STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR Vs. HARVINDER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Application has been filed seeking leave of Court to file appeal against judgment of acquittal dated 30-4-2014 passed by the learned Special Judge, Udhapur in case titled as State v. Harvinder Singh under Section 8/15, NDPS Act along with an application seeking condonation of 167 days delay in late filing of the appeal.

(2.) Notice was issued on 24-2-2015 and record was also called for. As per noting of the Registry, respondent appeared in person on 26-3-2017. Trial Court record was also received and the case was fixed before the Division Bench for hearing on 7-2-2017. However, none is present on behalf of the respondent-accused.

(3.) We have considered the application seeking condonation of delay. For the reasons recorded in the application and in order to ensure that no technicality stands in the way of doing substantial justice, particularly where the case has wide ramifications for society, we condone the delay and proceed to consider the application seeking leave to file appeal on merits.