ON Criminal Appeal No 57776 Appeal by Special Leave from the judgment and Order dated the 4th Nov 1976 of the Bombay High Court in Crimi nal Appeal No 448 of 1973
VM Tarkunde section V Tambwekar and Miss M Tarkunde for the appellant
HR Khanna and MN Shroff for the respondent
515 Goswami J
 The Judgment of the Court was delivered by GOSWAMI J
The appellant was convicted by the Judicial Magistrate Udgir under section 161ai provi so i of the  read with section 2i1 and section 7i of the said Act and sentenced to simple imprisonment till rising of the court and to pay a fine of Rs 500  in default rigorous imprisonment for two months
The appellant s father who was also charged for the same offence was however acquitted
The charge against the appellant was that he sold chilli powder which was adulterated inasmuch as the percentage of the total ash was more than the permissible limit
The sample of chilli powder which was seized by the Food Inspec tor on April 13 1974 contained 3725 of the total ash against the permissible percentage of 8
It was stated in the Analyst s report that the percentage of extraneous matter which was common salt mixed with the chilli powder was 324
The learned Magistrate found that the chilli powder was adulterated within the meaning of section 2i1 although the prosecution was on the basis of the article being adulterated within the meaning of section 2ic of the briefly the Act
The State of Maharashtra preferred an appeal against the order of acquittal of the father of the appellant and against the inadequacy of the sentence awarded to the appel lant
The High Court dismissed the appeal against acquittal of the appellant s father but allowed the appeal of the State with regard to the inadequacy of the sentence
The High Court while affirming the conviction of the appellant under section 161ai read with sections 2i1 and 7i of the Act enhanced the sentence to six months  simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000  in default simple imprisonment for two months
Hence this appeal by special leave
Mr Tarkunde appearing on behalf of the appellant submits that the appeal by the State of Maharashtra under section 3771 Criminal Procedure Code 1973 was incompe tent in view of the provisions of sub section 2 of that section
He further submits that the High Court was not at all justified in a case of this nature to interfere with the sentence when the trial court had given adequate reasons for imposing the lesser sentence
It is also pointed out more or less as an alternative submission that the power of the High Court to enhance sentence which was available under section 435439 Cr
PC of the old Code is replaced by the provision of appeal under section 377 Cr
PC of the new Code
It is also stated that the High Court s power of revision suo motu long exercised under the old Code is now taken away under the new Code by providing for apppeal against inadequacy of sentence
The above submission is put forward ex abundanti cautela lest we may not interfere with the sentence imposed by the High Court having regard to the possibility of exercise of pow ers suo motu by the High Court for enhancement of sentence assuming the appeal is incompetent on the ground urged by the appellant
516 We should at once remove the misgiving that the new Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 has abolished the High Court s power of enhancement of sentence by exercising revisional jurisdiction suo motu
The provision for appeal against inadequacy of sentence by the State Government or the Central Government does not lead to such a conclusion
High Court s power of enhancement of sentence in an appropriate case by exercising suo motu power of revision is still extent under section 397 read with section 401 Criminal Procedure Code 1973 inasmuch as the High Court can by itself call for the record of proceedings of any inferior criminal court under its jurisdiction
The provision of section 4014 is a bar to a party who does not appeal when appeal lies but applies in revision
Such a legal bar under section 4014 does not stand in the way of the High Court s exercise of power of revision suo motu which continues
as before in the new Code
Before we proceed further we may set out section 3771 and 2 Cr
PC with which we are concerned 377
1 Save as otherwise provided in sub section 2 the State Government may in any case of conviction on a trial held by any Court other than a High Court direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court against the sen tence on the ground of its inadequacy
2 If such conviction is in a case in which the offence has been investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment constituted under the  or by any other agency empowered to make investigation into an offence under any Central Act other than this Code the Central Government may direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court against the sentence on the ground of its inadequacy
Mr Tarkunde emphasised upon the difference of language in section 3772 and section 3782 Cr
In the latter section the word also appears making provision for both the State Government the Central Government to appeal against acquittal
On the other hand it is urged on behalf of the State that the word also may be read in section 3772 Cr
PC in the context of the scheme of the two provisions in section 377 and section 378 Cr
It is true that section 3782 follows the pattern of section 4172 of the old Code and the right to appeal is conferred upon both the State Government and the Central Government in express terms in section 3782
It is clear that the legislature has maintained a watertight dichotomy while dealing the matter of appeal against inade quacy of sentence
We agree that in the absence of a similar word also in section 3772 it is not possible for the court 517 Goswami J to supply a casus omissus
The two sections section 377 and section 378 Cr
PC being situated in such close prox imity it is not possible to hold that omission of the word also in section 3772 is due to oversight or per incuri am
Section 377 Cr
PC introduces a new right of appeal which was not earlier available under the old Code
Under sub section 1 of section 377 Cr
PC the State Government has a right to appeal against inadequacy of sentence in all cases other than those referred to in sub section 2 of that section
This is made clear under section 3771 by its opening clause save as otherwise provided in sub section 2
Sub section 2 of section 377 on the other hand confers a right of appeal on the Central Government against a sentence on the ground of its inadequacy in two types of cases 1 Those cases where investigation is con ducted by the Delhi Special Police Establish ment constituted under the 
2 Those other cases which are investi gated by any other agency empowered to make investigation under any Central Act not being the Code of Criminal Procedure
There is no difficulty about the first type of cases which are investigated by the Delhi Special Police Estab lishment where certainly the Central Government is the competent authority to appeal against inadequacy of sen tence
The controversy centres round the second type of cases viz those which are investigated by any other agency empowered to make investigation under any Central Act not being the Code of Criminal Procedure
The Criminal Procedure Code inter alia provides for investigation of all categories of criminal offences
The First Schedule of the Code classifies offences under the Indian Penal Code as well as offences against other laws
Between the above two classifications the entire denotation of criminal offences is exhausted
It is clear that the Delhi Special Police Establishment also has to comply with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure in  inves tigation of offences just as the State Police has to do
By section 3 of the  the Central Government may by notification in the official gazette specify the offences or class of offences which are to be investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment
It is only when such a notification is made by the Central Government that the Delhi Special Police Establishment is empowered to investigate the specified offences
Similarly if in any other Central Act not being the Code of Criminal Procedure a provision is made for empowering a particular agency to make investigation of offences under that Act then also the Central Government alone will be the competent authority to prefer appeal under section 3772 Cr
The true test therefore under section 3772 Cr
PC is whether the offence is investi gated by the 518 Delhi Special Police Establishment or is investigated by any other agency empowered to make investigation under any Central Act other than the Code of Criminal Procedure
In other words just like section 3 of the  there should be an express provi sion in the empowering the making of investigation under the Act
But no such express provision is found in the 
Mr Tarkunde took us through all the relevant provisions of the and in particu lar rule 9 of the Central Rules to point out that it is a self contained code detailing the requisite manner of inves tigation for the purpose of efficient prosecution of offenders under that Act
Mere provision of an in built mechanism of some kind of investigation in that Act is not decisive of the matter
There should be an express provi sion in that Act empowering the Food Inspectors to make investigation of offences under the Act
It is true that investigation under section 2h Cr
PC is an inclusive definition and is of wide import
It may also be true that some of the powers exercised by the Food Inspectors under section 10 of the Act are included in the investigatory process of the police although the Food Inspectors have no powers of arrest of the offenders unless they refuse to give name and residence or give suspicious name or residence
This procedure in the Act follows from the fact that on the date of taking a sample of an article the Food Inspector is not in a position to come to a con clusion whether the article is adulterated within the mean ing of the Act
It is only on receipt of the Analyst s report certifying the article to be adulterated that the Food Inspector will be able to submit a report to the Magis trate for taking cognizance of the offence and his report will have to be accompanied also by a written consent of the appropriate authority under section 20 of the Act
The scheme of the Act is such that the case is instituted on his report and dealt with under the Criminal Procedure Code as a case of which cognizance is taken under section 1901a of the Criminal Procedure Code
In the absence of any express provision in the Act in that behalf it is not possible to hold that the Food Inspectors are empowered to make inves tigation under the Act
Section 3772 Cr
PC therefore
is not attracted and the appeal under section 3771 Cr
PC at the instance of the State Government is maintain able
The first submission of the appellant has no force
With regard to the second and last submission on sen tence Mr Khanna on behalf of the State submits that this was a case under section 16 for violation of section 2ic of the Act in which case the Magistrate had no jurisdiction to award a sentence less than six months
According to counsel the High Court was right in enhancing the sen tence of the appellant
We are concerned in this case with the prior to the amendment by Act 34 of 1976
which 519 Goswami J inter alia amended section 2i1 and added a sub clause m to section 2i
It is true
that under section 161ai if any person sells any article of food which is adulterated he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to six years and a fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees
The proviso to that section however relieves an offence trader sub clause i of clause a when inter alia it is with respect to an article of food which is adulterated under sub clause 1  of clause i of section 2 from the rigour of the above penal provision and the court may for any adequate and special reason impose a sentence of im prisonment for a term of less than six months or a fine of less than one thousand rupees etc
It is by invoking the above proviso that the trial court sentenced
the appellant as set out above
Mr Khanna submits that we should
alter the finding of conviction to one for violation of section 2ic from section 2i1 since according to him that will be the proper conviction on the facts of the case
We are unable to entertain this plea for altering the conviction in such a manner for the purpose of enhancing the sentence under section 377 Cr
The State did not appeal against the acquittal of the appellant under section 161ai read with section 2ic and proceeded on the basis that the article was adulterated within the meaning of section 2i1 as held by the trial court
This is clear also from the judgment of the High Court
In an appeal against inade quacy of sentence it is not permissible to alter the convic tion to an aggravated category of offence for which the accused wan not convicted
While the accused in such an appeal under section 377 Cr
PC can show that he is inno cent of the offence the prosecution is not entitled to show that he is guilty of a graver offence and on that basis the sentence should be enhanced
The prosecution will only be able to urge that the sentence is inadequate on the charge as found or even on an altered less graver charge
The submission of Mr Khanna is clearly untenable
Mr Khanna next submits that this Court should not interfere with the sentence in a case under the as the offence is against society at large affecting the health and wellbeing of the people in general
We are alive to the seriousness of offences under the 
Courts have to give due recognition to the intent of the legislature in awarding proper sentence including the minimum sentence in appropriate eases described under the Act
Such offences cannot be treated in a lighthearted manner
Even so justice has to be done in accordance with law
The  itself permits for some leniency in an excepted category of cases as pointed out earlier
When the legislature itself intends not to visit an offence under the Act with an equal degree of severity under specified circumstances it is permissible for the courts to give the benefit in suitable cases
As seen earlier the provides that when conviction is under section 161ai for selling an adulterated article coming within the defini tion of section 2i1 the 520 Magistrate by recording adequate and special reasons has jurisdiction to award a sentence less than the minimum
In an appeal under section 377 Cr
PC the High Court may interfere with the sentence if no reasons for awarding a lesser sentence are recorded by the Magistrate Again if the reasons recorded by the Magistrate are irrelevant extrane ous without materials and grossly inadequate the High Court will  be justified in enhancing the sentence
While dealing with the question of sentence the Magis trate noted that the appellant was a small retail shopkeeper who had only 3 kgs
of chilli powder in his shop for sale out of which 450 gms were purchased by the Food Inspector
He also considered the nature of the offence as disclosed in the report of the Public Analyst
There is nothing in the evidence to show that any injurious ingredient to health was mixed with the article
We find that the Magistrate had the jurisdiction under the first proviso to section 161 to award less than the minimum sentence in this case by record ing adequate and special reasons
We are unable to hold that the reasons given by the Magistrate are so grossly inadequate that the High Court was right in interfering with the sentence in this petty case
We must hasten to add that the matter would have been absolutely different if the article sold contained ingredients injurious to health
Our attention is drawn to a disquieting feature in the procedure adopted by the learned single Judge G N Vaidya J  in disposing of the appeal
The learned Judge ignored the decision of another single Judge of the same court J M Gandhi J who had earlier held m a similar case that the appeal by the State was not competent under section 3771 Cr
It is true that the decision is pending
before this Court in appeal by special leave
That howev er cannot be sufficient reason for the learned Judge to ignore it and observe that it is unnecessary to keep back this matter till the Supreme Court decides matter
When there was a decision of a coordinate court it was open to the learned Judge to differ from it but in that case the only judicial alternative was to refer it to a larger bench and not to dispose of the appeal by taking a contrary view
Judicial discipline as well as decorum should suggest that as the only course
In the result the appeal is allowed and the judgment and order of the High Court are set aside
The appellant shall be discharged from his bail bond
SR Appeal allowed


Summary:
The appellant and his father were charged section 21 c of the for adul teration of chilly powder
The sample of chilli powder which was seized by the Food Inspector on April 13 1974 contained 3725 of the total ash against the permissible percentage of 8
It was stated in the Analyst s report that the percentage of extraneous matter which was common salt mixed with the chilli power was 324
The judicial magistrate Udgir found that the chilli powder was adulter ated within the meaning of section 2i of the Act and convicted the appellant under section 161 a i proviso I of the rw section 2i1 and section 71 of the said Act and sentenced him to simple impris onment till the rising of the court and to pay a fine of Rs 500 and in default rigorous imprisonment for two months
The appellant s father was however acquitted
The State of Maharashtra preferred an appeal against the order of acquittal of the father and against the inadequacy of the sentence awarded to the appellant
The High Court dismissed the appeal against acquittal of the appellant s father but allowed the appeal of the State with regard to the inadequa cy of the sentence
Affirming the conviction of the appel lant under section 161 a i rw sections 21i and 71 of the Act the High Court enhanced the sentence to six months  simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000  in default simple imprisonment for two months
Allowing the appeal by special leave the Court HELD 1 The new Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 has not abolished the High Court s power of enhancement of sentence by exercising revisional jurisdiction suo motu
The provision for appeal against inadequacy of sentence by the State Government or the Central Government does not lead to such a conclusion
High Courts power of enhancement of sentence in an appropriate case by exercising suo motu power of revision is still extent section 397 read with section 401 Crimi nal Procedure Code 1973 inasmuch as the High Court can by itself call for the record of proceedings of any inferior criminal court under its jurisdiction
The provision of section 401 4 is a bar to a party who does not appeal when appeal lies but applies to revision
Such a legal bar under section 4014 does not stand in the way of the High Courts exercise of power of revision suo motu which continues as before in the new Code
545H 546A C 514 2 Under sub section 1 of section 377 the State Govern ment has a right to appeal against the inadequacy of sen tence in all cases other than those referred to in sub section 2 of that section
The true test under section 3772 Criminal Procedure Code is whether the offence is investi gated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment or is investigated by any other agency empowered to make investi gation under any Central Act other than the Code of Criminal Procedure
In other words just like section 3 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act there should be an express provision in an Act empowering the making of investigation under the Act
No such express provision is found in the 
Mere provision of an in built mechanism of some kind of investigation in that Act is not decisive of the matter
There should be an express provision in that Act empowering the Food Inspectors to make investigation of offences under the Act
In the absence of any express provision in the Act in that behalf it cannot be held that the Food Inspectors are empowered to make investigation under the Act
Section 3772 Criminal Proce dure Code therefore is not attracted and the appeal under section 3771 Criminal Procedure Code at the instance of the
State Government is maintainable
517 A H 518A B C F 3 The provides that when conviction is under section 161 a i for selling an adulterated article coming within the definition of section 2i1  the Magistrate by recording adequate and special reasons has jurisdiction to award a sentence less than the minimum 519 H 520 A C 4 Courts have to give due recognition to the intent of the Legislature in awarding proper sentence including the minimum sentence in appropriate cases described under the Act
When the Legislature itself intends not to visit an offence under the Act with an equal degree of severity under specified circumstances it is permissible for the courts to give the benefit in suitable cases
519 F G 5 In an appeal under section 377 Criminal Procedure Code the High Court may interfere with the sentence if no rea sons for awarding a lesser sentence are recorded by the Magistrate
Again if the reasons recorded by the Magistrate are irrelevant extraneous without materials and grossly inadequate the High Court will be justified in enhancing the sentence
In the instant case the reasons given by the Magistrate were not so grossly inadequate that the High Court could interfere with the sentence in a petty case
520 A B C 6 In an appeal against inadequacy of sentence it is not permissible to alter a conviction to an aggravated category of offence for which the accused was not convicted
While the accused in such an appeal under section 377 can show that he is innocent of the offence the prosecution is not entitled to show that he is guilty of graver offence and that on that basis the sentence should be enhanced
The prosecution will only be able to urge that the sentence is inadequate on the charge as found or even on an altered less graver charge
519 D E 7 When there is a decision of a co ordinate court it is open to the judge to differ from it but in that casethe only judicial alternative is to refer to a larger Bench and not to dispose of the appeal by taking a contrary view
judicial discipline as well as decorum should suggest that as the only course
520 F