NATIONAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS LTD. Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) NATIONAL Organic Chemicals Ltd., New Delhi has moved this criminal miscellaneous under Section 482, Criminal Procedure Code for quashing of the complaint dated 'nil, titled as State Government of Haryana v. Gian Chand and others, under Sections 29(1)(a) and 17(1)(a) of the Insecticide Act, pending in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kurukshetra and now transferred as Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Kaithal.

(2.) THE petitioner Company is the manufacturer of insecticides. On 6-12-1988, Sh Moti Ram Verma, Asstt. Plant Protection Officer (F&S), Kurukshetra (declared as Insecticide Inspector) drew sample of insecticide, named Aldrin 30% E.C., Batch No. 32 (in short the substance') from the stock of M/s. Gian Chand Brij Lal, dealer-1 Manufacturing date of the substance was 5-10-1987 and expiry date as 4-10-1989. The sample was got analysed and it was opined to have active ingredients to be 21.2% against the prescribed 30% ingredients. The sample was, thus, found to be misbranded, vide report of the Public Analyst, Annexure P 1. The petitioner, having come to know about the report of the Quality Control Laboratory (Insecticides) (State Agriculture Department). Karnal, got tested the sample from Batch No. 32, and it was found to contain active ingredients 29.69%. Then he vide letter dated 22-2-1989, Annexure P. 2, addressed to the Inspector, requested for the sample to be got re-analysed from the Central Insecticide Laboratory. The petitioner having learnt from dealer, about the filing of the complaint and the summoning order, has presented this criminal miscellaneous.

(3.) THE petitioner had, vide Annexure P. 2, called upon the Insecticide Inspector to get the substance re-analysed from the Central Insecticide Laboratory. This was the right of the petitioner. However, no sample was sent to the Laboratory for getting the sample reanalysed A reference to the Zimni order would show that the complaint was presented on 14-6-1989 and notice was issued to the accused petitioner for 10-8-1989. On the adjourned date, no proceedings could be taken as the Presiding Officer was on departmental training. The case was taken up before the Presiding Officer on 26-9-89 and the accused persons were ordered to be summoned for 21-11-1989. Prior to this date the shelf-life of the substance. expired on 4-10-1989. The petitioner had no opportunity to request the Court for sending the second sample for re-analysis. The Insecticide Inspector had failed in his duty under the Act to get the second sample re-analysed from the Laboratory. The opportunity given to the petitioner by the Act was a very valuable right and on account of negligence of the Insecticide Inspector, he has been deprived of the same. The only defence which was possibly open to the petitioner was the re-analysis of the sample from the Laboratory of which he has been deprived for no fault of his. The prosecution, in these circumstances cannot end in a conviction and the continuation of the prosecution will, thus amount to an abuse of process of the Court. I hereby accept the Criminal miscellaneous and quash to the impugned complaint and the subsequent proceedings.