IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Appeal No. 270 of 2013 Reserved on: 18.03.2026 Date of Decision: 27.4.2026.

State of H.P. f ...Appellant Versus Surinder Kumar & Ors. ...Respondents Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No For the ApCpellant : Mr Lokender Kutlehria, Additional Advocate General.

For resp ondent No.1 : Ms Anjali Soni Verma, Advocate.

For respondents No.2 & 3 : Ms Sangeeta Vasudeva, Advocate.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The present appeal is directed against the judgment dated 28.12.2012 passed by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kangra at Dharamshala, District Kangra, H.P. (Learned Trial Court) vide which the respondents (accused before learned Trial Court) were acquitted of the commission of offences punishable under Sections 41 and 42 of Indian Forest Act read with Rules 11 and 20 of Himachal Pradesh Forest Produce Transit (Land

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

Routes) Rules 1978. (HP Forest Rules) (Parties shall hereinafter be referred to in the same manner as they were arrayed before the learned Trial Court for convenience.)

2. Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to th