M.HIDAYATULLAH, C.J.I.

(1) THIS appeal has been admitted only on the question of sentence by this court in somewhat unusual circumstances. Two members of the Police Armed Constabulary who had joined very recently and who were only trainee recruits, wished to go to their village and applied for leave on the ground that their wives were ill. This was their defence. The finding is that they did not apply but deserted their post and therefore committed an offence under S. 6(a) of the U. P. Pradeshik Armed Constabulary Act, 1948. The prosecution case had been accepted that they deserted service. Unfortunately the two cases were tried before two different Sessions Judges. Although the offences were the same, the defences were also the same and the facts were absolutely the same, the sentences passed on their conviction were widely different. The present appellant received 7 years rigorous imprisonment and the other accused was sentenced to 4 years rigorous imprisonment. They both appealed and unfortunately again, the appeals came before different Judges in the High Court. One learned Judge reduced the sentence of 7 years to 4 years and the other learned Judge reduced the sentence