(1.) THE appellant State of Gujarat has preferred this appeal under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'the code' for short) challenging the order of acquittal dated 22. 3. 2003 passed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, court No. 8, Ahmedabad in Criminal Case No. 12 of 2002 acquitting the respondents, original accused for commission of offences punishable under sections 7 and 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' for short ).
(2.) HEARD Shri Patel, learned APP for the appellant State of Gujarat and shri Modi, learned counsel for the respondents-original accused.
(3.) SHRI Patel, learned APP has produced on record the relevant case papers pertaining to Criminal Case No. 12 of 2002, the same is taken on record. Both the counsels for the parties have requested that they be permitted to address the Court on merits of the case at this stage. The request is accepted and the counsels were heard on merits at the admission stage.