IMPORTANT POINT
The court ruled that beneficial amendments in law can be applied retroactively to modify sentences in ongoing cases.

JUDGMENT :

(Arun Dev Choudhury, J.)

1. Heard Mr. S. Borthakur, learned Amicus Curiae for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. P. Borthakur, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondent.

2. The present criminal revision petition under Section 401 read with Section 482 of Cr.P.C., 1973 is filed assailing a Judgment and Order dated 27.03.2008 passed by the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup, Guwahati in C.R. Case No. 2726c/2004, whereby the accused petitioners were convicted under Section 7(i) read with Section 16(1)(a)(i) of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (hereinafter referred to as Act, 1954) and the petitioner No. 1 was sentenced to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for 6 (six) months and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default to pay fine, Simple Imprisonment for another 1 (one) month and the petitioner No. 2 company was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/-only. The further challenge is Judgment and Order dated 14.07.2009 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, FTC No. 3, Kamrup, Guwahati in Criminal Appeal No. 21/2008, whereby the learned Appellate Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction.

3. Referring to the decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of M/s A.K.Sarkar & Co. & Anr. –Vs- The State of West Bengal & Ors reported in 2024 INSC 186 , Mr. Borthakur, learned Amicus for the petitioners argues that the sentence prescribed under Section 7/16 of the Act, 1954, at the relevant point of time when the alleged offence was committed was minimum Simple Imprisonment for a period of six months and fine of Rs. 1000/-. However, in terms of Section 52 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as Act, 2006), the punishment prescribed is now only fine upto Rs. 3 lakhs and therefore he submits that the petitioners should also get benefit of the aforesaid principle of law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court. The learned counsel, however, has confined his argument to the sentence only.

4. To consider the aforesaid submission, this Court is to go through the complaint filed against the petitioners. The basic allegation in the complaint is to the effect that as per the Public Analyst Report (Exhibit-8), the sample of Haldi Powder contains sufficient amount of rice powder along with local chromates, a harmful prohibited chemicals and therefore, it is adulterated. Such materials were seized from the possession of the petitioners. Accordingly, two petitioners were prosecuted.

5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties. Perused the materials available on record including the provisions of Act, 1954 and the Act, 2006.

6. Section 7 of the Act, 1954 prohibits any person to manufacture for sale or store, sell or to distribute any adulterated food and any misbranded food etc.

7. The allegation in the complaint as well as the conviction under Section 7 of the Act, 1954 of the petitioners herein, is relatable to adulteration and misbranding.

8. The Act, 2006 was enacted with an object to consolidate the laws relating to food and to establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

9. In terms of Section 97 of the Act, 2006, the Acts/Orders specified in Second Schedule were repealed, which include the Act, 1954. Clause-(ii) of Sub Section 1 of Section 97 of the Act, 2006 on the other hand prescribes that such repeal shall not affect any right, privilege application or liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any of the enactment or orders under repeal.

10. That being the position, generally the repeal of Act, 1954 shall not have any affect on the conviction made in the case in hand under the Act, 1954. However, the Hon’ble Apex Court in Trilok Chand –Vs- State of Himachal Pradesh report