Criminal Revision No.1735 of 2001 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Revision No.1735 of 2001 Date of decision 24.02.2009 Ajmer Singh .....Petitioner versus State of Punjab .....Respondent Coram:- Hon'ble Mr. Justice A. N. JINDAL. Present: Mr. Ram Bilas Gupta, Advocate as Amicus Curiae for the petitioner. Ms. Simsi Dhir, AAG, Punjab. A. N. JINDAL, J The petitioner has assailed the judgment dated 6.02.1999, passed by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sangrur, convicting and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs.5000/- under Section 61(1)(a) of the Punjab Excise Act. Charge against the petitioner was that the he was found in possession of 30 litres of Lahan and 3 bottles of illicit liquor without any permit or licence.. On trial, he was convicted, his appeal also failed. Without assailing the judgment of conviction, some leniency on the quantum of sentence has been sought. On scrutiny of record, it transpires that the occurrence took place way back in the year 1996. The petitioner has suffered a lot of agony during trial and due to the pendency of proceedings in this Court. He has already undergone more than five months of sentence. Admittedly, he has not repeated the offence while on bail. Criminal Revision No.1735 of 2001 -2- Under these circumstances, it would be in the fitness of things if the sentence, awarded against him, is reduced to six months to which counsel for the petitioner has not objected. In view of the peculiar circumstances of the case, this petition is dismissed with the modification in the sentence to that of six months without any alteration in the sentence of fine. Copy of the judgment be sent to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sangrur for compliance. ( A. N. JINDAL ) JUDGE 24.02.2009 A.Kaundal