-1- Criminal Appeal No.2019-SB of 2003. IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ... Criminal Appeal No.2019-SB of 2003. Date of Decision: March 15, 2010. Mehal Singh ... Appellant VERSUS State of Punjab ... Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHINDER PAL. 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest ? Present: None for the appellant. Mr. Vishal Munjal, Additional Advocate General, Punjab. -.- MOHINDER PAL, J. This appeal is an off-shoot of Criminal Appeal No.570-SB of 2001 (Balkar Singh v. State of Punjab), which was filed by Balkar Singh (appellant therein) against the judgment of conviction and the sentence order dated 11.4.2001 passed by the Judge, Special Court, Patiala, whereby he was -2- Criminal Appeal No.2019-SB of 2003. convicted under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as `the Act') Act and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay Rs.1 lac as fine, in default whereof to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for two years. Vide separate judgment of even date, Criminal Appeal No.570-SB of 2001 has been dismissed. In Criminal Appeal No.570-SB of 2001, appellant Balkar Singh therein was convicted and sentenced under Section 15 of the Act, as mentioned above, for recovery of of 50 bags of poppy husk, each containing 35 kilograms and 250 grams. The said poppy husk was being carried by Balwant Singh in a tractor-trolley bearing registration No.HR-09-3185. Appellant Mehal Singh herein is the owner of said tractor-trolley. Vide order dated 3.6.2003 passed by the Judge, Special Court, Patiala, the said tractor trolley was ordered to be taken into custody by the police and kept in the `Malkhana'. Further, it was ordered that necessary orders be obtained from the Judge, Special Court, Patiala, for auction of the tractor- trolley. It is this order which has been challenged by appellant Mehal Singh in this appeal. Vide order dated 17.2.2004, this Court had ordered the release of tractor-trolley No. HR-09-3185 to appellant Mehal Singh on his furnishing `spurdaginama' to the satisfaction of the trial Court till the decision of the appeal. As a huge quantity of poppy husk was recovered from the tractor-trolley, owned by appellant Mehal Singh, it -3- Criminal Appeal No.2019-SB of 2003. shows that he had knowingly permitted Balkar Singh to use the said tractor-trolley for illegal activities. Under the circumstances, I do not see any reason to interfere in the impugned order dated 3.6.2003 passed by the Judge, Special Court, Patiala. This appeal is, accordingly, dismissed. The tractor-trolley bearing registration No. HR-09-3185 shall stand confiscated to the State. March 15, 2010. ( MOHINDER PAL ) ak JUDGE