NANDI Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Criminal Appeal filed by the appellants under Sec. 374 of the Cr. P.C., is directed against the judgment and order dtd. 6/9/1996 passed by the learned Special Judge, Dhenkanal-Angul, Dhenkanal, in Special Case No.21 of 1994/Trial Case No.21 of 1994, whereby the learned trial Court has convicted each of the accused- appellants for the offence punishable under Sec. 20(b) of the N.D.P.S. Act and sentenced each of them to undergo R.I. for four years and to pay fine of Rs.5,000.00 (Rupees five thousand), in default, to undergo further R.I. for one year each.

(2.) The present case is pending since 1997. On repeated calls on several occasions, none appeared for the appellants. Therefore, Miss Subhashree Sen, Advocate has been appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist the Court in this case. The present appeal was heard on 7/8/2025 and after hearing learned counsels for both the parties, judgment was reserved. The parties were directed to submit their respective written note of submissions.

(3.) Earlier, Mr. Gopal Krushna Mohanty, learned counsel was appearing for the appellants. On 18/9/2023, he had filed the written notes of submission. After hearing was concluded, Miss Subhashree Sen, learned Amicus Curiae has filed another written notes of submission, which has been taken on record.