( 1 ) THIS appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and sentence rendered by the learned Special District and Sessions Judge, Madurai in c. C. No. 409 of 1995, dated 20-9-1995 against the appellant/accused for the offence under Section 8 (c) read with 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act.

( 2 ) FOR better appreciation of the case on hand, the case of the prosecution needs narration, which is as follows: At or about 20. 15 hours on 30-12-1994, near the bus stop situated on the western side of Madurai Pudhunathan Road, opposite to Ilaiyarani and Maharani theatrs, the appellant/accused herein, was found in possession of 55 ampoules of TIDIGESIC, injection medicine, each ampoule containing 2 ml. with the contents of BUPRENORPHINE, a narcotic and psychotropic substance specified by the relevant Rule and the Act above referred. The value of the same would be about Rs. 550. When the appellant/ accused was intercepted by the respondent police at the above place and time, he was found with the above contraband without any licence or valid permit, kept in a brown colour bag marked under M. O. I, which consisted of the green colour box with all the