The judgment established the principle of strict construction of penal statutes and emphasized that an intention to produce an unreasonable result should not be imputed to a statute if another construction is available.

Petitioner, the accused in C.C. No. 129 of 1986 of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Economic Offences, Ernakulam, was found guilty under S.56(i)(ii) read with S.40(1) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, convicted and sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for four months and to pay a fine of Rs. 3000/- in default to rigorous imprisonment for two months. The conviction and sentence were confirmed by the III rd Additional Sessions Judge, Ernakulam, by judgment in Crl. Appeal No. 176 of 1988 which is challenged in this revision.

2. The allegation against the petitioner was that he failed to appear and to produce the documents summoned by the Enforcement Director, Trivandrum, which was in contravention of S.40(3) made punishable under S.56 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (for short the act).

3. Under S.40(1)of the Act," any gazetted officer of Enforcement shall have power to summon any person whose attendance he considers necessary either to give evidence or to produce a document during the course of any investigation or proceeding under this Act". Under sub-section (3) of S.40:

"all persons so summoned shall be bound to attend either in person or by authorised agents, as such officer may direct; and all persons so summoned shall be bound to state the truth upon any subject respecting which they are examined or make statements and produce such documents as may be required:

Provided that the exemption under S.132 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall be applicable to any requisition for attendance under this section".

Sub-section (4) reads:

"Every such investigation or proceeding as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of Ss.193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of I860)".

4. It is not in dispute that the petitioner had accepted summons from the Enforcement Officer and failed to appear and produce the documents summoned. By virtue of sub-section (4) of S.40 of the Act, the investigation or proceeding before an Enforcement Officer is deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of Ss.193 and 228 I.P.C. The question for decision is as to what shall be the consequence if a person summoned to appear under S.40(1) of the Act fails to do so? Can it be said, as held by the courts below, that he has committed an offence punishable under S.56 of the Act?

5. S.56 read as follows:-

"56. Offences and prosecution.-(1) Without prejudice to any award of penalty by the adjudicating officer under this Act, if any person contravenes any of the provisions of this Act (other than S.13, cl. (a) of sub-section (1) of S.18, Cl. (a) of sub-section (1) of S.19, sub-section (2) of S.44 and Ss.57 and 58, or any rule, direction or order made thereunder, he shall, upon conviction by court, be punishable,-

(i) in the case of an offence the amount or value involved in which exceeds one lakh of rupees, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to seven years and with fine; Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months;

(ii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. (sub-sections (2) to (6) are not referred to, being irrelevant for the purpose of this revision)."

It is clear that contravention of any of the provisions of the Act or any rule, direction or order made thereunder, has been made punishable. The question for consideration is whether there had been contravention of the provisions of the Act to attract S.56 of the Act.

6. According to Webster's Dictionary, 'Contravention' is:

"The act of contravening, violating or transgressing; violation; opposition".

In Random House Dictionary of the English language, College Edition, 'Contravention' means: "an act of contravening, action counter to something, violation".

In Black's Law Dictionary, the w