BABALU PORWAL Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) No one appeared on behalf of the appellant/accused, when the matter is called. In these circumstances, this Court is left with no other option but to appoint a counsel through the High Court Legal Services Committee on behalf of the appellant/accused.

(2.) Shri Gurudev I. Sharan, Advocate, present in the Court, empanelled Lawyer of High Court Legal Services Committee, on being asked by this Court, is ready to argue the matter. Therefore, this Court has appointed Shri Gurudev I. Sharan, Advocate to argue the matter on behalf of the appellant/accused. Registry is directed to inform the High Court Legal Services Committee in this regard for doing the needful.

(3.) This appeal arises out of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dtd. 11/1/2002 passed by the Special Judge (N.D.P.S. Act), Raipur in Special Criminal Case No. 17/01, convicting the accused/appellant under Sec. 20(b)(1) read with Sec. 8 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (in short "the Act') and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 2 years and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000.00 with default stipulation.