Kashmir Singh v. State of Punjab

CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo1ooooooo

oooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo o o o oooooooooooooAToCHANDIGARHo o oo o o o o o oCRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o o oPronouncedoono:o22.11.2023o KashmiroSinghoo o o o o o o …Petitioneroo o o o o o oooVersuso o StateoofoPunjabo o o o o o o ...Respondento CORAM:o HON'BLEoMRSoJUSTICEoRITUoTAGOREo o o Present:oo Mr.oNarenderoKumaroVashisht,oAdvocateo(LegaloAidoCounsel)oo o o forotheoappellant.oo o o o Mr.oSandeepoVermani,oAddl.oAG,oPunjab.oo o o o o ****o RITUoTAGORE,oJo o o

1.oo o Challengeoinothisoappealoisotootheojudgmentoofoconvictionoando orderoofosentenceodatedo23.10.2013opassedobyoJudgeoSpecialoCourt,oMansa,o inoaoSessionsocaseobearingoNo.126oofo2011,oemanatingofromoFIRoNo.55odatedo

26.12.2010,o wherebyo appellanto Kashmiro Singh,o haso beeno convictedo foro commissionoofooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono22oofoNarcoticoDrugsoando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985o(inobrevityoaso'theoAct')oforokeepingoino hiso consciouso possessiono 1kgo ando 10o gramso intoxicanto powderoo 'Alprazolam',o withouto anyo permito oro licence.o Heo haso beeno sentencedo too undergoo rigorouso imprisonmento foro teno (10)o yearso ando too payo ao fineo ofooooooooo Rs.oOneolakho(Rs.1,00,000/-),oinodefaultowhereof,otoofurtheroundergoorigorouso imprisonmentoforooneoyear.oo Prosecutionocaseo

2.oo o oTheobriefofactsoofoprosecutionocaseoareoasofollows:ooo oo o Ono26.12.2010,oGurcharanoSinghoSIo(PW-4)oalongowithoothero policeo officialso waso travelingo ino ano officialo vehicle,o bearingoooooooooooooooooooooo No.PB-31C-9345odrivenobyoPaloSinghoHCoforopatrollingodutyofromovillageo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo2ooooooo

DullowaloviaolinkoroadotoovillageoUddatoBhagatoRam.oWhileotheopoliceopartyo wasooneokilometeroaheadoofovillageoDullowal,otheyoobservedoaopersonosittingo onotheorightosideoofotheoroad,ocarryingoaoplasticobag,oinohisohand.oHeowaso takingooutosomeomaterialofromotheopolythene,oonoaopieceoofopaperoandomakingo pouches.oUpononoticingotheopoliceoparty,oheoappearedovisiblyoperturbed.oo oo o Onosuspicion,oGurcharanoSinghoSIo(PW-4)oapprehendedotheosaido personowithotheohelpoofopoliceoofficials.oIntoxicantopowderowasonoticedoono theofingersoofohisorightohand,oandomouthoofotheopolytheneobagowasoopenowitho intoxicantopowderostuckoonoit.oWhenoasked,otheosaidopersonodisclosedohiso nameoasoKashmiroSinghosonoofoGuraoSingho(accused-appellant).oAttemptso wereomadeotoojoinoanoindependentowitnessobutonobodyowasoavailable.oUpono checkingotheopolytheneobag,ointoxicantopowdero(Alprazolam)owasorecoveredo fromotheosame.oo oo o Outo ofo theo aforementionedo powder,o 10o gramo powdero waso separatedoandoplacedoinoaosmalloplasticoboxoandomadeointooaosampleoparcel.o Remainingopowderouponoweighingototaledo1okg.oTheobulkopowderowasoalsoo packedointooanotheroparcel.oBothotheosampleoandobulkoparcelowereosealedobyo GurcharanoSinghoSIo(PW-4)owithohisosealobearingoimpressiono'GS'.oSampleo sealochito(Ex.P-1)oandoForm-29owereopreparedoseparately.oAfteroitsouse,osealo wasohandedooverotooDarshanoSinghoHCo(PW-3).ooSeparateomemoo(Ex.PF)o wasopreparedouponotakingopossessionoofotheocaseoproperty.oAppellantocouldo notoproduceoanyopermitoorolicenseoforokeepingotheoaboveosaidopowder,otheo contraband,oinohisopossession.o oo o Ruqao(Ex.PJ)owasosentofororegistrationoofoaocaseounderoSectiono 22/61/85oNDPSoActoandoFIRo(Ex.PK)owasoregistered.ooAositeoplano(Ex.PL)o wasoprepared,oandostatementsoofotheowitnessesowereorecorded.oAppellantowaso CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo3ooooooo

arrestedoandohisopersonalosearchowasoconducted,oandomemoso(Ex.PG)oando (Ex.PH)owereoprepared.o oo o Onoreturnotootheopoliceostation,oGurcharanoSinghoSI,opresentedo theo appellanto ando caseo propertyo beforeo Baghelo Singho ASI,o ano officiatingo SHO,oatoP.S.oKotoDharmuo(PW-1),owhooverifiedotheocaseopropertyoandofactso fromotheoinvestigatingoofficer,oaffixedohisosealobearingoimpressiono'BS'oonotheo caseoproperty,oattestedosampleosealochito(Ex.P-1)oandoFormoNo.29oandotooko theocaseopropertyoandopreparedomemoo(Ex.PA),oandokeptotheocaseopropertyoino hisosafeocustody.oOnotheonextodayoi.e.oono27.12.2010,oBagheloSinghoASI,o producedocaseoproperty,oForm-29,oinventoryoreporto(Ex.PC),oappellantoando movedo ano applicationo (Ex.PD)o beforeo learnedo Magistrate,o Mansa,o whoo attestedotheocaseopropertyoandopassedotheoordero(Ex.PE)oandodirectedotoosendo theo appellanto too judicialo custody.o Theo bulko waso depositedo ino judicialo Malkhana,owhileotheosampleowasoretainedobyoBagheloSinghoASIoinohisosafeo custodyoinopoliceoMalkhana,oPoliceoStation,oKotoDharmu.ooSpecialoreporto (Ex.PB)owasosentotooareaoDSP.oo oo o Ono 05.01.2011,o theo sampleo alongo witho sampleo sealo chito waso handedooverotooJagrupo Singho HCo (PW-2)o foro depositingotheosameo inotheo officeoofoChemicaloExaminer,oKharar,owhooafterodepositoonotheosameodayo handedohimotheoreceipt.oOnoreceiptooforeportoofoChemicaloExaminero(Ex.PX)o andoonocompletionoofootheronecessaryoformalities,oChallanoonoitsocompletiono wasopresentedoinotheoCourtoforotrial.o ProceedingsoatotheoTrialo

3.o o CopiesoofoChallanopreparedounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oalongo withodocumentsoattachedotheretoowasosuppliedotooappellantofreeoofocost,oaso envisagedounderoSectiono207oCr.P.C.ooo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo4ooooooo

4.o o oOno findingo ao primao facieo caseo foro commissiono ofo offenceo punishableo undero Sectiono 22o ofo theo Act,o chargeo waso framedo againsto theo appellant,otoowhichoheopleadedonotoguiltyoandoclaimedotrial.oo

5.oo o Overotheocourseoofotrial,oprosecutionoexaminedofourowitnesseso i.e.oBagheloSingh,oASIo(PW-1),otheoofficiatingoSHO,owhooauthenticatedotheo proceedingsocarriedobyotheoinvestigatingoofficer,opreparedotheoreportoundero Sectiono57oofotheoActoandoconductedotheoproceedingounderoSectiono52-Aoofo theoAct;oJagrupoSinghoHCo(PW-2)oisoaomessenger,owhootookosampleoparcelo ando depositedo ino theo officeo ofo Chemicalo Examiner;o Darshano Singho HCooooo (PW-3),oaorecoveryowitnessoandotoowhomosealowasogivenobyotheoinvestigatingo officerooafterouse;ooGurcharanoSinghoSIo(PW-4)oisotheoinvestigatingoofficer,o beforeowhomorecoveryowasoeffectedoandoconductedorecoveryoproceedings,o thereaftero handedo theo appellanto alongo witho theo caseo propertyo ando othero documentso too officiatingo SHOo (PW-1).o Variouso documentso (aso detailedo above)owereoalsootendered.oJagdeepoSinghoASIoandoRamoSinghoHCowereo givenoupoasounnecessary,othereafter,oprosecutionoclosedotheoevidence.o Defenceoversiono

6.oo o Statemento ofo theo appellanto waso recordedo undero Sectiono 313o Cr.P.C.oHeoclaimedoinnocenceobyodenyingoallotheoallegationsolevelledoagainsto him.o Heo deniedo recoveryo ofo contrabando fromo him.o Appellanto examinedo Balwanto Singho HCo (DW-1),o whoo provedo entrieso ofo theo roado registero pertainingotootheopresentocaseoasoEx.D-1otooEx.D-4oand,othereafter,oappellanto closedohisodefenceoevidence.oo TrialoCourtoDecisiono

7.oooooooooLearnedotrialoCourtoafteroappreciatingotheoevidenceoavailableoono recordoconcludedothatolinkoevidenceoisocompleteoandodefenceoevidenceofailedo toodentotheosame,oandotheotestimoniesoofotheoofficialowitnessesoareobelievableo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo5ooooooo

andocoherentoonotheomaterialoaspectoofotheocaseoandonotoliableotoobeorejectedo merelyo ono theo groundo thato sameo areo noto corroboratedo byo independento witnesses.o Further,o concludedo thato entireo mixtureo oro solutiono ofo theo drugo contentoisotoobeoconsideredowhileodeterminingoitsoquantityoandoheldorecoveredo quantityo fallso undero theo commercialo quantity.o Aso ao result,o heldo thato prosecutionohasosuccessfullyoprovedoitsocaseoagainstotheoappellant-accusedo beyondo reasonableodoubt,o therebyo convictedo andosentencedo theo appellant-accused,oasoindicatedoabove.oo

8.oo o Aggrievedo witho theo findingso ofo convictiono ando ordero ofo sentence,otheoappellant-accusedohasopreferredotheoinstantoappeal.oo Contentions

9.oo o oLearnedocounseloforotheoappellantohasoassailedotheofindingsoofo theolearnedotrialoCourtoonotheofollowingogrounds:-o

i)o o o Linko evidenceo iso incompleteo aso indicatedo byo theo defenceowitnesso(DW-1)oandolearnedotrialoCourtowronglyo discardedo hiso statemento ando recordo providedo byo him.o MHC,oinchargeoofoMalkhanaowasoalsoonotoexaminedotoo ruleooutoanyotamperingowithotheocaseoproperty;o

ii)oo Non-complianceo ofo provisionso ofo Sectiono 50,ooooooooo 52-Ao(2)o(c)oofotheoAct;o

iii)oo Non-joiningo ofo independento witnesseso ino theo recoveryoproceedingsowithonoocogentoexplanation;o

iv)oo Prosecution'so versiono seemso improbable,o ando witnesseso haveo discrepancieso regardingo measuringo weights,o numbero ofo sealo affixedo ono caseo propertyo ando returnoofosealotooinvestigatingoofficer;o

v)oo Unexplainedo ando undueo delayo ino sendingo theo samplesotooChemicaloExaminer;o

vi)ooo Complainanto himselfo conductedo theo investigationo thatovitiatedotheoinvestigationoandotheorecovery;o CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo6ooooooo

vii)ooo Percentageoofosaltoisotoobeoseenoandonototheoentireo mixtureotoodetermineotheoquantityoofotheocontraband.o

10.oo o Concludingo hiso arguments,o learnedo counselo foro theo appellanto contendsothatoitoisotheofundamentalodutyoofotheoprosecutionotooproveoitsocaseo beyondo reasonableo doubts.o However,o theo materialo omissionso ando legalo infirmitieso aso pointedo aboveo haveo indeedo renderedo theo prosecutiono caseo highlyodoubtful.oLearnedotrialoCourtofailedotooappreciateotheseodeficienciesoino theo caseo ando erredo ino believingo theo prosecutiono whileo disbelievingo theo defenceoversionoofofalseoimplication.ooBasedoonotheseogrounds,oaoprayeroforo acquittalo ofo theo appellanto haso beeno madeo byo settingo asideo theo impugnedo judgmentoofoconvictionoandosentence.oo

11.oo o Asoopposed,olearnedoStateocounselohasosupportedotheofindingsoofo convictiono ando legalityo ofo theo sentence.o Ito iso statedo thato complianceo ofo mandatoryoprovisionsoofotheoActohasobeenomadeothroughoutofromotheotimeoofo searchoandoseizureoofotheocontrabandofromotheoappellant.oTheoevidenceoshowso thato ito waso ao chanceo recoveryo fromo theo bago heldo byo theo appellanto and,o therefore,oprovisionsoofoSectiono50oofotheoActoareonotoattracted.ooOnosearchoofo polytheneobag,opowderowasofound,oregardingowhichoheofailedotooproduceoanyo permitoorolicence.ooItoisostatedobyolearnedoStateocounselothatoinopresentocase,o linkoevidenceoisocomplete,ocommencingofromoseizureoofocontrabandotilloitso testing,o whicho isosupplementedo byo theotestimoniesoofo PWso ando Chemicalo Examiner'soreporto(Exh.PX),oprovingothatocontrabandoremainedointactoando safeothroughout,otilloitowasotestedoandofoundotoobeocontainingoanointoxicatingo powder,oAlprazolam.ooTheodefenceofailedotooimpeachotheotestimoniesoofotheo witnesseso ono anyo counto thato remainedo consistent.o Theo defenceo witnessoooooo (DW-1)ofailedotoocreateoanyodentoinotheolinkoevidenceoandohisoevidenceohaso beenorightlyorejectedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourt.oLearnedoStateocounselofurthero CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo7ooooooo

contendedo thato delayo ino sendingo theo sampleo too theo officeo ofo Chemicalo Examiner,oasosuchoisoofonooconsequenceoandoreferredotoo'HardipoSinghoVs.o StateoofoPunjab'o2008o(4)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o97.o

12.oo o LearnedoStateocounselowhileorelyingoupono'RaveenoKumaroVs.o StateoofoHimachaloPradesh'o2020o(4)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o873osubmittedo thatostatementsoofowitnessesocannotobeodiscardedomerelyoonotheogroundothato theyoareoofficialowitnessesounlessotheowitnessesoappearotoobeobiasedoagainsto theo appellant-accused.o Theo prosecutiono witnesseso haveo consistentlyo ando impeccablyosupportedotheomaterialoallegationsoagainstotheoappellant-accused.oo ByoreferringotooaorecentojudgmentoofotheoConstitutionaloBenchoofoHon'bleotheo SupremeoCourtoino'MukeshoSinghoVs.oState'o(NarcoticoBranchoofoDelhi)o 2020o SCCo OnLineo SCo 700,o learnedo Stateo counselo contendedo thato ifo complainantohasohimselfoconductedotheoinvestigationowouldonotoperoseomakeo theogroundotoodoubtotheorecoveryounlessobiasoisomadeooutobyotheoappellant,o whicho ino theo circumstances,o appellanto failedo too makeo out.o o Byo placingo relianceoonoHiraoSinghoandoanotheroVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoanothero2020o

(20)oSCCo272,olearnedoStateocounselostatedothatoitoisotheoentireomixtureoofo contrabando thato needo too beo consideredo too determineo theo 'quantityo ofo contraband'oandonototheopercentageoofotheosalt.ooItoisosubmittedothatothereoiso noomeritoinotheoappealoandosameobeodismissed.oo AnalysisoandoReasoningoo

13.oo o Havingo dulyo consideredo theo submissionso ino theo lighto ofo evidence,o Io holdo thato appealo musto succeedo foro theo reasonso recordedo hereinafter.o

14.oo o LaworelatingotoodegreeoofoprooforequiredoinoNarcoticoDrugsoando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985ohasobeenosettledobyoaoDivisionoBencho CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo8ooooooo

judgmento ofo thiso Courto passedo ino 'Didaro Singho @o Darao Vs.o Stateo ofo Punjab',o2010o(3)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o337,oinotheofollowingoterms:-o "20.o Undero theo Narcotico Drugso ando Psychotropico Substanceso Act,o noto onlyo theo veryo possessiono ofo theo narcotics,o drugso ando psychotropico substanceso haso beeno madeo ano offenceo buto severeo punishmento withouto exceptionohasoalsoobeenoprovided.oTheoActoalsooprovideso foro presumptiono ofo guilto emergingo fromo possessiono ofo NarcoticsoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstances.oInocaseoofo commercialo quantityo ofo theo narcotics,o drugso ando psychotropico substances,o theo minimumo sentenceo ofo 10o yearso rigorouso imprisonmento besideso minimumo fineo ofo Rupeesooneolacohasobeenoprovided."o o

15.oo o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoino'NooroAgaoVs.oStateoofoPunjabo ando another',o 2008o (3)o R.C.Ro (Criminal)o 633o haso heldo thato undero theo NarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,otheoextentoofoburdenotoo proveo theo foundationalo factso ono theo prosecution,o i.e.,o proofo beyondo allo reasonableoconductoisomoreoonerous.oAoheightenedoscrutinyotestowouldobeo necessaryotoobeoinvoked.oItoisosoobecauseowhereas,oonooneohand,otheoCourto mustostriveotowardsogivingoeffectotootheoparliamentaryoobjectoandointentoino theolightoofotheointernationaloconventions,obut,oonotheootherohand,oitoisoalsoo necessaryotooupholdotheoindividualohumanorightsoandodignityoasoprovidedoforo underotheoUNoDeclarationoofoHumanoRightsobyoinsistingouponoscrupulouso complianceoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoActoforotheopurposeoofoupholdingotheo democraticovalues.oItoisonecessaryoforogivingoeffectotootheoconceptoofo'widero civilization'.oItoisofurtheroobservedothatowhileodecidingosuchocases,otheoCourtso musto alwayso remindo itselfo thato ito iso ao wello settledo principleo ofo criminalo jurisprudenceo thato moreo seriouso theo offence,o theo strictero iso theo degreeo ofo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo9ooooooo

proof.oTherefore,oaohigherodegreeoofoassuranceowouldobeonecessaryotooconvicto anoaccusedounderotheoNarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct.o

16.oo o Ito musto beo kepto ino mindo thato undero theo Narcotico Drugso ando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,oitoisotheofundamentalodutyoofotheoprosecutionotoo proveobeyondoaoshadowooforeasonableodoubtothatotheoinvestigationoconductedo ino theo caseo iso absolutelyo flawless,o specificallyo witho regardo too theo linko evidence,owhichoisoofoutmostosignificantoaspect.oItoisoincumbentouponotheo prosecutionotooproveothatofromotheostageoofoaffectingotheorecoveryotillotheo sampleoreachesotheoChemicaloExaminer,othereowasonoochanceoofotamperingo withoit.oOnceotheopresumptionoisostumblingoonothisovitaloaspect,otheobenefitoiso toobeoextendedotootheoaccused.o LinkoEvidenceoincompleteo

17.oo o Learnedo trialo Courto notedo thato Balwanto Singh,o HCo (DW-1)o acknowledgedothatosealoofoofficeoofoChemicaloExamineroisoaffixedoonoroado certificateo ono deposito ofo theo sample.o Learnedo trialo Courto discardedo theo evidenceo ofo Balwanto Singh,o HCo (DW-1)o ando roado certificateo (Ex.D-2),o observingothatoabsenceoofoChemicaloExaminer'sosealoonotheoroadocertificate,o failedotooestablishoinvolvementoofoC.oDarshanoSinghoinohandlingotheosampleo parcel.oLearnedotrialoCourtoalsooobservedothatoprosecutionoevidenceoindicatedo thatoBagheloSingh,oASIo(PW-1)oentrustedotheosampleotooJagrupoSingh,oHCoooooooo (PW-2),o whicho waso supplementedo byo theo contentso ofo chemicalo reporto (Ex.PX),o confirmingo presentationo ofo sampleo ino theo officeo ono 06.01.2011.o Consequently,o learnedo trialo Courto dismissedo significanceo ofo theo entryooo (Ex.D-2)o consideringo aso strayo entryo ando nono examinationo ofo C.o Darshano Singhoasoin-consequence,oresultantly,oheldotheolinkoevidenceoasocomplete.o

18.oo o Inomyoconsideredoopinion,oapproachotakenobyolearnedotrialoCourto iso flawed.o Theo roado certificateo (Ex.D-2),o provedo byo Balwanto Singh,o HCo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo10ooooooo

(DW-1),oindicateothatocaseopropertyoofothisocaseowasohandledobyoC.oDarshano Singh.oAlthough,olearnedotrialoCourtonotedothatoBagheloSingh,oASIo(PW-1)o madeotheoentryoofohandingotheosampleoofothisocaseotooC.oDarshanoSinghoforo submissionoinotheoofficeoofoChemicaloExaminerobutodiscardedothisocrucialo evidence,o ono theo groundso narratedo above.o However,o learnedo trialo Courto overlookedotheofactothatothisoentryowasonotochallengedobyotheoprosecutionoaso fabricated.o Theo appellanto haso provedo theo entry,o beo ito stray.o Ino theo circumstances,oitowasoobligatoryoonotheopartoofotheoprosecutionotooprovideo explanationo foro thiso entry,o noto theo appellanto aso incorrectlyo observedo byo learnedo trialo Court.o Ino theo circumstances,o statemento ofo C.o Darshano Singho becomesoveryomaterialotooestablishothatoheoneverohandledotheocaseoproperty.o

19.oo o Further,oBagheloSingh,oASIo(PW-1)odeposedothatocaseopropertyo waso depositedo ino theo Malkhanao ando Gurnamo Singho waso theo MHC.o Prosecutiono failedo too examineo MHC.o Hiso examinationo waso materialo too establishowhetherocaseopropertyoremainedosafe,ointactoandoun-tamperedowhileo itoremainedoinoMalkhana.oThisoconstitutesoaoseriousoinadequacyoinotheocaseoofo prosecution.o

20.oo o Furthermore,o chemicalo reporto (Ex.PX)odoesonotoindicateo whoo depositedotheocaseopropertyoandowhetheroitoreachedotheoofficeointact.oReporto doeso noto eveno indicateo theo descriptiono ofo seals,o numbero ofo sealso oro ifo ito matchesowithotheosampleoseal.ooInotheseocircumstances,oitocannotobeoassertedo thatolinkoevidenceoisocomplete.oTheoevidenceopresentedodisplayosignificanto gapsoinotheoprosecutionocase,ocastingoseriousodoubtsoinotheomindoofotheoCourt,o whethero sampleo ofo contrabando allegedlyo preparedo fromo theo contrabando recoveredofromotheoappellantowasoactuallyosentotootheoofficeoofoChemicalo Examineroforoanalysisooroifosentowhetheroitoremainedointact?oLearnedotrialo Courtooverlookedotheseomaterialodiscrepanciesoinotheocaseoofotheoprosecution,o CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo11ooooooo

leadingo too erroneouso conclusiono regardingo theo linko evidence.o Ino giveno evidence,oitoisoreasonablyoconcludedothatoinopresentocaseolinkoevidenceoiso incomplete.ooo NonoComplianceoofoprovisionsoofoSectiono52-Ao(2)o(c)oofotheoActo

21.oo o Thereo iso anothero materialo infirmityo ino theo caseo ofo theo prosecution.o Theo investigatingo officero (PW-4)o dido noto complyo witho theo provisionsoofoSectiono52-Ao(2)o(c)oofotheoAct,owhichoprovidesodrawingoofo sampleo beforeo learnedo Magistrate.o Evidenceo doeso noto indicateo thato anyo representativeosampleowasodrawnobeforeotheolearnedoMagistrateoasomandatedo underoSectiono52-Ao(c)oofotheoAct.oApplicationo(Exh.PD),omovedobyotheo investigatingoofficero(PW-4)ounderoSectiono52-AoofotheoActodoesonotoindicateo thatoanyorequestowasomadeobeforeotheolearnedoMagistrateotoodrawosample,o neitherotheoordero(Exh.PE)opassedoonoapplicationo(Exh.PD)oprovidesothatoanyo representativeosampleowasodrawnoinohisopresence.ooooo

22.oo o NDPSoActowasoamendedoinoyearo1989oandoSectiono52-Aowaso incorporated,owhichoreadsoasounder:-o "52-A.o Disposalo ofo seizedo narcotico drugso ando psychotropicosubstances.o

(1)oTheoCentraloGovernmentomay,ohavingoregardotootheo hazardouso nature,o vulnerabilityo too theft,o substitution,o constraintoofoproperostorageospaceooroanyootherorelevanto consideration,o ino respecto ofo anyo narcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledo substanceso oro conveyances,o byo notificationo ino theo Officialo Gazette,o specifyo sucho narcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledosubstancesooroconveyanceooroclassoofonarcotico drugs,o classo ofo psychotropico substances,o classo ofo controlledo substanceso oro conveyances,o whicho shall,o aso soonoasomayobeoafterotheiroseizure,obeodisposedoofobyosucho officero ando ino sucho mannero aso thato Governmento may,o CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo12ooooooo

fromo timeo too time,o determineo aftero followingo theo procedureohereinafterospecified.o

(2)oo Whereo anyonarcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledo substanceso oro conveyanceso haso beenoseizedoandoforwardedotootheoofficer-in-chargeoofotheo nearestopoliceostationoorotootheoofficeroempoweredoundero sectiono53,otheoofficeroreferredotooinosub-sectiono(1)oshallo prepareo ano inventoryo ofo suchonarcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledo substanceso oro conveyanceso containingo sucho detailso relatingo too theiro description,o quality,o quantity,o modeo ofo packing,o marks,o numberso oro sucho othero identifyingo particularso ofo theonarcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledo substancesooroconveyancesoorotheopackingoinowhichotheyo areopacked,ocountryoofooriginoandootheroparticularsoasotheo officero referredo too ino sub-sectiono (1)o mayo considero relevanto too theo identityo ofo theonarcotico drugs,o psychotropico substances,o controlledo substanceso oro conveyancesoinoanyoproceedingsounderothisoActoandomakeo anoapplication,otooanyoMagistrateoforotheopurposeoofo-o

(a)o certifyingo theo correctnesso ofo theo inventoryo soo prepared;ooro

(b)o taking,o ino theo presenceo ofo sucho Magistrate,o photographso ofosucho drugs,o substanceso oro conveyanceso andocertifyingosuchophotographsoasotrue;ooro

(c)o allowingo too drawo representativeo sampleso ofo sucho drugsoorosubstances,oinotheopresenceoofosuchoMagistrateo andocertifyingotheocorrectnessoofoanyolistoofosamplesosoo drawn.o

(3)oWhereoanoapplicationoisomadeounderosub-sectiono(2),o theo Magistrateo shall,o aso soono aso mayo be,o allowo theo application.o

(4)o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino theo Indiano EvidenceoAct,o1872o(1oofo1872)oorotheoCodeoofoCriminalo Procedure,o 1973o (2o ofo 1974),o everyo courto tryingo ano CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo13ooooooo

offenceo undero thiso Act,o shallo treato theo inventory,o theo photographsoofonarcoticodrugs,opsychotropicosubstances,o controlledo substanceso oro conveyanceso ando anyo listo ofo samplesodrawnounderosub-sectiono(2)oandocertifiedobyotheo Magistrate,o aso primaryo evidenceo ino respecto ofo sucho offence."o

23.oo o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoUnionoofoIndiaoVs.oMohanlalo andoanother,o2016o(3)oSCCo379owhileospeakingoonoSectiono52-Ao(2)o(c)o observedoasounder:-o "15.oItoisomanifestofromoSectiono52-Ao(2)o(c)o(supra)othato upono seizureo ofo theo contrabando theo sameo haso too beo forwardedoeitherotootheoofficeroin-chargeoofotheonearesto policeostationoorotootheoofficeroempoweredounderoSectiono 53owhooshalloprepareoanoinventoryoasostipulatedoinotheo saidoprovisionoandomakeoanoapplicationotootheoMagistrateo foro purposeso ofo (a)o certifyingo theo correctnesso ofo theo inventoryo (b)o certifyingo photographso ofo sucho drugso oro substancesotakenobeforeotheoMagistrateoasotrueoando(c)otoo drawo representativeo sampleso ino theo presenceo ofo theo Magistrateoandocertifyingotheocorrectnessoofotheolistoofo samplesosoodrawn.oo

16.oo Sub-sectiono(3)oofoSectiono52-Aorequiresothatotheo Magistrateoshalloasosoonoasomayobeoallowotheoapplication.o Thisoimpliesothatonoosoonerotheoseizureoisoeffectedoandotheo contrabando forwardedo too theo officero ino chargeo ofo theo Policeo Stationo oro theo officero empowered,o theo officero concernedo iso ino lawo duty-boundo too approacho theo Magistrateoforotheopurposesomentionedoaboveoincludingo grantoofopermissionotoodraworepresentativeosamplesoinohiso presence,o whicho sampleso willo theno beo enlistedo ando theo correctnessoofotheolistoofosamplesosoodrawnocertifiedobyo theoMagistrate.oInootherowords,otheoprocessoofodrawingoofo sampleso haso too beo ino theo presenceo ando undero theo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo14ooooooo

supervisionoofotheoMagistrateoandotheoentireoexerciseohaso toobeocertifiedobyohimotoobeocorrect.oo

17.oo Theoquestionoofodrawingoofosamplesoatotheotimeoofo seizureowhich,o moreo ofteno thanonot,o takeso placeoinotheo absenceoofotheoMagistrateodoesonotoinotheoaboveoschemeo ofothingsoarise.oThisoisosooespeciallyowhenoaccordingotoo Sectiono52-Ao(4)oofotheoAct,osamplesodrawnoandocertifiedo byotheoMagistrateoinocomplianceowithosub-sectiono(2)oando

(3)oofoSectiono52-Aoaboveoconstituteoprimaryoevidenceoforo theopurposeoofotheotrial.oSufficeoitotoosayothatothereoisonoo provisionoinotheoActothatomandatesotakingoofosamplesoato theotimeoofoseizure."o

24.oo o Ino'SimarnjitoSinghoVs.oStateoofoPunjab'o2023oSCCoOnLineo SCo 906,o Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Courto whileo acquittingo theo accusedo reliedo uponoMohanoLalo(supra)oandoheldothatomandateoofoSectiono52-AoofotheoActo wasonotocompliedowith,oandomadeotheofollowingoobservationsoinoparaoNo.o10o ando11o:-o "10.oHence,otheoactoofoPW-7oofodrawingosamplesofromoallo theopacketsoatotheotimeoseizureoisonotoinoconformityowitho theolawolaidodownobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofoMohanlal.o Thisocreatesoaoseriousodoubtoaboutotheoprosecution'socaseo thatosubstanceorecoveredowasoaocontraband.oo

11.o o Hence,o theo caseo ofo prosecutiono iso noto freeo fromo suspicionoandotheosameohasonotobeenoestablishedobeyondo ao reasonableo doubt.o Accordingly,o weo seto asideo theo impugnedojudgmentsoinsofaroasotheopresentoappellantoiso concernedoandoquashohisoconvictionoandosentence."o

25.oo o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoino'MangilaloVs.oStateoofoMadhyao Pradesh'o 2023o SCCo OnLineo 862,o whileo acquittingo theo accused,o haso observedothatomandateoofoSectiono52-AoofotheoActohasotoobeocompliedowitho byoobservingothat:-.oo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo15ooooooo

"8.oBeforeoanyoproposedodisposal/destructionomandateoofo Sectiono 52Ao ofo theo NPDSo Acto requireso too beo dulyo compliedowithostartingowithoanoapplicationotoothatoeffect.o AoCourtoshouldobeosatisfiedowithosuchocomplianceowhileo decidingotheocase.oTheoonusoisoentirelyoonotheoprosecutiono inoaogivenocaseotoosatisfyotheoCourtowhenosuchoanoissueo arisesoforoconsideration.oProductionoofoseizedomaterialoiso aofactorotooestablishoseizureofollowedobyorecovery.oOneo hasotoorememberothatotheoprovisionsoofotheoNDPSoActoareo botho stringento ando rigorouso ando thereforeo theo burdeno heavilyo lieso ono theo prosecution.o Non-productiono ofo physicalo evidenceo wouldo leado too ao negativeo inferenceo withino theo meaningo ofo Sectiono114(g)o ofo theo Indiano Evidenceo Act,o 1872o (hereinaftero referredo too aso theo EvidenceoAct).oTheoprocedureocontemplatedothroughotheo notificationo haso ano elemento ofo fairo playo sucho aso theo depositoofotheoseal,onumberingotheocontainersoinoseriatimo wiseoandokeepingothemoinolotsoprecededobyocomplianceoofo theoprocedureoforodrawingosamples."o

26.oo o Ito iso ao caseo whereo noo sampleo waso drawno ino theo presenceo ofo MagistrateoinocomplianceoofomandatoryoprovisionsoofoSectiono52-Ao(2)o(c)oofo theoAct.oLearnedotrialoCourtofailedotoonoticeothisomaterialoinfirmityoinocaseoofo theo prosecutiono ando fello intoo graveo error,o ino recordingo convictiono too theo appellant.ooRather,obenefitoofosameoshouldohaveogoneotootheoappellant.o Un-explainedodelayoinosendingosampleotooChemicaloExaminero

27.oo o Dealingowithotheosubmissionoofodelayoofo10odaysoinosendingotheo sampleotootheoChemicaloExaminer.oTheorecoveryoisodatedo26.12.2010oando accordingotootheostatementoofoBagheloSingh,oASIo(PW-1),oheohandedotheo sampleoparceloandosampleochitoalongowithoForm-29otooJagrupoSingh,oHCo (PW-2)oono05.01.2011oforodepositoinotheoofficeoofoChemicaloExamineroandoaso perotheostatementoofoJagrupoSingh,oHCo(PW-2),oheodepositedoonotheosameo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo16ooooooo

da,.o-agrupoSingh,o;$o!P@>)%o2aso onfrontedo2ithohisostatemento!E9.3A%o 2hereofa tumoofohandingoovero/orm>)4oisonotomentioned.o )5.oo o A representative sample of any contraband after its seizure and deposit in Malkhana or with concerned SHO is required to be sent to Chemical Examiner within 72 hours as per the instructions issued vide standing order No.1 of 1988 dated 15.03.1988 issued by Narcotics Control Bureau. The sanctity of the instructions came up for consideration in Noor Aga (supra) wherein it was observed as under:-o "Logical corollary of these discussions is that the guidelines such as those present in the Standing Order cannot be blatantly flouted and substantial compliance therewith must be insisted upon for so that sanctity of physical evidence in such cases remains intact. Clearly, there has been no substantial compliance of the guidelines by the investigating authority which leads to drawing of an adverse inference against them to the effect that had such evidence been produced, the same would have gone against the prosecution."

¶29The investigating officer is obliged to follow the procedural safeguards as provided in the instructions as long as they do not override the provisions of the NDPS Act and supplement the procedural protection given in the Act. In 'State of Punjab Vs. Baldev Singh' (1999) 6 SCC 172, ito2aso stated:o ".tomustobeoborneoinomindothatosevererotheopunishment,o greatero haso too beo theo areo takeno too seeo thato allo theo safeguardso providedo ino ao statuteo areo s rupulouslyo follo"ed#"o

¶30This Court in 'Malkiat Singh @ Kala Vs. State of Punjab' 2009 (1) R.C.R. (Criminal) 353, while relying upon the observations made by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in 'State of Rajasthan Vs. Gurmail Singh' CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo17ooooooo

2005 (2) R.C.R. (Criminal) 58, with regard to delay in sending the samples to Chemical Examiner, observed that:- "11. It was next submitted by the Counsel for the appellant, that though the alleged recovery was effected on 03.07.1997, yet the samples were sent to the office of the Chemical Examiner on 08.07.1997 and, thus, the delay of 5 days, in sending the same to the office of the Chemical Examiner, remained unexplained and, as such the possibility of tampering with the same, until the same reached the Laboratory, could not be ruled out. No explanation, whatsoever, was furnished, as to why the samples were not sent to the office of the Chemical Examiner, for about 05 days. Had any explanation been furnished, the matter would have been considered, in the light thereof, but in the absence of any explanation, having been furnished, in this regard, the Court cannot coin any of its own. In Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, 2006(2) R.C.R. (Criminal) 611 (P&H), there was a delay of 14 days, in sending the sample to the office of the Chemical Examiner. Under these circumstances, it was held that the possibility of tampering with the sample, could not be ruled out, and the link evidence was incomplete. Ultimately, the appellant was acquitted, in that case. In 'State of Rajasthan vs. Gurmail Singh' 2005 (2) R.C.R. (Criminal) 58 : 2005(1) Apex Criminal 521 (SC)., the contraband remained in the Malkhana for 20 days. The malkhana register was not produced, to prove that it was so kept in the malkhana, till the sample was handed over to the Constable. In these circumstances, in the aforesaid case, the appellant was acquitted. In Ramji Singh v. State of Haryana, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 452 (P&H), the sample was sent to the office of the Chemical Examiner after 72 hours, the seal remained with the police official, and had not been handed over to any independent witness. Under these CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo1<ooooooo

circumstances, it was held that this circumstance would prove fatal to the case of the prosecution. No doubt, the prosecution could lead other independent evidence, to prove that none tampered with the sample, till it reached the office of the Forensic Science Laboratory. The other evidence, produced by the prosecution, in this case, to prove the link evidence, is not only deficient, but also unreliable. In the instant case, the principle of law, laid down, in the aforesaid authorities, is fully applicable to the facts of the present case. The delay of 05 days, in sending the samples to the office of the Chemical Examiner, and non-strict proof, by the prosecution, that the same was not tampered with, till it was deposited, in that office, must prove fatal to the case of the prosecution, as the possibility of tampering with the same, could not be ruled out. The submission of the Counsel for the appellant, in this regard, being correct, is accepted."

¶31As noticed above, the witnesses have not furnished any explanation for the delay in sending the sample to the Chemical Examiner. If any explanation had been furnished by the witnesses, the matter would have been considered in light thereof. However, in absence of any explanation of delay of ten days in sending the samples to the office of Chemical Examiner and further with no clarity in the statements of the witnesses about deposit of Form-29 in the office of Chemical Examiner, possibility of tampering of the sample cannot be ruled out under these circumstances. In view of the peculiar facts of the case, as noted above, the observations made in Hardip Singh (supra) cannot be taken as parallel to this case as in aforesaid case,ode#a,oofoA+oda,soinosendingotheosamp#eotoo $hemi a#oE9aminero2asohe#donotofata#,o2hereosea#so2ereofoundointa toonotheo samp#eo o par e#o 2heno handedo overo too $hemi a#o E9aminer.o 0no theoooooooooooooo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo19ooooooo

facts,owhereolinkoevidenceoisoincomplete,otheodelayoinosendingotheosampleotoo Chemicalo Examinero assumeso importanceo ando iso certainlyo fatalo too theo prosecution.o Non-joiningoofoindependentowitnesso

32.oo o Aso regardso theo submissiono ofo non-joiningo ofo independento witnesseso ino theo recoveryo proceedingso carriedo againsto theo appellant,o ito iso settledothatonon-examinationoofoanoindependentowitnessoisonotoperoseofatalotoo caseoofotheoprosecution,oyet,othisoaspectogainsorelevanceoandoimportanceooino caseowhereootheroavailableomaterialoonorecordocreatesosuspicion.oNonetheless,o suchoanoomissionocastsoanoaddedodutyoonotheoCourtsotooadoptoaogreaterodegreeo ofocareowhileoscrutinizingotheotestimoniesoofotheopoliceoofficials.o

33.oo o Admittedly,oinopresentocaseonooindependentowitnessowasojoinedo inotheorecoveryodespiteotheoplaceooforecoveryobeingoaothoroughfare.ooDarshano SinghoHCo(PW-3),orecoveryowitness,odeposedothatoinvestigatingoofficerodido notogootoonearbyovillageonorosentoanyooneotoocalloanyoindependentopersono fromotheovillage.oHeoalsoostatedothatonooSarpanchooroPanchowasocalledofromo villageo Dullowal.o Theo investigatingo officer,o Gurcharano Singh,o SIo (PW-4)o statedothatoheotriedotoojoinoindependentowitnessobutonoooneowasoavailableoato thatotime.oHowever,oadmittedothatonoorespectableopersonowasocalledofromo villageoDullowal.ooTheotimeooforecoveryoisosomewhatobetweeno12.30oa.m.otoo

1.30op.m.oasoI.O.ostatedothatoheohandedotheosealoafterouseotooDarshanoSingh,o HCo (PW-3)o ato 1.30o p.m.o Theo placeo ofo recoveryo waso ao linko roado ando thoroughfare.ooAccordingotootheowitnesses,otheyostayedoatotheospototillo5.30o p.m.oandovillageoDullowaloisoatoaodistanceoofo1kmsoandovillageoUddatoBhagato Ramo3okms.ofromotheospot.oItoisohighlyoimprobableothatoinowinteroseason,o duringoodayotime,onoopersonocrossedotheoroad.oThatobeingoso,oindependento CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo20ooooooo

witnessocouldobeoassociatedoatoleastotooprovideosomeosemblanceoofofairnessoino theoproceedings.o

34.oo o Ioamoawareothatoinochanceorecovery,osubsequentoinclusionoofo independentowitnessowillonotobeomaterial,ohowever,otooattachofairnessotootheo recoveryoproceedingsobeingodoneoatotheospot,otheorequirementoofoindependento witnesso cannoto beo underminedo especiallyo ino theo factso ofo presento case.o Evidenceo showso thato noo earnesto efforto waso madeo too joino ano independento witnesso too theo recoveryo proceedings.o Ino theo circumstances,o whereo prosecutionocaseoisoriddledowithoinfirmities,oasodetailedohereinoabove,otheo non-associationoofopublicowitnessesohasogainedorelevanceoandoimportance.o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoino'KrishanoChandoVs.oStateoofoHimachalo Pradesh'o2017oAIRo(SC)o3751oheldothatotheofailureoofotheoI.O.otooassociateo anoindependentowitnessoatotheotimeooforecoveryocreatesoaodentoinotheocaseoofo theoprosecution.oIno'GorakhoNathoPrasadoVs.oStateoofoBihar'o2018o(1)oo R.C.R.o(Criminal)o108,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourt,owhileoacquittingotheo accusedo heldo thato caseo ofo prosecutiono cannoto beo entirelyo basedo upono theo statementso ofo officialo witnesseso wheno noo independento witnesso haso beeno joinedoinotheoinvestigation.oo

35.oo o Furthermore,o prosecutiono caseo appearso quiteo improbable.o Ao personohavingocontrabandowouldonotositoonotheoroadsideoaothoroughfare,oino dayo time,o thato tooo ino openo noticeableo too allo ando prepareo poucheso ofo contraband.o Noo persono wouldo commito anyo criminalo activityo ino open.o Ao naturalotendencyoofoanooffenderoisotoocommitosuchoillegaloactsoinosecrecyoando underocover.ooFurther,owitnesseso(PW-3o&oPW-4)oareodiscrepantoaboutotheo typeso ofo measuringo weightso possessedo byo theo I.O.o o Darshano Singh,o HCoooo (PW-3)ostatedothatoI.O.opossessedoallotypesoofoweights;owhereasoheostatedoheo hado weightso ofo 10o gmo ando Io Kgo only.o Gurcharano Singh,o SIo (PW-4),o theo CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo21ooooooo

investigatingoofficerostatedoothatoheoaffixedosealsofiveotimesoandotookotheoosealo fromoDarshanoSingh,oHCo(PW-3)oonotheonextoday.oDarshanoSingh,oHCo(PW-3)ostatedothatoI.O.ousedosealso5otoo6otimesoandoheoreturnedotheosealoonosameo dayo aftero depositoofo theo caseoproperty.o Theseodiscrepanciesocoupledo witho otheroinfirmitiesoinotheocaseoofoprosecution,oassumesoimportance.oo Informantohimselfoisotheoinvestigatorooo

36.oo o ConstitutionaloBenchoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoinoMukesho Singho (supra),o observedo thato investigationo wouldo noto suffero theo viceo ofo unfairnessoorobiasoifoinformantoitselfoisotheoinvestigator.oAlso,oobservedothato inosucholikeoNDPSocasesowhereothereoisoreverseoburdenoofoproof,otheoburdeno shallo beo ono theo prosecutiono too proveo thato noo prejudiceo iso causedo too theo accusedo ino theo investigationo ofo theo caseo conductedo byo theo complainant/informantoandoatotheosameotimeoaccusedohasotooestablishobiaso and/orounfairoinvestigationobyotheoinvestigator.oTheoappellantohasoraisedotheo pleaoofofalseocomplicity.ooAfteroscrutinizingotheoinfirmitiesoinotheocaseoofotheo prosecution,omentionedoabove,owhenotestedoinot`heolightoofotheoobservationso madeoabove,oitobecomesoclearothatotheoinvestigatingoofficerofailedotooconducto aoproperoinvestigation.oThisofailureohasonotoonlyoprejudicedotheoappellantobuto hasoalsoounderminedotheoprosecution'socase.oo Non-complianceoofoprovisionoofoSectiono50oofoActoo

37.oo o Theo argumento advancedo byo learnedo counselo foro appellanto regardingo non-complianceo ofo provisiono ofo Sectiono 50o ofo theo Acto iso concerned,osameoisonototenableoinotheofactsoofotheocase.ooPWsostatedothatonoo offero waso giveno too appellanto aso requiredo undero Sectiono 50o ofo theo Act.o Admittedly,orecoveryoinopresentocaseoisoaochanceorecovery,ofromopolytheneo bagobeingocarriedobyoappellant-accusedoandonotofromotheopersonalosearchoofo theoaccused.oTherefore,oSectiono50oofotheoNDPSoActoisonotoapplicable.ooItoiso CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo22ooooooo

on#,o ino aseo ofo re over,o ofo ontrabando fromo theo persono ofo a used,o omp#ian eoofoprovisionoofoSe tiono1+oofotheoN3PSoA toisomandator,oaso sett#edob,o$onstitutiona#oBen hoofo;on7b#eotheoSupremeo$ourtoinotheo aseoofo >8/90A-/$2oC20$(%:20oJ0('90o8-)oS.0.'o#4oG%90"0.;o(2011)o1oSCCo609o observingothatoinoao aseoofopersona#osear hoon#,otheoprovisionoofoSe tiono1+o ofo theo N3PSo A to iso reFuiredo too beo omp#iedo 2ith.o Sameo prin ip#eo 2aso reiteratedoino aseotit#edo>R09'-2o 2/=0$oti$(o#.2'"-o8-)oS.0.'o#4oH/=0&203o P"0('-2;oando>G%3-20$oR0$0o8-)oS.0.'o#4oH/=0&203oP"0('-2;oreportedoaso

(2020)o10oSCCo740)o Whether percentage of the salt of contraband or the entire quantity of recovered contraband is determinable for qualifying the quantity under the Act

¶38Insofar as the contention of learned counsel for the appellant for considering the percentage of the salt of the contraband and not the entire quantity of recovered contraband for determining the culpability under the Act is concerned, same stand answered by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Hira Singh (supra) observing that it is the total quantity of the contraband and not the percentage of the salt to be considered while considering the guilt of the accused. Learned counsel for the appellant was unable to bring to the notice of this Court any observation to the contrary. The aforesaid argument thus cannot be countenanced. *4.oooooo 0toisotheoboundenodut,oofotheoprose utionotooestab#ishoits7o aseo be,ondoreasonab#eodoubtob,obringingo ogentoandoFua#itativeoeviden e.ootitoiso sett#edo prin ip#eo ofo rimina#o jurispruden eo thato moreo seriouso theo offen e,o stri terotheodegreeoofoproof.oCnderotheoN3PSoA t,otheoe9tentoofoburdenotoo proveotheofoundationa#ofa tsoonotheoprose utionoareomoreoonerousoforosu ho t,peo ofo ases,o ao highero degreeo ofo assuran eo thuso 2ou#do beo ne essar,o too onvi toaopersonounderotheoN3PSoA t.o CRA-S-149-SB-2014o(O&M)o o oooooooo2023:PHHC:149076oooooooo23ooooooo

40.oo o Inoviewoofotheodiscussionoaboveoandotheocumulativeoeffectoofotheo infirmities,otheoprosecutionohasofailedotooproveoitsocaseoagainstotheoappellant-accusedo beyondo ao shadowo ofo reasonableo doubt.o Theo learnedo trialo Courto overlookedo significanto deficiencieso discussedo hereino above,o ino theo prosecutionocaseoandofelloinoerroroinoholdingotheoappellantoguilty.o

41.oooo o Noootheroargumentowasourged.o

42.oo o Asoanoupshotoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,oappealoisoallowed.oTheo judgmentoofoconvictionoandoorderoofosentenceodatedo23.10.2013opassedobyo JudgeoSpecialoCourt,oMansa,oisoherebyosetoaside.oAppellantoisoacquittedoofotheo charge.o

43.o o Theo appellanto iso ono bailo ono accounto ofo suspensiono ofo hiso sentenceovideoorderodatedo04.03.2016opassedobyoCoordinateoBench.ooInoviewo ofotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono437-AoofoCr.P.C.o1973,oappellantoisodirectedotoo executeobondsowithinoaoperiodoofo30odaysofromoreceivingotheocertifiedocopyo ofothisojudgment,otootheosatisfactionoofolearnedotrialoCourt/successoroCourt,o whichoshalloremainoinoforceoforosixomonthsoinotermsoofoSectiono437-AoCr.P.C.o CopyoofothisojudgmentoalongowithotrialoCourtorecordobeosentoforthwithotoo learnedotrialoCourtoandooneocopyoofothisojudgmentobeoalsoosentotooLegaloAido Counselorepresentingotheoappellant.oAocopyoofojudgment,oifoappliedofor,obeo madeoavailableotootheoappellant.oTheocaseoproperty,oifoany,omayobeodealtowitho asoperorulesoafteroexpiryoofoperiodoofolimitationoofofilingotheoappeal.oo

44.oo o Pendingomiscellaneousoapplications,oifoany,ostandodisposedoofo accordingly.ooo o o o (RITUoTAGORE)ooo o o o o o o o o ooooooooJUDGEo ndPronouncedoon:o22 oNovember,o2023ooo Manpreet/Rimpalo o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :o Yes/No o