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1980 DIGILAW 741 (ALL)

Babu Khan v. State of U. P

1980-08-08

V.K.KHANNA

body1980
JUDGMENT V.K. Khanna, J. - The applicant was prosecuted under Section 7/16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act). 2. According to prosecution, on 10-12-1975, at about 7.30 A.M. the applicant was found exposing buffalo milk for sale in Mahavir Chowk, Muzaffarnagar. The Food Inspector took sample of milk from him and sent the same to the Public Analyst who found the milk having 4.6% fats and 6.8% non-fatty solids. From the aforesaid analysis it was found that the milk was deficient in about 23% fats and 24% non-fatty solids. The District Medical Officer of Health sanctioned the prosecution and thereafter a complaint was filed under Section 7/16 of the Act by the Food Inspector. The prosecution examined the Food Inspector, Shri R.K. Goyal. The applicant in his defence examined two witnesses. The trial court found the applicant guilty and convicted him for having committed an offence under Section 7/16 of the Act and sentenced him to six months R.I. and Rs. 1000/-fine. Feeling aggrieved, the applicant preferred an appeal which has also been dismissed. 3. In the present revision the first ground appears to be that the charge had not properly been framed. The Sessions Judge has quoted the charge in extenso in his judgment. A bare perusal of the charge shows that it does not give the complete details and the observation of the Sessions Judge that the magistrate should have framed the charge properly is correct. However, the Sessions Judge came to the conclusion that no prejudice has been caused to the accused. I am of the opinion that the aforesaid view of the Sessions Judge is correct. A copy of the report of the Public Analyst under the provisions of Section 13(2) of the Act has to be sent to the accused and the accused must have come to know about the deficiency in the sample of milk taken from him. It has also been stated that the provisions of Section 10 (7) of the Act were not complied with. I have gone through the evidence of the Food Inspector in which he has clearly Stated that an attempt was made to have an independent witness but they refused to come. The provisions of Section 10(7) of the Act are only directory and not mandatory. I have gone through the evidence of the Food Inspector in which he has clearly Stated that an attempt was made to have an independent witness but they refused to come. The provisions of Section 10(7) of the Act are only directory and not mandatory. When the Food Inspector made an attempt to have an independent witness there has been substantial compliance with the provisions of Section 10(7) of the Act. 4. It has then been urged that the sanction has been granted without applying the mind. I have myself seen the sanction. The sanctioning authority has clearly written in the document granting the sanction that after scrutinising the relevant papers the sanction was being granted. I find no illegality in the findings recorded by the two courts below. 5. In the end, the learned counsel for the applicant has urged that the sentence of six months R.I. and Rs. 1000/- fine is too harsh and may be reduced. It has been urged that the applicant has been in jail for a period of 1 months and that the applicant is a poor milk vendor. 6. In the present case, the sample of milk was taken on 10-12-1975, that is, prior to the amendment of the Act by Act No. 34 of 1976, by which in a case like the present one, a minimum punishment has been prescribed as six months R. I. and Rs. 1000/- fine. Prior to the aforesaid amendment, punishment of less than six months and Rs. 1000/- fine was at the discretion of the court. Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that the sentence of imprisonment of 6 months R.I. be reduced to the period already undergone. As far as the sentence of fine of Rs. 1000/- is concerned, it is maintained. 7. With this modification, the present revision is dismissed. The applicant is on bail. He need not surrender. His bail bonds are cancelled. Two months time is allowed to the applicant from the date of the receipt of the record by the trial court to deposit the fine. In default of payment of fine, the applicant shall undergo R.I. for three months.