NARAYAN LAL Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has been convicted for the offence under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act (here in after referred as to the 'EC Act') and the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate Jhalwar sentenced him to 6 month's RI and a fine of Rs. 1,000 and in default of payment of fine to undergo simple imprisonment for three months This conviction was made on 1st March 1982 and had been confirmed in appeal by the Sessions Judge, Jhalawar in Criminal Appeal No. 25/82 by order dated 6th September, 1986. Against this decision the present revision has been preferred.

(2.) IT may be stated that the prosecution of the petitioner was for violating conditions Nos. 5,22 and 17 of the licence granted to him. The substance of the case is that the petitioner distributed sugar twice on certain ration cards Against judgment dated 6 -9 -1986 passed by Sessions Judge, Jhalawar and made double entries. The register prescribed for making entries was also not maintained in accordance with the directions. It was for the first time that sugar was issued to him in May, 1980 and on the very first occasion his receded shows that sugar more than that allotted to him had been distributed by him. The ration cards and the registers maintained by the petitioner have been produced in support of the case of the prosecution. The learned Counsel for the petitioner has tried to explain this double distribution by saying that in several cases, the Civil Supplies department had issued double or duplicate ration cards and it is on account of these duplicate ration cards that the petitioner supplied sugar on certain units for a second time. How ever, the amount of sugar, which is said to have been illegally made use of is three quintals which is not an unsubstantial amount. A couple of duplicate ration cards cannot account for ever three quintals of sugar.

(3.) AS a last contention, the learned Counsel for the petitioner has urged that the petitioner has remained in custody for 18 days and he should be let off an the imprisonment already undergone by him. In support of his contention he has placed reliance on Prakash Chandra Ajmera v. State of Rajasthan 1984 RLR 842. Considering the circumstances, this plea can be accepted.