Judgment

CHANDRACHUD, J. :- This appeal by special leave is directed against a judgment dated January 7, 1970 of the Delhi High Court (Himachal Bench, Shimla). The appellant Harnam Singh having died during the pendency of the appeal, this Court by an order dated February 26, 1973 allowed his widow to be substituted in his place as his legal representative.

2. There is nothing new in the story of bribe taking which forms the theme of this appeal, except perhaps the way the High Court heard the story and drew a moral. In September, l967 Harnam Singh was working as a Patwari in Halqa Pali. On the 19th of that month Nitya Nand asked for copies of the revenue record. Harnam Singh said that the copies will not be supplied unless a hush-payment of Rs.30/- was made. Nitya Nand borrowed Rs. 30/- from a friend Chet Ram and on the 20th he lodged his complaint with the Anti-Corruption Department. Sub-Inspector Kewal Ram obtained permission from a Mandi Magistrate to investigate the offence and laid the trap. The raiding party went to Harnam Singh s office where Nitya Nand is alleged to have given the marked currency notes of Rupees 30/- to Harnam Singh.

3. The Special Judge Mandi, Kulu and Lahaul