RAMESHWAR Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS revision petition has been preferred against the judgment dated 27th August, 1984, passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Kishangarh Bas (Alwar), by which, the conviction of the petitioner u/s. 16/54, Rajasthan Excise Act, passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Kishangarh Baas was maintained.

(2.) THE petitioner was prosecuted for the offence u/s. 16/54 of the Rajasthan Excise Act. The case of the prosecution is that on 18th August, 1973, at about 6 P.M., N.M. Kankaria Excise Inspector, on secret information, searched the house of the petitioner, and found a rubber -tube of black colour, containing about 100 bottles of illicit liquor. The liquor was seized and its sample was taken by the Excise Inspector. On examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory - the said sample was found to be illicit liquor. After completion of investigation, a challan was filed against the petitioner for offence u/s. 16/54 of the Rajasthan Excise Act.

(3.) THE learned counsel for the petitioner has not argued on the points mentioned in the revision petition, except that of giving the benefit of probation to the accused -petitioner. It was argued that Section 361, Cr. P.C. contemplates that where the Court feels that the accused -person should not be dealt with u/s. 360, Cr. P.C. or under the provisions of the Probation of offenders Act. 1958, it shall record, in its judgment, the special reasons for not having done so. According to the learned counsel, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, in the present case, has not given any reason in his judgment for not granting the benefit of probation under Section 360 Cr. P.C. to the accused petitioner. In his judgment, the learned Additional Sessions Judge has mentioned that vast quantity of liquor was recovered from the possession of the petitioner and so, it was not justified and proper to give him the benefit of probation. Except this, no reason has been assigned in his judgment by the learned Additional Sessions Judge for not giving the benefit of S. 360, Cr. P.C. to the accused -petitioner.