NATHU RAM Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS order will dispose of four Criminal Appeals Nos. 201-SB (Nathu Ram v. The State of Punjab), 210-SB (Darshan Kumar v. The State of Punjab), 213-SB (Des Raj v. The State of Punjab) and 214-SB of 1986 (Ramji Dass v. The State of Punjab) as the occurrence in all the four appeals was result of a raid conducted in the same village.

(2.) THE prosecution case in all the four appeals is that on August 17, 1983, Mohinder Singh, District Food and Supplies Officer, Mansa, got a tip to the effect that some shop keepers of village Bainiwal were storing wheat beyond the permissible limit for sale. He along with Jagan Nath and Ram Lal Inspectors of Food and Supplies went to Police Station Jaurikian from where he joined Manjit Singh ASI and two Police Constables and then proceeded to village Bainiwal. From village Bainiwal, Jangir Singh Chowkidar and Avtar Singh Sarpanch PWs were co-opted. Nathu Ram, Darshan Kumar, Des Raj and Ramji Dass accused appellants were found in their respective shops. Their shops and houses were raided and the following quantity of wheat was found which was in excess of permissible quantity :

(3.) IN all the four cases i.e. against Nathu Ram, Darshan Kumar, Des Raj and Ramji Dass, the prosecution examined a large number of witnesses, but only Mohinder Singh and Jagan Nath PWs are important for the decision of the case. Both of them have stated that on April 17, 1983, a raid was conducted on the premises of the appellants and wheat was recovered from their possession.