-h •fs^sKva XI-HC-22 •CT^fqiI K.-«4i Sfl^T 5h^icri ^tea •-•iB ^sr •^l*)lf)^, afll'y'is. iqciiyy 11NW Stlliqi ..C^J^.*JIO.:..10'; "^ 200 SII^t ^SITWHf^T SB:JtON'BLE SHM DHBRENDRA MISHRA. J ^iFTfeF'it^'WRfl'?'fe^t tfSreeR ^; srfidir sn^i APPELLAHT 'VS. RBSPONDBNT lu-s-WKn Har^iwaU, agea 3U years w/o Uan.pan, r^ot.i+ta^l-Tcsi-rTiQ-rt ^yiQT^aT-a^ r'f^;i/~l<aTt+ r\f \TiVtci<yf»- .yorgaon, P.H. Korega, Uistt. Navaraagpur (Ori^sa) Stalje of Cbliatti.sgarh, through P.S. Civil T,-ir>f! i^ila'snnr P)i<=tr^<^t R">1.qRniiT ^C^-.O.I •±-"* --- '/ KU. Sotia KJiaa, Advocat^ tor tne appellant. Shri Arun Sao, Addl. pubUc Prosecutor witti Shri Saadeep Yadav, Uy. Govt. Adv. tor tiie i|;tate. 2. This appeal is directecl ^gamst t&e juclgmeiit ot convicUon. and. order ot' senten.ee dated 3ym October, 2004 passed in Special Crimiual Case No. 24/20(^3 whereby leamed Special Judge (Narcotics), Jjilaspur nas cou|victecl Uie appellaut tor oUence uncler Section 20(b)(u)(B) of Uie yubstances Act, 19B& (tor sl NarcoUc Urugs ana Hsyction-opic ort liereniatter reterrea to as ttie Act) and sentenced. tier to underg)o K.l. tor 4 years, to pay a tuie ot Ks. 5000/- aad ia detault ol adcliUonal K.l. tor six nionuis. ^. 'l'tie case ot ttie prose] paynient ot tuie, to turtlier luiclergo ;uuon is uiat KuD Inspector Jeroiae LaKcla [f.W. 4) ot Follce ^taUon Civil Lines, tiiiaspur was on patrolluig dvoy on lU-y-'^!UU|a aloug WIUL Huti iuspector cnanael, Heacl Uonstabte UOIUDIK LaK(^a an.d uaya Jaswaai aad. ouier statt in [1[ft^if^ -F + XI-HC-22 sii^r^ii h-u^i sn^y ?h^fi<^ ^lf^d -ysj -4|<<|d<<, riTfl'y'l'c, fawi'ay WHWI a»*<ich a inoDlle vaa, m. tlie city ot stanauig ui suspicious conai^ion inten'ogated whereupou s'fie iiiforB ot UaapaU, aged au years-, resif y&e also stated. tfi.at slie is lia\ nitormecl vmage KJiamnana tor Uie IntonnaUOn •ou, me consent ot t&e appeUant to Coustable Uayawati Jaswani, possession m. two bags eacli ( totat y Kg. ot Uau]a worUi to ineino was preparecl. yupenntendeut ot ^olice Uiroi Sm. trom. boui ttie Dags were possession. 'l'Jie seizea contrat tiantled. over to Meacl (JonstabK was tatsen nito custoctv. tamitv ineiubers. Alter tUea aganist Uie appellant. witnesses. ytateinent ol t&e a| 313 ot ur.t-'.(j. m.wfiicfi sUe agauist her and has taken a ticKet, Uierelore, siie fl.as been 4. Leamed. counsel tor Uiel me case ot ttie prosecuuon, 4i-i|lci41-i TW^ '? 'f3TA <Rii<$i< ^sipgiisii^r ^ilaspur wtien ttiey saw two woinea Un suspicion, one wonnaa was lier name to be HarawaU, wite itlent ofBorgaou, P.S. Kodega (Orissa). (ting iulcit Gaaja and slie was goiiig to p'urp<|>se ot seUing tlie sajne. Atter obtaimng >f searcli, searcti was attected by Meacl and caonabis was touncl troin lier tontamuig 7.5UU and. l.&UU K.g. Uius Rs. 13,500/- was seized. Recovery about me recoveiy was sent to Uie [•o^gli Uaaesfi ynanua. yamples ot 1UU ItaKeu ancl tlie Uaiija was taKen uito ^aaa was tafcen to police staUon. and ( Moliamr tor secunty. 'l'fie appeilaut ot tier arrest was sent to lier ^iupiqting invesUgaUon, cliarge sneet was Du|ring trial the prosecution examined 7 a|ppellaat was recoraecl uiicler yecUon deniect Uie circuiustances appeanng petence Uiat stie could. not purcnase |atsely unpUcatecl. appeliant suDinits tuat accorcluig to InlortnaUon. coiupiqtin^ Dulrina t] liets tfie l.u. attectea searcfi tlirougti Head ,A—r—'- [^[^ ^fe^ + XI-HC-22 31I^[^iT Ki-iiFb an^r ?hHich ^rft^ '^;?lg i?:^ ^V~:J?*;-L^-' ==^ 's^ •^MM^, ®Tal*('is.(»«-ii«'i< ^.&Ar.tte......l0.2.0Z^''l *<IKCTI aillcb Iq^ST' SII^T ?tgiw:'gf??r s Uonstable uavawati Jaswaiu lio lier signature is tnere ui Uie 'l cpmplete non-coinpUaace ot » argued thatbefore affectuig.pers section oU ot t&e Act fiave not^b' giyen opUon ot beuig searcjiecl is evident trom t&e stateinenl aamittecl tliis BI fiis stateiae contenclea tliat version ot uie inl Dv tne statenient ot tjancji •v, presence it is auegecl Uiat Vaf witness tias stated tfi.at two and on checking it was ttiereatter t&ev were taKen to trom. Bx. r'-£> to ^- i'2 Dear lus papers m. ttie poUce stauou. 'i appellant ui tlie Court wiietlier m. Uie pou.ee staUon. &. un t&e oUier lianct, leam^a supportea tiie nnpugned juctgii^f altected ui a puDUc place i.e. Mj conipUaace ot yecuon 't'2{i) o] subniits tnat Uie provisions ot| OD-IV in Uie circunistauces wnel <=hl<l[(T1<4lTT RHflf'^ fel<Q iPiif^K. ^3if:gti3n^i wonlien tOTUIld tbe i^ever slie fi.as not been examuied. nor yasiu faacnnam.a ana t&us uiere is ;non 42 (l) ot Uie Act, sne lurttier jonal searcii, laanaatoiy provisious ot ^en tollowed as ttie appeilaat was uot |y a Magistrate or Gazetted Officer as ot l-'.w. 4 derome LaKra wjio Jtias 'nt beiore Uie Court. It was also ^esngauou Utticer is not con'oboratecl ^niess F.w. 5 siiu'om.aai m wliose searcli was niade. However, uus were detainecl near Mangla squire Uiat tney were canyuig Uania, police stauon aad Uie docunieuts aguature ancl lie nad signecl aU uie tiis witness couia not recognize uie sJie is ttie woiaan w&o was aetauied couiisel appeanng tor me yiate lias ;nt and. arguea ta.at Uie searctl was aigla squire uieretore, Uie quesUou ot Uie Act cloes not anse. Me ruruier yection &u ot ttie Act are appticable t&e personal searca ol t&e accusecl ,^-;r'""^ I: [TT^"^f^ -Th XI-HC-22 sn^i^i R-ti'* sni?i ^^1^> •Hfitt ^a:3S^^SSis Bff;ji!iS8iiIi«]E»i iit,/ TS -ill'Mlcl*!, STflyi®.('(cll'My sn^T TR^ MWI\ ai<4ich"""""""""""""""""""^ 200 '&^aT' sn^i TOirar ^rftg tt is attected, however in tfae ins t>y Uie accused uijwo bags nas Deen atteetea, uieretore, as per yection £>u ot me Act'm t&e presence ot Uazettect ottice) 'l'lie Investigattag UUicer &as tuae ot attecung searcn ot t&e saine Jiave Deen aone atter loj me Act. in cross-exanunationl Geen able to elicit aay circl witness lias actea witb. m.alat] troni tjie appellant, 'i'tie Faac)i disputea tus signature in ui( ot&er aocunients Kx. F-& to conU-aDand was seized Iroi Maagla ujiowlt aacl wtio were to a certam. extent, tne statei con-oborauon trom. tlie statein^ b. I tiave neam tUe leamectl /. 'l'Jie convicuon ot uie invesugating unicer [f.w. 4) 4 reUed upon Uie stateiuent ol reacliuig to the eonclusioa fh^i" '^l<4td4lTl <HIH("ff ^ fS^ <^)-WI< ^T 3lf:;FT 311^1 f.an.t case, tlie contraDaacls were Kept 4id no personal search of fhe accused ipe questton ol appnsuig Uie appeUant t^t sne Jiad an option to t>e searctiea ni or Detore a MaglsU-ate does ndt anse. ^etaUed tne steps tafcen t>y IIUD. at t&e l.ppellaat and seizure ol Uanja aaa ttie towing Uie procedure prescnbed uuaer ot uus witness, uie deteuce tias not liiastance wfiicti niav snow mat ttus ae in attectuig tlie searcli au.a seizure witness yturoinani [f.W. b] tias not recoveiy m.em.o, seizure nienio ancl f-i'2. He lias also cleposed. Uiat ttie iwo laclies wlio were stauduig uear [aKen to folice Htanon troin t&ere, ttius icnt of investigatiiig Officer also finds tnt ot t^.W. & yinroniaui. couiisel for fhe parties. • ppeUant is based on stateinent ot ttie ;roine LaKra, 'l'Jie tnal (Jourt fl.as also P.W. 5 PancJh. witness Sbironiaai tbr t me appeUant was Uie ^sauie->ady wtio ^-^. -:---' ^ [''f^^Ha^ -t- XI-HC-22 31]^I^iT h-v* an^i 5t>^ic»i^ff^i s®SiB:isa!».' ;'*'!liiB!si!5 ~svs •^nqi?ra, o^pre, fawi'My HINCTI ftlWCh _......^.A..^o......l&..?o;6M "V^ 200 sn^i^Rnw^rf^i ^ u^ya Utey was apprc&encted Dy uie pouce uie contraband was seized. B. Jeronie LaKra, Uie l.U. patt'oUiiig cluly witii ttie titlt) LaKra, K. uaaesn, (Jonstable Uiev saw two woinen stanclm.^ (JtiowK. Un uiten~QgaUon, contiabaua 10. Uieir custocn yupenutenaent ot Police vide K^ ttie (Jourt is t&e same ladv wfio Kx. r-S>, Atter ner searcti, y Kg 'l'tie seizecl contrabantl was contu-med as Uaiija viae Bx. 11- was tound. 1'lie seizecl coutrabi for being placed m the Mallchan^. contraDaad were sent to P'.H. examinatiou, the same were foil f-i'd. 'l'lus witness Aas deiued about ner ngnt to be searcfiea any Magistrate. However Jie tia^i uot given m. wntiag as Uus tac) obtauiecl troni ttie appellanl). corroboraUon trom. P.W. / V.y. Investtgating UHicer. itie uiclep) fa. Wlaagla squire trom. wJiose custocly CM'4l<n41Ti *iw<^ ^ 'f^st <^i-^i< ^; aipgq an^r pift'sicaUy y.W. 4) Jb.as statea t&at fie was on [Inspector Cliaaclel, Head Constabte Jaswani and K.K. virendra wneu in suspicious coudlUon in Maagla aclnutted uiat Uiey are tiaving 'l'Ue report was given to tne ]{. f-'J ancl ttie lacly wlio is pi-esent ui piacl given consent tor tier searcli vicle |ot cannabis was touacl 111 two Dags. 1^'sicaUy cjtiecKect ana Uie sanie was 1-Y. Un weigliing, y Kg ot contia.baild fid was given to Uie Heaa (Jonstable in save custody. 1'Jie saniples ot uie |L. Kaipur lor examinaUon and on [ncl to De Uania vide aocuinent ot Kx. It&at t&e appeUant was not appnsed py a gazetted otticer or ui presence ot admitted that fhis intbniiation was lias been m.ennonea ui Uie conseut 'I'lie version ot Uie l.U. tuids Cliantlel wuo was acconipanying Uie snclent witness i-'. W. o KtLu'oinaiu lias [1T^ ^[o^ XI-HC-22 sn^r^i fepFsn^r ^[^ ^if^f 'T3I •^WId^, isfli^'is, fqwi'yy ®1T^?TXRT^; _.fc.'0.':.^.®:..!.?..?..?Ze^- 111CTI ShHlch """""""""'""'^' 200 ^=~^ ^ fq^CT' sn^fi ?(<iTWBft3 ^ ut also aduuttea tus signatuTe has also stated that at the n ot cannabis iroin Uie custoct? his inabilily to identily the £ present m. ttie Mangla <jnowJ comings present in the inv pouited out by Uie learued co nature on tlie basis ot wlu| Uu'own awav. 'mere is D.O d( Investigating Utticer Jeroine patroUmg part}' nurturea aq account ot t&at, Uiey uaplLCi t&e absence ot any eviaence respect to search aad seizui The conviction can. be based investigatiag Otncer. Wiiere t| ui presence ot Uie t-'aacti wi sate guancts as prcscnbect uq and ui ttie instaace case, ev^ inspu-es conticlence. Me proceclure prescnbecl under his stateiuent is also corrob4: ot l-'ancfi witaess Sluroinaill ciianclel. Tlieretore, tUe a q'nld'ill HWMl'^ fe^ <P!|<^ ^TSlpgT 311^1 Uie ctocum.ents ot Bx. ^-S> to f-L'2 saasl tievaat tuae, ttie pouce seized. 17-iy Kg ot two woiaen. Mowever ne expressecl alppellaut as the same woinan Wlio was tt. It is true that tiiere are certain. sfiort ^stigation fiowever, uie siiort coniuigs (insel tor Uie appeUaat are not ol sucli a ;& tne case ol uie prosecutLon can De pence taKen by me appeUant Uiat tlie |LaKra [f.'W. 4) or any memDer ot me [y ill wiu agaiast uie accused. and. on ted me appeltant ui a tatse case aaa in this rcgard, fhe stateiaent of 1.0. wifh. ol tfae appeuant uispn-e contidence. >nly on t&e basis ol the stateiD.ent of fhe tfie seizure is attected m. Uie putiiic place .tnesses, question ot conipiiaace ot Uie aer KecUon 5U ol tJtie Act cloes uot anse aence given by ttie Investigatuag Utticer qas substanfaauy coniplied wiUl Uie ipie Act regaraing searcli ancl seizure aaa latea to suca. extent by tne stateinent as also troiu t&e statenient ot H.W. / tding of the trial Court fjiat fhe ['T^ ^a^ + XI-HC-22 sn^Tqii 'feira'sn^i ^w ^li^l !>;!i:*iK::li«- •;^iT;i'a- 'il 's^ ~^W\v\<i, ^WW, hwvy. 1WMT W1R) .&C;.&.-.'HO;...1C'..?0/° ^ "?n, 200 ati^iTOiiwgftg 7 prosecution has proved.the cai uivolvenient ui ttie oHence und aact proper aud Uie saine aoes y. lii ttie result, coiivieti ,,; 20(b)(u)(B) of ffae Act is consicteraUou t&at ttie appeilaqt tlie learued counsel tor Uie api or prosecutea ia t&e ottence u] she is in custody suice 10tn S< upon Jier is luodltiecl and m. pJ ol Ks. oUUU/ -, slie is sentenc< lier. iu. 'l'tie appeal is accoianigfl $e agamst t&e appeUant regaTcluig lier ;r Section 20(b)(u)tB) ot Uie Act is just tiot cau tor aiiy uiterterence. ifrn of ttie appeUaat luider SecUon Imaiatainea. However, taKmg uito is tirst ottencler ana it is aflljiuttecl &y 'Uant mat stie lias not Deen convictecl id.er tlie Act ancl also consiclenng Uiat [pteiaber, 2003, ttie senten.ee imposed. ^ce ofjaU sentence ot 4 years ancl tuie |d to Uie penoa aireacly undergone Oy ctiNt^hrT +iH(r?i''^f^1[^ •(.f^f'^.K ^T sipgiT sii^i partiy auowed. Sd/- Dhirendra Mishra Judge ['Tft^ ^fe^