Rejection of request on the ground of delay held unwarranted.

This is a revision filed against the order by the learned IVth Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet in Crl.M.P.No.139 of 1987 filed by the petitioners who are accused 1 and 3 in C.C.No. 8749 of 1987. The two petitioners along with two others are accused in the case filed by the Drugs Inspector, Intelligence Wing, Madras and it appears the premises of the second petitioner was inspected by the respondent on 3rd July, 1987 and samples of Tedral liquid (Batch No.312057) were taken. Twelve bottles of samples were taken of the same batch and the remaining 1,788 bottles of the Tedral liquid were frozen. The samples had been sent for analysis by the Complainant, namely, the respondent herein and three reports dated 16th July, 1987 had been sent by the Government Analyst, Madras and according to the petition though the analysis related to the same batch of the same drug, Report No.722/D/87-88 indicated that the sample referred to was adulterated since it was found to contain fungal hyphae with spores. The other two reports were to the effect that samples were of standard quality as defined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act the Rules framed thereunder. Accordingly, out of the three samples sent for analysis relating to the same batch, one sample was found to be adulterated. A show cause memo had been sent to the third accused dated 21st July, 1987 along with the test reports calling for certain particulars. The second petitioner is stated to have been furnished the details by the letter dated 3rd August, 1987 and 13th August, 1987 to the concerned Drugs Inspector. The Complainant had sent along with his letter dated 17th August, 1987. Three test reports to the 1st accused and it has been received by the 1st accused at Hyderabad on 24th August, 1987 and show cause memo was also issued to the first accused. Subsequently, the Complaint had been filed and the accused appeared in Court on 22nd December, 1987. Thereupon, it appears the petition Crl.M.P.No.139 of 1988 had been filed under Secs. 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act praying the Court to send one sample of the drug of the same batch (No.310257) of tedral liquid to the Director of Central Drugs Laboratory. The said petition had been opposed by the Complainant contending that under the provision of-Sec.25(3) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the accused have to refer to the Drug Inspector within 28 days of the receipt of the copy of the analyst report, but In this case though the accused received the report with the show cause memo on 20th August, 1987, they have filed the petition only on 22nd February, 1985, and under Sec. 25(3) and Sec. 25(4) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the petition is beyond the period and it had been filed after lapse of 123 days. Therefore, the petition is not maintainable. After hearing both sides, the IV Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet dismissed the same. Hence, the revision.

2. It is now mainly contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner, that the petitioner accused 1 and 3 had expressed their surprise with the test reports and according to the learned counsel for the petitioners such communication by the petitioner would amount to their intention to controvert the report as contemplated under Sec. 25(3) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and that such communication had been sent to the Drugs Inspector within the period of 28 days and further on the very date of appearance before the Court, the petition had been filed and in such circumstances, the dismissal of the petition by the learned Magistrate is not correct and, therefore, it was contended that the order has to be set aside. I had been taken through the replies sent by the petitioners to the Drug Inspector after the receipt of the test reports. It may be stated that the petitioners as such have not specifically mentioned that they intend to adduce evidence in contravention of report but it could be stated that they had expressed surprise at the reports received. Coming to Sec. 25(4) of