Judgment

KRISHNA IYER, J.: - We regret to begin this judgment with the observation that the high purpose of reserving the SC s jurisdiction for substantial legal issues affecting the nation, should not be taken by cases of lesser consequence. The present criminal appeal is a signal instance of litigation of little public interest being brought up here holding up other momentous causes.

2. The facts: A petty milk vendor was prosecuted for alleged adulteration, proof of which rested on a minimal shortfall in the percentage of milk solids not fat going by the prescribed standard (Rule 5 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules). The plea of the accused that if at all, there might have been a marginal error, while the analysis was conducted was rightly rejected and the Magistrate sentenced him to imprisonment and fine as laid down in Section 7 and Section 16 (1) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (hereinafter called the Act). The milk vendor hopefully appealed and impressed by the fact that the milk solids were of the required standard and the milk solids not fat were slightly sub-standard, the Sessions Judge ignored the minor deficiency which is in the nature of permissible error and acquitted the accused.

3. The Municipal Committee pursued the matter to the High Court in appeal. But a Division Bench of that Court dismissed it in limine, presumably as too trivial for an appeal against acquittal. However, the appellant has arrived in this Court claiming that this is a test case and making it appear that some important question of law hangs on the decision, although it was represented, at the time special leave was sought by the counsel, that his clients will not press for the conviction of the respondent . This latter representation itself is suggestive of the absence of seriousness surrounding this particular case. Apart from this tell-tale circumstance, the facts we have set out above show that nothing grave or great in law, by way of miscarriage of justice or general public importance is involved. This is one of those routine cases, comparatively insignificant, where one court has acquitted and the High Court has felt it unjustified for appellate reversal. It is of paramount importance that this Court s time should not be consumed by questions which are trifles.

4. It is plain from submission of counsel that the appellant s grievance is not so much against the acquittal as against a passing reference by the Sessions Court to an obiter observation of this Court in Malwa Co-operative Milk Union Ltd., Indore v. Biharilal, Crl. As. Nos. 235 and 236 of 1964, decided on 14-8-1967; (1968 Jab LJ 213). Obviously, the Sessions Judge had concluded that a minor error in the chemical analysis might have occurred. He was perhaps not right in saying so. Anyway, a reading of his judgment shows that the mention of this Court s unreported ruling (supra) was meant to fortify himself and not to apply the ratio of that case. Indeed, this Court s decision cited above discloses that Hidayatullah. J. (as he then was) was not laying down the law that minimal deficiencies in the milk components justified acquittal in food adulteration cases. The point that arose in that case was whether the High Court was justified in upsetting an acquittal in revision, when the jurisdiction was invoked by a rival trader, the alleged adulteration having been so negligible that the State had withdrawn the prosecution resulting in the acquittal. Certainly, the revisional power of the High Court is reserved for setting right miscarriage of justice, not for being invoked by private persecutors. Such was the ratio but, in the course of the judgment, Hidayatullah J. to drive home the point that the case itself was so marginal referred to the microscopic difference from the set standard. To distort that passage, tear it out of context and devise a new defence out of it in respect of food adulteration cases, is to be grossly unjust to the judgment. Indeed, the K