AJAY BHATIA & ORS. Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This criminal misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the petitioners with a prayer for quashing the proceedings in Case No.407/2004 pending in the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Banswara under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that as per the complaint filed by the Drug Inspector before the court below, the sample of drug was collected from the shop of accused No. 3 on 15.1.1999 and expiry date of said drug was June 2000.

(3.) It is contended that the petitioners No. 1 to 3 are the partners of manufacturer firm and the petitioner No. 4 is manufacturer firm. Learned counsel for the petitioners has argued that as per para three of the complaint, the report of analyst was received by the Drug Inspector on 3.2.2000, however, as per para six of the complaint, the manufacturer firm has received the notice for the first time on 11.12.2000. It is further argued that since the manufacturer firm has received the notice for the first time after expiry date of the drug, of which sample was collected, they have been deprived from the opportunity of getting the samples tested by the Central Drugs Laboratory as per the provisions of Sub-Section (4) of Section 25 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.