JUDGMENT

HANSARIA, J. : —Hooch tragedies have been taking heavy toll of human lives throughout the length and breadth of the country. This has been so for a sufficiently long period by now ; and it could be well said that practically every year the liquor barons, in some part or the other of this vast country - Bihar is a recent example - earn easy money by ruining many houses and making many persons destitutes. Many ladies have become widows and many children orphans.

2. Here is a case in which the festive day of Onam 1982 brought disaster to many families inasmuch as the prosecution case is that 70 persons died after having consumed liquor from the shops and sub-shops which were catered by the firm named "Bee Vee Liquors" and 24 lost eye-sights permanently, not to speak of many others who became prey of lesser injuries. The joyous day of Onam (1st September, 1982 ) thus became a day of disaster to hundreds of families. The magnitude of the calamity swang police into action who, after close of investigation, chargesheeted 10 persons for offences punishable under Sections 120-B, 302, 272 and 328 read with Sections 107 and 109 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as some sections of the