2008 Supreme(UK) 244

2008 N.C.C. 952
UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT
Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.C.S. Rawat
Criminal Jail Appeal No. 67 of 2007
With Criminal Appeal No. 360 of 2003 and Criminal Appeal No. 41 of 2004
DAL BAHADUR – Appellant
Versus
STATE – Respondent
Decided on : 11.06.2008

Headnote:(A) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Sec. 50 — Contraband article 'charas' recovered from the bag of the accused by police party, headed by S.H.O. — No evidence that the accused were informed of their right of being searched in presence of a Magistrate or Gazetted Officer — It was argued on behalf of the accused that the search was illegal — Learned trial court convicted the accused — In appeal of the accused, held that it is a settled position of law that if a recovery is made from a bag, provisions of Sec. 50 of the Act would not attract — Also, held that the accused, not having been informed about their valuable right provided u/s 50, NDPS Act, the learned trial court erred in convicting the accused — Considering (2005) 4 SCC 350 and (2006) 12 SCC 321. (Paras 2, 10, 11, 14)

       (B) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Secs. 52 & 57 — As per the prosecution case, contraband article, 'charas' seized from the accused and sealed in two bundles — One of the bundle sent for chemical analysis — Sample of seal, affixed on the seized articles not sent to the court — Prosecution evidence no where showed that the said articles were kept in safe custody in the police station — The said bundle were produced before the court after 2 years of the incident — Chemical examiners report showed that there was only one seal of the CJM on the sample — Public witnesses were not produced in the court — Held, it could not be ruled out that there was some manipulation in between the recovery and the time of sending the articles to the chemical examiner — Also held that prosecution failed to show that the articles were in safe custody at the police station or upto the court and that, though, the provisions of Sec. 52 & 57 of the Act are not mandatory, and are directory in nature and violation of these provisions would not ipso facto entitle the accused to be acquitted — The police raiding party and the I.O. cannot totally ignore these provisions and that, it would not be safe to convict the accused and they were entitled to get benefit of doubt — The conviction and sentence against the appellants awarded by the Trial court are set aside. (Paras 12, 13, 14)

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        ¼izLrj 12] 13] 14½