IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.A No.657 of 2008 Date of decision : June 19, 2009 Lal Singh …Appellant. Versus State of H.P. …Respondent. Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surjit Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the Appellant : Mr. Ravinder Thakur, Advocate. For the Respondent : Mr. Ramesh Thakur, Assistant Advocate General. Surjit Singh, J (oral) Appellant has been convicted of an offence, under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, for possessing 276.54 grams Charas, by the Special Judge and sentenced to undergo three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.15,000/-, in default of payment of fine to undergo imprisonment for a further period of three months. 2. The only submission, which has been made by the learned counsel for the appellant, is that the sentence is too harsh for the appellant, who is a young man of 24 years and earns his livelihood by working as a worker at a Dhaba. 3. Looking to the quantity of the Charas, as also the young age of the appellant, and the fact that he is a poor person, I am of the view that ends of justice would be met in case the sentence, as awarded by the trial Court, is reduced to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000/-; in default of Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? …2… payment of fine to simple imprisonment for a further period of one month. I reduce the sentence accordingly. 4. Appeal, with the aforesaid modification, in the sentence part of the judgment of the trial Court, is dismissed. Revised warrant be prepared and sent to the concerned jail, immediately. June 19, 2009(sd) ( Surjit Singh ), J