STATE Vs. MEERA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE accused Mst. Meera, widow of Ganesh Rawal, was prosecuted for an offence under sec. 16 (1) (a) read with sec. 7 (1), Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, in the court of learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jalore. She was convicted under the aforesaid provisions of law and was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 51/-, in default of payment of fine to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one week.

(2.) IT is alleged that on June 3, 1963, at about 6. 30 a. m. , Food Inspector Mohan Kishan, P. W. 2 had been on his usual round towards Surajpol gate, Jalore. He found Mst. Meera selling milk in the bazaar to the public. He gave a notice to Mst. Meera in form No. VI for purchase of milk for the purpose of its test. He then bought milk worth annas seven. He put that milk in three bottles, which he duly sealed. One of those phials was given to Mst. Meera, the other was sent to the Public Analyst, Jodhpur, for laboratory test, and the third one was retained by the Food Inspector, vide Ex. P. 4. The Public Analyst analysed the sample and declared the result of his analysis as under - Fat contents 21 per cent. solid non-fat contents 6. 3 per cent. He was of the opinion that the sample was adulterated, as it did not conform to the prescribed standard of purity. He issued requisite certificate on August 8, 1963, and sent the same to the Food Inspector, Jalore. Thereafter, on October 31, 1963 a complaint was made on behalf of the State against the accused Mst. Meera for her prosecution under sec. 16 (1) (a) read with sec. 7 (1), Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, in the court of learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Jalore. The accused denied to have committed the offence. Her plea was that the Chairman, Municipal Board, Jalore, Shri Ugam See Modi's father was not on good terms with her because of certain litigation and, therefore, she was falsely implicated. She further said that the milk in question was not meant for sale. In support of its case the prosecution examined (1), Shri A. Bhattacharya, Public Analyst, Jodhpur; (2) Food Inspector Mohan Kishan, and (3) Motbir Vijai Raj. The accused did not produce any evidence in her defence. Eventually, the court convicted and sentenced the accused, as aforesaid. On an appeal, learned Additional Sessions Judge, Jalore, acquitted the accused on March 31, 1965, on the grounds that - (1) the phials, in which samples of milk were taken, had not been sterilised; (2) samples were taken only in two bottles instead of three as required by the Rules; (3) sample was not examined within reasonable time by the Public Analyst; and (4) the provisions of sec. 10 (7), Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 were not duly complied with while obtaining the samples.