STATE OF UTTARANCHAL Vs. ISTYAQ @ MOHD. SALIM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been preferred by the State against the judgment and order dated 17.7.2004, which runs in only one page, and has been passed by the Additional Sessions Judge/I F.T.C., Haridwar in Sessions Trial No. 80/2003, State v. Istiyaq @ Mohd. Salim. Facts, in brief, are that the accused Istyaq @ Mohd. Salim, a citizen of Pakistan, who is being represented by an Amicus Curiae before this Court, was tried for the offences under Section 4/5 of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908, Section 216/34 IPC and Section 151 of the Railways Act, pertaining to PS Laksar, District Haridwar. The allegation was that the accused was instrumental in causing an explosion in an army compartment of the train and was also found in possession of explosive substance RDX, a special category explosive substance. The accused Istiyaq @ Mohd. Salim confessed his guilt before the learned Additional Sessions Judge. He was arrested on 7.10.1998, and the guilt was confessed by him before the trial court on 17.7.2004. He had already spent 5 years, 9 months and 22 days behind the bars on the date when he had confessed his guilt. By the impugned judgment and order dated 17.7.2004, the learned Additional Sessions Judge was pleased enough to award a consolidated sentence of 5 years and 10 months for all the aforesaid offences, which was to be completed just after a week of the pronouncement of impugned judgment.

(2.) IT has been argued by the learned GA that the Additional Sessions Judge awarded the aforesaid sentence as if he had already made up his mind to ensure the release of the accused respondent from incarceration just after 8 days of the pronouncement of the impugned judgment and order, which was against the prescribed punishment for the aforesaid offences, and this was not proper on the part of the Additional Sessions Judge. However, since the accused appellant was also wanted in other criminal matters, therefore, he could not be released from the caption and he is still in gaol, presently in Andhra Pradesh, as has been apprised to this Court by the learned GA.

(3.) RESULTANTLY , the Government Appeal is allowed. The sentence, awarded by the trial court, is modified as under: