. State of Haryana, 2003 (1) FAC 70; Ishwar Singh v. The State of Haryana, 1994 (1) RCR 161; Sat Pal v. State of Haryana, 1998 (1) RCR (Crl.) 75; Manoj Kumar v. State of Haryana, 1998 (1) RCR (Crl.) 563; Chander Bhan v. State of Haryana, 1996 (1) RCR 125; Des Raj v. State of Haryana, 1996 (1) RCR 689 and Nand Lal v. State of Haryana, 1992 (1) PFA 180.

3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the offence was committed in the year 1986 and the petitioner has already suffered the rigours of trial for nearly 18 years. He submits that the petitioner has already undergone imprisonment for twenty-two days and has been on bail since 1.11.2000 and that there has been no complaint about his having belied the trust bestowed upon him by this Court. He submits that the petitioner is also not a previous convict and has by now assimilated in the main stream of the society as a useful citizen, therefore, no useful purpose would be served in requiring him to undergo the remaining portion of his sentence at this belated stage. He prays that the sentence of imprisonment be reduced to the period already undergone.

4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, I am of the view that ends of justice would be met if the order of conviction is upheld and sentence of imprisonment of the petitioner is reduced to the period already undergone. It is ordered accordingly.

5. With this modification, Criminal Revision No. 464 of 2000 is disposed of. The bail bond and the surety shall stand discharged.