RAM DEV Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CHALLENGE in this criminal appeal is to the judgment of conviction and the order of sentence, dated 11.3.2002, passed by the learned Judge, Special Court, Ludhiana, whereby the appellant was held guilty for the offence punishable under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity, 'the NDPS Act'), for retaining 22 Kgs. of poppy husk and was ordered to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years, besides payment of fine of Rs. 1,000/ - and in default thereof to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for six months.

(2.) LEARNED counsel for the appellant at the very outset states that he does not want to contest the appeal on merits, however, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the sentence awarded to the appellant is on higher side.

(3.) THOUGH the learned counsel for the appellant has proposed not to challenge the conviction of the appellant on merits, but to satisfy the conscience of this Court, whole material available on record has been rescanned with the assistance of the learned counsel for the appellant as well as learned counsel for the State.