KESHO RAM GUPTA Vs. CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed by the petitioner for quashing of the criminal complaint, under Section 27 read with Section 32 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the rules framed thereunder (P5), filed against him (and three more) by the State through Drugs Inspector, Chandigarh Administration, Chandigarh, the order dated 13.7.2000 (P7) vide which charge was framed against him, and the order dated 12.1.2001 (P8) vide which the Additional Sessions Judge dismissed the revision filed by him and his co-accused against the order dated 13.7.2000.

(2.) LEARNED counsel appearing for the Union Territory, Chandigarh, points out that further proceedings having not been stayed by this court, the case is at the stage of defence evidence, before the trial court, now. The fact that the case has completed its almost entire journey is, by itself, sufficient to dissuade this court from considering the question of quashing of complaint or the charge framed against the petitioner. The Apex Court, in State of Bihar and another vs. P.P.Sharma and another AIR 1991 S.C. 1260, has gone to the extent of holding that, even "at a stage Criminal Misc. No. 14815/M of 2001 -2- when the police report under S.173 Cr.P.C. has been forwarded to the Magistrate after completion of the investigation and the material collected by the investigating officer is under the gaze of judicial scrutiny, the High Court would do well to discipline itself not to undertake quashing proceedings at that stage in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction". In view of the above, no case for the quashing of complaint or the above referred to orders dated 13.7.2000 and 12.1.2001, is made out. The petition shall, accordingly, stand dismissed.