MALA RAM Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner stands convicted and sentenced by the judgment dated 20th December, 1978 of the Munsif and Judicial Magistrate, Ratangarh, affirmed in appeal by the Sessions Judge, Churu by the judgment dated July 19, 1979 for the offence under Section 4(1)(e) of the Rajasthan Prohibition Act to three months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 200/ - in default of payment of fine to go one month's further rigorous imprisonment and under Section 4(2) of the said Act to six months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 200/ - and in default of payment of fine to one month's further rigorous imprisonment. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) THE case relates to the incident which took place on August 2, 1977. The prosecution case, in brief, was that the petitioner on the date of the incident was manufacturing liquor in a field of village Bandwa. Shri Karam Singh Head constable, police station, Rajaldesar found the accused manufacturing liquor. He took in possession one bottle of liquor and the implements used in the manufacture of liquor. Shri Karam Singh lodged a report at police station, Ratangarh on which a case under the Prohibition. Act was registered and investigation started. After investigation the police filed a charge sheet against the accused in the court of Munsif and Judicial Magistrate Ratangarh. After trial the learned Magistrate convicted and sentenced the petitioner as aforesaid. On appeal, the learned Sessions Judge upheld the order of conviction and sentence passed by the learned Munsif Magistrate. Aggrieved, the petitioner has filed the present revision in this Court.

(3.) LEARNED Counsel has next urged that the occurrence took place in 1977, a period of nine years has elapsed since then the accused has already served a sentence of one month and twenty days and no previous conviction was proved against the accused and therefore, the petitioner may be enlarged on probation. This Court has consistently taken the view that benefit of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 can be granted to accused who is convicted under Section 4(2) of the Rajasthan Prohibition Act, 1969 though the offence is punishable with two years imprisonment and with fine extending to Rs. 2000/ - (see 1984 Cr.LR (Raj.). 744).