Summarize the following court judgment. Civil Appeal No. 2546 2547 of 1983. 731 From the judgment and order dated the 13th February	 1981 of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in Writ Petitions Nos. 5458 and 5459 of 1980. WITH Writ Petition Nos. 6051 64	 8226 28	 8284 97	 8321 37	 3952	 7569	 7572	 7574 and 7577 of 1983. (Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India) T. V. section N. Chari for the Appellant. D. R. Gupta	 B. R. Kapoor	 section R. Srivastava and N. N. Sharma for the Petitioners. K G. Bhagat	 Additional Solicitor General	 Shanti Bhushan	 P. R. Mridul	 Dr. Y. section Chitale	 K N. Bhatt	 P. K Pillai	 R. N. Poddar	 R. B. Datar	 A. Subba Rao	 N. Nettar	 V. G. Mehta and Mrs. H. Wahi	 for the appearing Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by CHINNAPPA REDDY	 J. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has declared sec. 129 A of the unconstitutional and void as offending article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India. We may straight away say that the judgment of the High Court suffers from serious infirmities	 not the least of which is the total failure to notice and consider the applicability of the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the situation. On an oral application by the Advocate General	 the High Court granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. Presumably	 by 'leave ' the High Court meant a certificate as provided under the Constitution. The order of the High Court regarding the grant of 'leave ' to appeal to this Court is in the following terms: "An oral application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court has been made by the Learned Advocate General. The question whether 129 A of the is ultra vires the Constitution on the ground that it infringes article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution relates to the interpretation of the Constitution and is also a substantial question of law of general importance	 which requires to be decided by the Supreme Court. Therefore	 we grant leave to appeal to the Supreme Court". 732 The order of the High Court states	 (i) that the question relates to the interpretation of the Constitution; and (ii) the question is also a substantial question of law of general importance which requires to be decided by the Supreme Court. The order of the High Court while saying that the question relates to the interpretation of the Constitution refrained from certifying that the case involved a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. We cannot therefore	 treat the certificate as one under article 132 of the Constitution. On the other hand the High Court has certified that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance and it requires to be decided by the Supreme Court	 employing the precise language used in clauses (a) and (b) respectively of article 133 (1) of the Constitution. The certificate	 therefore	 was clearly one under article 133 of the Constitution. We are mentioning these circumstances because at the very commencement	 our attention was invited to article 145 (3) of the Constitution which provides that the minimum number of judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution or for the purpose of hearing any reference under article 143 shall be five. The High Court had not certified that the cases involved a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution and we are also satisfied that the cases do not involve a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution. We proceeded to hear the appeals and writ petitions after the position was clarified when the cases were opened by the learned counsel. Section 129 A of the may be extracted here. It is as follows: "129 A Power to detain vehicles used without certificate of registration or permit. Any police officer authorized in this behalf or other person authorized in this behalf by the State Government may	 if he has reason to believe that a motor vehicle has been or is being used in contravention of the provisions of Sec. 22 or without the permit required by sub section (1) of Sec. 42 or in contravention of any condition of such permit relating to the route on which or the area in which or the purpose for which the vehicle may be used	 seize and detain the vehicle	 and for this purpose take or cause to be taken any steps he may consider proper for the temporary safe 733 custody of the vehicle. Provided that where any such officer or person has reason to believe that a motor vehicle has been or is being used without the permit required by subsection (1) of Section. 42	 he may	 instead of seizing the vehicle	 seize the certificate of registration of the vehicle and shall issue an acknowledgement in respect thereof. Provided further that where a motor vehicle has been seized and detained under this section for contravention of the provisions of Section 22	 such vehicle shall not be released to the owner unless and until he produces a valid certificate of registration under this Act in respect of that vehicle. " It is seen that Section 129 A contemplates three situations where the police officer or authorized person may seize and detain the vehicle. The three situations are	 (i) where he has reason to believe that the motor vehicle has been or is being used in contravention of the provisions of Sec. 22	 (ii) where he has reason to believe that the motor vehicle has been or is being used without the permit required by sec. 42 (1)	 and (iii) where he has reason to believe that the motor vehicle has been or is being used in contravention of any condition of such permit relating to the route on which or the area in which or the purpose for which the vehicle may be used. These are precisely the three situations contemplated by Sec. 123 (1) of the and made punishable under that provision. Section 123 (1)	 which may also be extracted	 is as follows: "S 123. Using vehicle without registration or permit. (1) Whoever drives a motor vehicle or causes or allows a motor vehicle to be used in contravention of the provisions of Section 22 or without the permit required by sub section (1) of Section 42 or in contravention of any condition of such permit relating to the route on which or the area in which or the purpose for which the vehicle may be used or to the maximum number of passengers and maximum weight of luggage that may be carried on the vehicle shall be punishable for a first offence with fine which may extent to two thousand rupees and for any second or subsequent offence with imprisonment. It is	 therefore	 clear that the power given to seize and detain the vehicle under sec. 129 (A) is to be exercised by the police officer or 734 the authorised person when he has reason to believe that an offence punishable under sec. 123 (1) has been or is being committed. Now	 after detecting the commission of an offence punishable under sec. 123 (1) of the 	 the next appropriate step for the police officer or the authorised person would be to consider the question whether the offence should be compounded as provided by Section 127 (B) of the and any notification issued by the Government in that behalf. Section 127 B may also be extracted here and it is as follows . "127 B (1) Any offence (whether committed before or after the commencement of section 26 of the Motor vehicles (Amendment Act	 1982) punishable under section 112	 section 113	 section 113A	 section 113B	 section 114	 sub section (1) and (2) or section 115	 section 116	 section 118	 section 120 section 122	 Section 123	 section 124	 section 125 or section 127 may	 either before or after the institution of the prosecution	 be compounded by such officers or authorities and for such amount as the State. Government may	 by notification in the official Gazette	 specify in this behalf. (2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub section (1)	 the offender	 if in custody	 shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence. " Thereafter the next logical and appropriate step for the police officer or the authorised person would be to lay a complaint before the Court competent to take congnizance of the offence	 subject to the over riding provision of Section 132 of the which provides that no Court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the second class shall try any offence punishable under the or any rule made thereunder. Section 4 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that all offences under any law other than the Penal Code shall also be investigated	 inquired into	 tried	 and otherwise dealt with according to the same provisions that is	 the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code	 subject to any enactment for the time being in force regulating the manner or place of investigating	 inquiring into	 trying or otherwise dealing with such offences. Chapter XIII of the Code of Criminal Procedure deals with "Jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts in inquiries and trials". So	 subject to section 132 of the 	 735 the Court before which the complaint may be laid has to be determined in accordance with the provisions of chapter XIII of the Code of Criminal Procedure. After the complaint is laid the case has to be tried in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This again is subject to one special provision of the 	 namely Section is in the following terms: "The court taking cognizance of an offence under this Act	 (i) may	 if the offence is an offence punishable with imprisonment under this Act and (ii) shall	 in any other case	 state upon the summons to be served on the accused person that he (a) may appear by pleader and not in person	 or (b) may by a specified date prior to the hearing of the charge plead guilty to the charge by registered letter and remit to the court such sum (not exceeding the maximum fine that may be imposed for the offence) as the court may specify: Provided that nothing in this sub section shall apply to any offence specified in Part A of the Fifth Schedule. Where the offence dealt with in accordance with sub section (1) is an offence specified in Part of the Fifth Schedule	 the accused person shall	 if he pleads guilty to the charge	 forward his licence to the Court with the letter containing his plea in order that the conviction may be endorsed on the licence. Where an accused person pleads guilty and remits 1 the sum specified and has complied with the provisions of sub section (2)	 no further proceedings in respect of the offence shall be taken against him	 nor shall he be liable to be disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence by reason of his having pleaded guilty. " That is how the offender is dealt with. But	 what happens to the vehicle seized under the provisions of section 129 A ? To begin with	 we notice that a pre condition to the seizure and detention of the vehicle is that the police officer or authorised person must have reason to believe that one or the other of the offences specified	 punishable as we have seen under section 123	 736 has been or is being committed. Whenever property involved in the commission of an offence is seized	 the seizure is generally expected to serve a manifold purpose such as to prevent repetition of the offence	 to use the thing seized as material evidence in the prosecution	 to preserve the property so as to enable the court to pass appropriate orders for its disposal by way of destruction	 confiscation	 or delivery to any person claiming to be entitled to possession thereof or otherwise. There ii no reason to assume that the seizure under section 129 A is any different and is not to serve any of these purposes or any purpose at all. We then notice that the police officer or the authorised person may "Seize and detain the vehicle 	 and for this purpose take or cause to be taken any steps he may consider proper for the temporary safe custody of the vehicle". Clearly	 therefore	 the detention by the authorised officer or person is to be temporary. For how long then ? obviously until appropriate orders regarding its disposal are made. Quite obviously the vehicle may be released if the owner of the vehicle satisfies the authorised officer or person	 that no offence such as that mentioned in section 129 A had been or was being committed. This is subject to tho second proviso to section 129 A which bars the release of a vehicle seized for a contravention of the provisions of section 22 unless the owner of the vehicle produces a valid certificate of registration under the Act in respect of the vehicle. Conversely	 in the contest	 it implies 15 that a vehicle seized for a contravention of section 22 is to be released if the certificate of registration is produced. Again	 since the detention is for 'temporary safe custody	 until appropriate orders are made	 the police officer or authorised person seizing the vehicle may arrange for the 'temporary safe custody ' of the vehicle with the owner of the vehicle by releasing the vehicle to him subject to suitable security J and so undertaking to produce the vehicle when called upon to do so. We have indicated that the next step in the process of dealing with tho offender is to consider whether the offence may not be compounded. If the offence is compounded	 the vehicle has naturally to be returned to the owner. If it is not compounded	 a complaint has to be laid before the Court empowered to take cognizance of the case and the case proceeded with. As soon as the complaint is laid	 the Court acquires jurisdiction to pass appropriate orders regarding 'the custody ' and the 'the disposal ' of the vehicle. We have already noticed how Section 4 (2) of the Code of the Criminal Procedure stipulates that offences under laws other than the Penal Code also are to be investigated	 inquired into	 tried and otherwise dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 737 The provisions of Chapter XXXIV of the Code relating to 'Disposal of Property ' are also therefore attracted in dealing with offences under the . Section 452 of the Code enables the Court	 at the conclusion of an inquiry or trial to "make such order as it thinks fit for the disposal	 by destruction	 confiscation or delivery to any person claiming to be entitled to possession thereof or otherwise	 of any property or document produced before it or in its custody	 or regarding which any offence appears to have been committed	 or which has been used for the commission of any offence". The Court thus has the power at the conclusion of the case to make appropriate orders regarding the disposal of the motor vehicle regarding which an offence appears to have been committed. So far as the custody of the vehicle pending the conclusion of the case is concerned	 the Court may either treat the arrangement made by the officer or person acting under section 129 A as sufficient or may itself make further or other orders. Section 451 of the Code of Criminal Procedure empowers the Court	 when any property is produced before it during any inquiry or trial	 to make such order as it thinks fit for the proper custody of such property pending the conclusion of the inquiry or trial. We think that a motor vehicle regarding whose temporary custody arrangements have been made under sec. 129 A of the by the police officer or the authorised person seizing the vehicle must be considered to have been produced before the Criminal Court as soon as a complaint is filed before the Court alleging the commission of an offence under sec. 123 regarding the vehicle. In any case	 the Court has ample power under Chapter VII of the Code	 Section 91 in particular	 to compel the production of the vehicle before the Court. Thus if the provisions of the are read in conjunction with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and there is no getting away from the provisions of both the laws it is seen that there is no lacuna whatsoever in regard to the proper custody and disposal of the motor vehicle seized under sec. 129 A of the . The custody of the vehicle in the hands the police officer or the authorised person is but temporary and he is therefore	 obliged to act and take all further steps in the matter with all expedition. If he releases the vehicle on being satisfied that no offence has been committed or if he releases the vehicle on the offence being compounded	 no further question arises. If	 instead	 he lays a complaint before the Court	 the court acquires instant jurisdiction over the vehicle to pass suitable orders. In the remote event of the police officer or the authorised person not taking any further action after 738 seizing and detaining the vehicle	 the owner of the vehicle is not without remedy. article 226 is always available but one does not have to presume that the police officer or the authorised person may not act according to law. The Andhra Pradesh High Court appeared to think that sec. 129 A of the was an unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right guaranteed by article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution because (i) there was no provision in the Act providing for confiscation of the vehicle	 (ii) there was no provision in the Act indicating what should be done after seizing and detaining the vehicle	 (iii) the seizure by the police officer or the authorised person was based on his subjective satisfaction	 (iv) there was no discernible purpose behind the seizure	 (v) there was no obligation on the seizing authority to produce the vehicle in court	 (vi) Nor was there any purpose to be served by producing the vehicle before the court as the court did not possess the power to confiscate the vehicle or to pass any orders regarding its temporary custody	(vii) no appeal was provided against the seizure	 and (viii) no maximum period was prescribed for the detention of the vehicle. None of these reasons bears any scrutiny	 if properly examined in the light of the provisions of both the and the Code of Criminal Procedure	 as we are bound to. Indeed	 whenever an offence under a law other than the Penal Code is committed and that law does not itself regulate the procedure to be followed	 there is no option but to look to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code for further action and to weave into a single texture the provisions of the code and the special law. The High Court has totally ignored the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and the judgment stands vitiated on that account. It has therefore	 to be set aside. We have explained the context of Sec. 129 A in the scheme emerging from the inter lacing of the provisions of the and the Criminal Procedure Code. We do not have the slightest hesitation in rejecting the contention that there is any infringement of the fundamental right guaranteed by article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution and in upholding the vires of Sec. 129 A of the . One of the Learned Counsel submitted that when a tourist motor vehicle was seized under Sec. 129 A	 there should be some safeguard in regard to the several removable items which are usually 739 found in tourist vehicles such as spare tyres	 spare parts	 radio	 video etc. It was suggested that in the absence of a provision similar to that found in the Criminal Procedure Code	 Sec. 129 A Should be held to be unreasonable. There is no substance in this contention. 100 of the Criminal Procedure Code to which reference was made by the Counsel deals with searches and not seizures. In the very nature of things when property is seized and not recovered during a search	 it is not possible to comply with the provisions of Sub Sections (4) and (5) of Sec. 100 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In the case of a seizure under the 	 there is no provision for preparing a list of the things seized in the course of the seizure for the obvious reason that all those things are seized not separately but as part of the vehicle itself. But it is in the interests of the very officer or person seizing the vehicle	 so that they may not be open to any charge being laid against them later	 that such officer or person takes care to prepare a list of detachable things which are ordinarily not part of the vehicle and give a copy of the list to the person in charge of the vehicle at the time of the seizure. In view of the discussion	 the appeals are allowed with cost and the writ petitions filed in High Court are dismissed. Some of the operators have directly approached this Court under article 32 of the Constitution. Their writ petitions have been heard along with the civil appeals and for the same reasons they are dismissed with costs. H.L.C. Appeals allowed.

Section 129 A of the authorises the seizure and detention of a motor vehicle by a police officer or any other person authorised by the State Government in that behalf if such officer or person has reason to believe that the vehicle has been or is being used without a certificate of registration as required under section 22 or without a permit as required under sub section (1) of section 42 or in contravention of any condition of such permit. The appeals in this group of matters were directed against a judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court striking down section 129 A as an unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right guaranteed by article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution for the reason that there was no discernible purpose behind the seizure authorised by the section	 that the seizure was based on the subjective satisfaction of the police officer or the person authorised	 that there was neither any obligation on him to produce the vehicle in the court nor was any power conferred on the court either to confiscate the vehicle or to pass any orders regarding its temporary custody	 that there was no provision in the Act indicating as to what should be done after seizing and detaining the vehicle and that there was also no provision prescribing any maximum period for the detention of the vehicle or providing for an appeal against seizure. Upholding the validity of section 129 A and allowing the appeals	 ^ HELD: There is no lacuna in regard to the proper custody and disposal of the motor vehicle seized under section 129 A of the . The provisions of the Act have to be read in conjunction with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. [739 A B] (i) Section 129 A contemplates three situations where the police officer or the person authorised may seize and detain the vehicle and these are precisely the three situations made punishable under section 123(1). The power given to seize and detain the vehicle under section 129 A has to be exercised by the police officer or the person authorised when he has reason to believe that an offence punishable under section 123(1) has been or is being committed. After detecting the commission of an offence punishable under section 123(1) the next step for him would be to consider whether the offence should be compounded as provided 730 under section 127 B and thereafter to lay a complaint before the Court competent to take cognizance of the offence. Section 4(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that all offences under any law other than the Penal Code shall also be investigated	 inquired into	 tried and otherwise dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Code subject to any enactment for the time being in force regulating the manner or place of investigating	 inquiring into	 trying or otherwise dealing with such offences. Chapter XIII of the Code deals with "Jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts in inquiries and trials". So	 subject to section 132 of the Act	 the Court before which the complaint may be laid has to be determined in accordance with Chapter XIII of the Code and after the complaint is laid before the appropriate court it has to be tried in accordance with the provisions of the Code subject to section 130 of the Act. This is how the offender has to be dealt with. [733 D; H; 734 A B; G H; 735 A B] (ii) A pre condition to the seizure of a vehicle under section 129 A is that the police officer or the person authorised must have reason to believe that one or the other of the offences specified in section 123 has been or is being committed. The seizure is expected to serve a manifold purpose such as to prevent repetition of the offence	 to use the thing seized as material evidence in the prosecution and so on. Section 129 A itself provides that the detention of the vehicle by the authorised officer or person is to be temporary	 and obviously	 until appropriate orders regarding its disposal are made. The vehicle may be released if the owner satisfies the authorised officer or person that no offence such as that mentioned in section 129 A had been or was being committed. Again	 since the detention is for temporary safe custody	 the vehicle may be released to the owner subject to suitable security and an undertaking to produce it when called upon to do so. If the offence is compounded under section 127 B	 the vehicle has naturally to be returned to the owner. If a complaint is laid before the appropriate court	 the court acquires jurisdiction to pass appropriate orders regarding the custody and the disposal of the vehicle under Chapter XXXIV and sections 451 and 452 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. [735 H; 736 C H; 737 A] 2. The contention that section 129 A should be held unreasonable as it does not provide any safeguard in regard to the several removable items which are usually found in tourist vehicles such as spare tyres	 spare parts	 radio	 video	 etc.	 has no substance. Section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which was referred to in this context deals with searches and not seizures. In the very nature of things when property is seized and not recovered during a search	 it is not possible to comply with the provisions of sub sections (4) and (5) of section 100	 Cr. In the case of a seizure under the 	 there is no provision for preparing a list of the things seized in the course of seizure for the obvious reason that all those things are seized not separately but as part of the vehicle itself. But it is in the interests of the very officer or person seizing the vehicle to prepare a list of detachable things which are ordinarily not part of the vehicle and give a copy of the list to the person in charge of the vehicle at the time of the seizure. [739 A D]