IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Cr.Misc. No.24909 of 2009 1. DHARMENDRA KUMAR, SON OF LATE GANGA PRASAD SAH, PANKAJ MARKET ROAD, NEAR SHYAM MANDIR, P.S. SADAR, DISTRICT MUZAFFARPUR 2. RAVINDRA KUMAR SINGH, SON OF LATE KAPIL DEO SINGH, MOHALLA ANANDPURI, B.B. GANJ, P.S. SADAR, DISTRICT MUZAFFARPUR Versus STATE OF BIHAR ----------- 2. 21.07.2009 Heard learned senior counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State. The case is under section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. Petitioners are employees of the licensee, who was running a gas agency. A raid was conducted at the gas agency and certain irregularities were found in maintaining registers and in sale of gas. First information report was lodged under Section 7 of the E.C. Act. Learned senior counsel for the petitioners submits that since the case is registered under section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act simpliciter, the same is not applicable to the petitioners, who are only employees of the gas agency. He submits that, as per the settled law, the prosecution under Section 7 of the E.C. Act can be launched only against the licensee. He submits the petitioners are in custody since 15.5.2009. - 2 - Considering the above facts and circumstances of the case, petitioners, namely, Dharmendra Kumar and Ravindra Kumar Singh, are directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees ten thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, East Muzaffarpur in connection with Brahampura P.S. Case No.44/09. B.T (J.N. Singh, J.) .