Back
2003(2) JLJ 22
(FULL BENCH)
S.K. Kulshrestha, S.P. Khrire and K.K. Lahoti, JJ.
Shrish Agrawal v. State of M.P. and another
W.P. No. 5330 of 2001;Decided on 10.3.2003.
The question which arises for determination by the Full Bench in the present case is : "Whether sections 47-A to 47-D of the M.P. Excise Act, 1915 are constitutionally valid ?" [Para 1
Held: The Collector also while considering the question of confiscation under section 47-A(2) of the Act would keep in mind that the confiscation is not obligatory in all cases but the judicial discretion conferred on him is to be exercised keeping in view all the facts and circumstances of the case. This legal position is being made clear as the learned counsel for the petitioner expressed an apprehension that the Collector may pass order of confiscation in all the cases brought to him under section 47-A of the Act. ... Sections 47-A and 47-D have been held by both the learned Judges of the Division Bench to be intra vires not offending any provision of the Constitution. In our view also these provisions do not suffer from the vice of unconstitutionality. AIR 1995 MP 1 relied on.
AIR 1986 SC 328 and 1967 JLJ 153 (SC) followed. [Paras 10 & 11
(2) Excise Act, 1915 (M.P.) -- Ss. 47-C(2) and 47-B(3) -- Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss. 397,. 401. 386 and 586 -- Sessions Court exercising ~ revisional powers under S. 47-C of the Act -- can pass any interim order for preservation of c01~fiscated property.
It is true that the proviso to sub-section (2) of the section 47-C does not specifically confer on the Court of Session the power to pass the order of interim nature for custody and disposal of the confiscated articles during the pendency of revision as has been conferred specifically on the Appellate Authority, but, as already stated the Court of Session can pass an interim order for the purpose of preservation and custody of the property till the disposal of the revision in exercise of its general power except that it cannot stay the order of confiscation. Section 399 of the Code provides that the Sessions Judge may exercise all or any of the powers which may be exercised by the High Court under sub-section (1) of section 401. Section 401 of the Code provides that in the case of any proceeding the record of which has been called, the Court may exercise any of the powers conferred on a Court of appeal by section 386 of the Code. Now adverting to section 386 of the Code it is found that clause (e) of the section empowers the Court to make any "incidental order that may be just or proper". It is under this provision and also in exercise of its general power stated above, the revisional Court can pass an interim order of the nature specified in the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 47-B of the Act. As the revisional power was being conferred on a Court of Session qua the Court it was unnecessary to provide in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 47-C that the Court of Session would have the power to pass an order of interim nature of the kind specified in the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 47-B of the Act. There is no prohibition in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 47-C to pass an order of interim custody or disposal of the confiscated property and the Court of Session can legitimately direct interim custody or disposal in exercise of its incidental and ancillary power. AIR 1995 MP 1 and 1989 RN 354 relied on. AIR 1969 SC 430 followed. [Paras 13 & 14
(3) Statute -- judicial utterances are made in setting of facts of a particular case -- judgments of Courts are not to be construed as Statutes. AIR 2002 SC 1334 and AIR 2002 SC 834 followed. [Para 15
(4) Excise Act, 1915 (M.P.) -- S. 47-C (2) -- Constitution of India -- Art. 14 -- restriction on power of revisional Court to "stay the order of confiscation"" -- neither arbitrary nor unreasonable -- it does not violate Art. 14 of the Constitution.
The Court of Session in exercise of its revisional power can pass the orders of incidental and ancillary nature for preserving and keeping intact the articles or other property which have been‘ confiscated by the Collector and such a confiscation has been upheld by the Appellate Authority. In such a situation statutory provision restricting the power of the revisional Court to "stay the order of confiscation" cannot be said to be arbitrary, unreasonable or against the rule of law violating Article 14 of the Constitution. [Para 16
(5) Statute -- challenge on the ground of constitutional validity -Court has to take a liberal interpretation.
It is well settled that in considering the validity of a Statute, the presumption is in favour of its constitutionality and the burden is upon him who attacks it to show that there. has been a clear transgression of constitutional principles. For sustaining the presumption of constitutionality, the Court may take into consideration matters of common knowledge, matters of common report, the history of the times and may assume every state of facts which can be conceived. It must always be presumed that the Legislature understands and correctly appreciates the need of its own people ‘and that discrimination, if any, is based on adequate grounds. It is well settled that Courts will be justified in giving a liberal interpretation to the section in order to avoid constitutional invalidity. AIR 1979 SC 1588 followed. [Para 16
¼1½ vkcdkjh vf/kfu;e] 1915 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 47&d rFkk 47&?k ¼lu~ 2002 esa ;Fkk var%LFkkfir½&Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq- 14 rFkk 19¼1½ ¼N½&e/; çns‘k esa ;Fkk var%LFkkfir /kkjk 47&d rFkk 47&?k ds mica/k&vlaoS/kkfud ugha gS&vf/kgj.k Hkh çR;sd ekeys esa vkc)dj ugha gSA
çLrqr ekeys esa iw.kZ U;k;ihB }kjk vo/kkj.k ds fy, tks ç‘u mn~Hkwr gksrk gS og ;g gS% ^^D;k e-ç- vkcdkjh vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&d ls 47&?k lkafo/kkfud :i ls fof/kekU; gS\** ¼iSjk 1½
vfHkfu/kkZfjr % dyDVj dks Hkh vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&d ¼2½ ds v/khu vf/kgj.k ds ç‘u ij fopkj djrs le; ;g /;ku esa j[kuk gksxk fd vf/kgj.k çR;sd ekeys esa vkc)dj ugha gSa fdarq mldks çnÙk U;kf;d foosdkf/kdkj dk ç;ksx ekeys ds leLr rF;ksa vkSj ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks /;ku esa j[kdj fd;k tkuk gksrk gSA ;g fof/kd fLFkfr blfy, Li"V dh tk jgh gS D;ksafd ;kph dh vksj ls fo}ku dkmUlsy us ;g vk‘kadk O;Dr dh fd vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&d ds v/khu mlds le{k yk, x, leLr ekeyksa esa dyDVj vf/kgj.k dk vkns‘k ikfjr dj ldrk gSA----/kkjk 47&d rFkk 47&?k] [kaM U;k;ihB ds fo}ku U;k;k/kh‘kx.k }kjk ‘kDR;k/khu vkSj lafo/kku ds fdlh Hkh mica/k ds mYya?kudkjh ugha gksuk vfHkfu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gSA gekjh jk; esa Hkh ;g mica/k vlaoS/kkfudrk ds nks"k ls xzLr ugha gSA , vkb vkj 1995 e-ç- 1 voyafcrA , vkb vkj 1986 ,l lh 328 rFkk 1967 ts ,y ts 153 ¼mPpre U;k-½ vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 10 ,oa 11½
¼2½ vkcdkjh vf/kfu;e] 1915 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 47&x¼2½ rFkk 47&[k¼3½&naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973&/kkjk 397] 401]
386 rFkk 586&ls‘ku U;k;ky; }kjk vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&x ds v/khu ‘kfDr;k¡ ç;qDr dh tkuk&vf/kgr laifÙk ds ifjj{k.k ds fy, dksbZ Hkh vkns‘k ikfjr dj ldrk gSA
;g Bhd gS fd /kkjk 47&x dh mi/kkjk ¼2½ ds ijarqd }kjk iqujh{k.k yafcr jgus ds nkSjku vf/kâr oLrqvksa dh vfHkj{kk vkSj fuiVkus ds fy, varfje Lo:i dk vkns‘k ikfjr djus dh ‘kfDr ls‘ku U;k;ky; dks fofufnZ"V :i ls çnku ugha dh xbZ gS tSlh vihy çkf/kdkjh dks fofufnZ"V :i ls çnku dh xbZ gS] fdarq] tSlk igys gh crk;k x;k gS] ls‘ku U;k;ky; viuh lkekU; ‘kfDr ds ç;ksx esa iqujh{k.k ds fuiVkjs rd laifÙk ds ifjj{k.k vkSj vfHkj{kk ds ç;kstu ds fy, varfje vkns‘k ikfjr dj ldrk gS flok; blds fd og vf/kgj.k vkns‘k dh jksd ugha dj ldrkA lafgrk dh /kkjk 399 esa micaf/kr gS fd ls‘ku U;k;k/kh‘k /kkjk 401 dh mi/kkjk ¼1½ ds v/khu mu lHkh ;k fdUgha ‘kfDr;ksa dk ç;ksx dj ldrk gS ftudk ç;ksx mPp U;k;ky; dj ldrk gSA lafgrk dh /kkjk 401 esa micaf/kr gS fd ,slh fdlh dk;Zokgh ds ekeys esa ftldk vfHkys[k e¡xok;k x;k gks] U;k;ky;] lafgrk dh /kkjk 386 }kjk vihy U;k;ky; dks çnÙk ‘kfDr;ksa esa ls fdlh dk Hkh ç;ksx dj ldrk gSA vc] lafgrk dh /kkjk 386 ij /;ku nsus ij ;g ik;k tkrk gS fd /kkjk ds [kaM ¼M-½ }kjk U;k;ky; ^^dksbZ vkuq"kafxd vkns‘k tks U;k;laxr vkSj mfpr gks** djus dks l‘kDr fd;k x;k gSA ;g bl mica/k ds v/khu vkSj Åij crkbZ xbZ ‘kfDr;ksa ds ç;ksx esa Hkh gS fd iqujh{k.k U;k;ky; vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&[k dh mi/kkjk ¼3½ ds ijarqd esa fofufnZ"V Lo:i dk varfje vkns‘k ikfjr dj ldrk gSA D;ksafd iqujh{k.k ‘kfDr] U;k;ky; ds :i esa ls‘ku U;k;ky; dks çnku dh tk jgh Fkh] /kkjk 47&x dh mi/kkjk ¼2½ ds ijarqd esa ;g mica/k fd;k tkuk vuko‘;d Fkk fd ls‘ku U;k;ky; dks vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 47&[k dh mi/kkjk ¼3½ ds ijarqd esa fofufnZ"V Lo:i ds çdkj dk vkns‘k ikfjr djus dh ‘kfDr gksxhA /kkjk 47&x dh mi/kkjk ¼2½ ds ijarqd esa vf/kàr laifÙk dh varfje vfHkj{kk vFkok fuiVku dk dksbZ çfr"ks/k ugha gS vkSj ls‘ku U;k;ky; viuh vkuq"kafxd vkSj çklafxd ‘kfDr ds ç;ksx esa fof/klEer :i ls varfje vfHkj{kk vFkok fuiVku dk funs‘k dj ldrk gSA , vkb vkj 1995 e-ç- 1 rFkk 1989 jk fu 354 voyafcrA , vkb vkj 1969 ,l lh 430 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 13 ,oa 14½
¼3½ dkuwu&Ukf;d vfHkO;fDr;k¡ fdlh fof‘k"V ekeys ds rF;ksa ds çfros‘k esa dh tkrh gSa&Uk;ky;ksa ds fu.kZ;ksa dk vFkkZUo;u dkuwuksa dh Hkk¡fr ugha fd;k tkuk gksrkA , vkb vkj 2002 ,l lh 1334 rFkk , vkb vkj 2002 ,l lh 834 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 15½
¼4½ vkcdkjh vf/kfu;e] 1915 ¼e-ç-½&/kkjk 47&x¼2½&Hkkjr dk lafo/kku&vuq-14&iqujh{k.k U;k;ky; dh ^^vf/kgj.k dk vkns‘k jksdus** dh ‘kfDr ij fuca/ku&u euekuk gS vkSj u v;qfDr;qDr gh&blls lafo/kku ds vuq- 14 dk vfrØe.k ugha gksrkA
ls‘ku U;k;ky; viuh iqujh{k.k ‘kfDr ds ç;ksx esa ,slh oLrq vFkok vU; laifÙk ds tks dyDVj }kjk vf/kâr dh xbZ gS vkSj ,slk vf/kgj.k vihy çkf/kdkjh }kjk ekU; fd;k x;k gS] ifjj{k.k vkSj v{kr j[kus ds fy, vkuq"kafxd vkSj çklafxd Lo:i ds vkns‘k ikfjr dj ldrk gSA ,slh vofLFkfr esa iqujh{k.k U;k;ky; dh ^^vf/kgj.k ds vkns‘k dh jksd** dh ‘kfDr fuc±f/kr djus okyk dkuwuh mica/k euekuk] v;qfDr;qDr vFkok lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 14 dk vfrØe.kdkjh vkSj fof/klEer% ‘kklu ds fo#) ugha dgk tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 16½
¼5½ dkuwu&lkafo/kkfud fof/kekU;rk ds vk/kkj ij vk{ksi&Uk;ky; }kjk mnkj fuoZpu fd;k tkuk gksrk gSA
;g lqLFkkfir gS fd dkuwu dh fof/kekU;rk ij fopkj djrs le; mi/kkj.kk mldh lkafo/kkfudrk ds i{k esa gksxh vkSj Hkkj ml ij gksxk tks ml ij ;g nf‘kZr djus ds fy, vk{ksi djrk gS fd lkafo/kkfud fl)karksa dk Li"V vfrØe.k gqvk gSA lafo/kkfudrk dh mi/kkj.kk dk;e j[kus ds fy, U;k;ky; lkekU; Kku ds fo"k;] lkekU; fjiksVZ ds fo"k;] le; dk bfrgkl fopkj esa ys ldrk gS rFkk fopkj fd, tkus ;ksX; rF; dh çR;sd ifjfLFkfr dh dYiuk dj ldrk gSA ;g mi/kkj.kk lnSo dh tkuk pkfg, fd fo/kku&eaMy viuh Lo;a dh turk dh vko‘;drk dks le>rk gS rFkk mldk Bhd egRo le>rk gS rFkk foHksn] ;fn dksbZ gS] ;Fks"V vk/kkj ij gSA ;g lqLFkkfir gS fd U;k;ky; lkafo/kkfud vfof/kekU;rk ls cpus ds fy, /kkjk dk mnkj fuoZpu djsaxsA
Khare, J. -- The question which arises for determination by the Full Bench in the present case is : "Whether sections 47-A to 47-D of the M.P. Excise Act, 1915 (hereinafter to be referred to as the Act) are constitutionally valid ?"
2. The M.P. Excise Act, 1915 has been amended by the M.P. Excise (Amendment) Act, 2000 (Act No. 22 of 2000) which has come into force from 1.12.2000. The penal provision in section 34 has been made more consign and deterrent if a person is convicted for an offence for manufacture, transport, import, export, collection, possession and sale of intoxicant if the quantity of the intoxicant being liquor found at the time or in the course of detection of the offence exceeds fifty bulk litres. In such a case as provided in sub-section (2) he will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than twenty five thousand rupees but may extend to, one lac rupees. Sub-section (3) provides that when an offence covered by clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) is committed and the quantity of liquor found at the time or in the course of detection of such offence exceeds fifty bulk litres, all intoxicants, articles, implements, utensils, materials, conveyance, etc. in respect of or by mean's of which the offence is committed, shall be liable to be seized and confiscated. Section 46(1) of the Act has been recast to provide for confiscation of certain articles and conveyance, etc. Section 47(1) further provides that where in any case tried by him the Magistrate, decides that anything is liable to confiscation under section 46, he shall order confiscation of the same : Provided that where any intimation under clause(a) of sub-section (3) of section 47-A has been received by the Magistrate,' he shall not pass any order in regard to confiscation as aforesaid until the proceedings pending before the Collector under section 47-A in respect of thing as aforesaid have been disposed of, and if the Collector has ordered confiscation of the same under sub-section (2) of section 47-A, the Magistrate. shall not pass any order in this regard.
3. Sections 47-A to 47-D have been inserted by the Amendment Act of 2000. Section 47-A provides for confiscation of seized intoxicants and articles, etc. in the case of quantity of liquor exceeding fifty bulk litres by the Collector. It is also provided in this section that he may during the pendency of the proceedings for such confiscation also pass an order of interim nature for the custody, disposal, etc. of the confiscated intoxicants and articles, etc. as may appear to him to be necessary in the circumstances of the case. Sub-section (3) of section 47-A envisages (a) an. intimation about initiation of proceedings for confiscation of seized intoxicants and articles, etc. to the Court having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been made. (b) a notice in writing to the person concerned, (c) affording an opportunity to such person of making a representation against proposed confiscation and (d) giving of hearing to him. .
4. Sections 47-B, 47-C and 47-D are more relevant for the present purpose and are being reproduced as below:
47-B. Appeal against the order confiscation -- (1) Any person, aggrieved by an order of confiscation passed under sub-section (2) of section 47-A, may within thirty days of such order, prefer an appeal to the Divisional Commissioner of the concerned division or to any other officer authorised for the purpose by a notification of the State Government (hereinafter referred to as the Appellate Authority). Such appeal memorandum shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the order appealed against.
(2) The Appellate Authority on presentation of such memorandum of appeal (shall), issue a notice to the appellant and to any other person who is likely to be adversely affected by the order that may be passed in app
An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers
Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
