IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl. R. No. 410 of 2002 Date of decision: 11.10.2010 Santosh Giri … Petitioner versus State of Haryana … Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARVIND KUMAR Present: Mr. Ashok Khubbar, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Rajiv Malhotra, Addl. AG Haryana … ARVIND KUMAR, J: The petitioner, Mahant Santosh Giri @ Om Parkash was tried by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kurukshetra, under Section 326 IPC on the allegation that on 21.8.1993, he had sprinkled acid on the person of Mahant Pancham Giri while she was asleep in the verandah of Dukh Bhanjan Mandir, Kurukshetra, thereby causing her grievous injuries. On conclusion of trial, the learned trial Court held the accused-petitioner guilty and convicted the present petitioner under Sections 326 IPC and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay fine of Rs.2000/- and in default of payment of fine to further undergo RI for three months and in the event of realization of fine, to be disbursed to complainant Ms. Pancham Giri as compensation. Appeal filed by the accused-petitioner came to be dismissed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Kurukshetra, vide judgment dated 11.2.2002. Hence, the present revision. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties. Counsel for the petitioner has not touched the case on merits and has prayed for only reduction of sentence of the petitioner. The petitioner is stated to have already undergone sentence for two years and two months and has suffered the agony of protracted trial for the last 17 Crl. R. No. 410 of 2002 -2- years. Counsel has pointed out that there is nothing to suggest that he is a previous convict or repeated the offence after having been released on bail and has left him at the mercy of the Court. Counsel in all fairness has contended that the petitioner is ready to pay compensation as the Court may deem fit. Keeping in view the fact that petitioner has faced the agony of protracted trial for the last 17 years and there is nothing to suggest of his repeating the offence and has left himself at the mercy of the Court, his conviction stands maintained but his sentence is reduced to the period already undergone; however, subject to deposit of compensation of Rs.50,000/-, within three months before the trial Court for being disbursed to the injured Mahant Pancham Giri. As regards the fine so imposed, the same stands maintained. It is made clear that in case the amount of compensation as stated above is not deposited by the petitioner within the stipulated time, the present revision shall be deemed to have been dismissed. With the above modification in the sentence, the instant revision stands disposed of. October 11, 2010 ( ARVIND KUMAR ) JS JUDGE