R.L.Anand, J.

1. By this judgment we dispose of three Criminal Appeals - No. 346-Db-1995 titled Budha Singh & another v. The State of Punjab & another, No. 361-DB-1995 titled Balbir Singh @ Bhapa v. Union of India & another, and No. 446-DB-1995 titled Virsa Singh v. Intelligence Officer, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (Regional Unit), M-I/C, Green Avenue, Amritsar, as all the three appeals have arisen from the judgment and order dated 28.7.1995 passed by Addl. Sessions Judge, Amritsar, who convicted Budha Singh and Virsa Singh under Section 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to `the Act) and Ranbir Singh alias Kakku and Balbir Singh alias Bhapa under Section 23 of the Act and sentenced each one of them to undergo R.I. for 15 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1 lac. In default of payment of fine each one of the appellants was directed to further undergo R.I. for three years.

2. The appellant-accused Virsa Singh, Budha Singh, Balbir Singh and Ranbir Singh were charge-sheeted under Sections 8, 21, 23, 24, 25 and 29 of the Act. The prosecution allegations are that on 13.10.1988, Shri R.S. Bhullar, Second-in-Command, 84th Batta