ESSENTI KRISHNA CHANDRA PATRA Vs. THE STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE Petitioner has been convicted under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act (10 of 1955), hereinafter referred to as the Act, read with Clause 3 of the Orissa Food grains Dealer to Licensing Order, 1964 (hereinafter referred to as the Order) and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 100/ -, in default, to simple imprisonment for one month.

(2.) THE charge against the Petitioner was that 22 quintals of rice contained in 23 bags were recovered from the shop of the Petitioner and though a dealer he had no licence for storing rice for sale. The defence was one of denial. After discussion of the evidence the learned Magistrate accepted the prosecution case. Mr. Murty does not challenge the finding of fact.

(3.) CLAUSE 2(a) of the Order defines "dealer"