Judgment

P. JAGANMOHAN REDDY, J.:- These appeals are by special leave against the judgment of the High Court in a taken-up case under S.439 fo the Code of Criminal Procedure by which the sentence of fine imposed by the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Patiala for an offence under S.16 (1) (a) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 hereinafter called the Act - was enhanced to six months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1000/-, in default the respective appellants were ordered to further undergo simple imprisonment for 1 1/2 months. In all these cases the appellants were charged under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Act for selling without licence articles of food, such as, milk, sweetmeats, tea, curd, biscuits, chappati, ice-cream, dal, bhajji. A separate charge was framed against each of the appellants on respective dates and on the same day they pleaded guilty to the charge and were forthwith sentenced to pay a fine. In Appeals Nos. 51 and 56 of 1969 the appellants were fined Rs.30/- each on August 10, 1967; in Appeals Nos.52 to 55 and 59 of 1969 they were sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.50/- each on August 19, 1967, and in Appeal No. 57 of 1969 a sentence of Rs.40/- was