IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Revision No.2104 of 2003 Date of decision: September 15, 2010 Gurmeet Singh .. Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab .. Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.N. Jindal Present: Mr. Sidakmeet Sandhu, Advocate for Mr. S.P.S. Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Amit Chaudhary, AAG, Punjab for the respondent. A.N. Jindal, J Accused-appellant Gurmit Singh (herein referred as, “the accused”) was prosecuted for distilling illicit liquor with the help of working still. Consequently, he was tried and vide judgment dated 21.5.2002 passed by the Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Ferozepur, convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay fine of Rs.5000/- under Section 61 (1) (C) of Punjab Excise Act (herein referred as, 'the Act'). The appeal preferred by him was dismissed on judgment dated 1.10.2003. At the very outset, without assailing the findings of conviction, learned counsel has submitted that they being the first offenders and having already undergone more than one month of the substantive sentence, must be extended some leniency. Heard. Having examined the impugned judgment, the evidence appears to have been appreciated in the right perspective. No illegality much less irregularity or perversity has been detected or pointed out warranting interference by this Court. As such, no exception to the judgment of conviction could be made out at this revisional stage. Now coming to the quantum of sentence, it may be observed that the occurrence took place way back in the year 1998 and the accused has already suffered a lot due to the protracted proceedings pending against him since then. He has already undergone more than one month of the substantive sentence. No bad antecedents have come on record in order to Criminal Revision No.2104 of 2003 -2- dub him as habitual offender. As such, I am of the considered opinion that ends of justice would be met if some leniency is extended to them. Consequently, this petition is dismissed with the modification in the sentence which is reduced to six months without alteration in the sentence of fine. Copy of the judgment be sent to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ferozepur, for compliance. September 15, 2010 (A.N. Jindal) deepak Judge