The petitioners Prithi Singh, aged about 50, a trader of Imphal, and P. Komol Singh, a truck driver, aged about 22, also of Imphal, were convicted by the A.D.M., Manipur, under S. 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, read with Clause 3 of Manipur Foodgrains (Movement) Control Order, 1956, (which the A.D.M. has wrongly referred to as the Manipur Foodgrains. Act, 1956, in his judgment and charges framed against the accused persons) for attempting to export rice and "chira" outside Manipur State (now the Union Territory of Manipur). Prithi Singh was sentenced to R. I. for one year, and a fine of Rs. 1,000/- while the other petitioner was sentenced to undergo R. I. for nine months. Out of the other two persons tried jointly with the petitioners for abetment of the offence, one was acquitted, by the A.D.M. and the other by the Sessions Court on appeal, but the convictions and sentences of the petitioners were maintained by the Sessions Court. They have therefore come up to this Court with this petition in revision. The foodgrains, consisting of 46 bags of rice and 5 bags of chira were forfeited to the Government.

2. The facts briefly stated, and as far as they are relevant for