Ashis Kumar Kulovi v. The State of West Bengal

#5. Considered the submissions of the Learned Advocate for both the parties.

#6. The appellant failed to produce necessary documents for utilization of the seized articles for agricultural purposes. The appellant failed to produce any legal document for stacking 200 litres of High Speed Oil (HSD Oil) and 200 litres of Kerosene Oil and different types of fertilizers.

#7. The respondents complied with the provisions of Section 10C and 14 of the Essential Commodities Act.

#8. Para 11(2) of the West Bengal Kerosene Control Order, 1968 (hereinafter referred to as the said order of 1968) enjoined no person other than an oil distributing company and agent and/or dealer should transport kerosene oil, store kerosene oil or should have in his possession kerosene oil exceeding 10 litres at a time except under and in accordance with the permit issued by the Director or the D.M. having jurisdiction. This new provision had been added by way of amendment under Order vide No.146-FS/FS/CG/14 R-4/81 dated 07th of January, 1986 by the Government of West Bengal. The accused did not produce any paper to show his bona fide possession of the kerosene oil seized. Furthermore he had not filed any document to show prima facie he had stored the same under any valid order of any appropriate authority. 6

#9. The prosecution had been able to prove the fact of a seizure of the fertilizers described in the seizure list from the possession of the appellant and the appellant had not produced books of accounts and records and had not shown prima facie he had submitted returns as required under Para 21(a) and (b) of the Fertilizers (Control) Order, 1957 (hereinafter referred to as the said order of 1957) nor the appellant had assigned any reason for non- compliance of the said provisions it could safely be held that the appellant contravened the provisions of Para 21 of the said order of 1957 certainly with a culpable state of mind at the relevant point of time.

#10. The Learned Trial Court in the impugned judgment dated 31.05.1989, inter alia, observed as follows:- “……… Hence, Ordered that the accused is convicted u/Section 7(i)(a)(ii) of Act 10 of 1955 and sentenced to S.I. for one year and further sentenced to a fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default, to S.I. for one month. The period in custody, if any, shall be set off u/Section 428 Cr.P.C. The seized property shall be disposed of according to law and subject to the result of appeal, if any. The surety is discharged from the bail bond. Supply free of cost, a copy of the judgement to the accused.”

#11. The Learned Trial Court, after reasonable assessment of evidence both oral and documentary, rightly passed the impugned judgment. 7

#12. In the decision of Tarak Nath Keshari Vs. State of West Bengal1, the Hon’ble Apex Court held as follows:- “7. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the paper book. The fact that inspection of the shop of the appellant was carried out on 20.8.1985, hence the incident had taken place more than 37 years back. As was pointed out at the time of hearing, the appellant throughout remained on bail. Section 7(1)(a)(ii) of the EC Act under which the appellant has been convicted, provides as under:— “7. Penalties - (1) If any person contravenes any order made under Section 3,- (a) he shall be punishable,- (i) …. (ii) in the case of any other order, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months;”

#8. A perusal of the aforesaid Section shows that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons, impose punishment less than the minimum prescribed in the Section. However, the fact remains that the offence in the case in hand was committed on 20.8.1985 and in terms of the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions) Amendment Act, 1981, the proviso was not in force on that date.

#9. As far as the case of the appellant on merits is concerned, we do not find that any case is made out for interference in the concurrent findings of the facts recorded by all the courts below. It was found that the stock of mustard oil and vegetable oil found at the shop of the appellant was more than the permissible limit, hence, this was violative of para 3(1) of the West Bengal Pulses, Edible Oil (Dealers Licensing) Order, 1978.

#10. However, still we find that a case is made out for grant of benefit of probation to the appellant for the reason that the offence was committed more than 37 years back and it was not pointed out at the 1 2023 SCC OnLine SC 605 8 time of hearing that the appellant was involved in any other offence. Before all the courts below, the appellant remained on bail. While entertaining his appeal, even this Court had granted him exemption from surrendering. Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 has a non obstante clause. The same is extracted below: “4. Power of court to release certain offenders on probation of good conduct.—(1) When any person is found guilty of having committed an offence not punishable with death or imprisonment for life and the court by which the person is found guilty is of opinion that, having regard to the circumstances of the case including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender, it is expedient to release him on probation of good conduct, then, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the court may, instead of sentencing him at once to any punishment direct that he be released on his entering into a bond, with or without sureties, to appear and receive sentence when called upon during such period, not exceeding three years, as the court may direct, and in the meantime to keep the peace and be of good behaviour: Provided that the court shall not direct such release of an offender unless it is satisfied that the offender or his surety, if any, has a fixed place of abode or regular occupation in the place over which the court exercises jurisdiction or in which the offender is likely to live during the period for which he enters into the bond. (2) Before making any order under sub-section (1), the court shall take into consideration the report, if any, of the probation officer concerned in relation to the case. (3) When an order under sub-section (1) is made, the court may, if it is of opinion that in the interests of the offender and of the public it is expedient so to do, in addition pass a supervision order directing that the offender shall remain under the supervision of a probation officer named in the order during such period, not being less than one year, as may be specified therein, and may in such supervision order impose such conditions as it deems necessary for the due supervision of the offender. (4) The court making a supervision order under subsection (3) shall require the offender, before he is released, to enter into a bond, with or without sureties, to observe the conditions specified in such order and such additional conditions with respect to residence, abstention from 9 intoxicants or any other matter as the court may, having regard to the particular circumstances, consider fit to impose for preventing a repetition of the same offence or a commission of other offences by the offender. (5) The court making a supervision order under subsection (3) shall explain to the offender the terms and conditions of the order and shall forthwith furnish one copy of the supervision order to each of the offenders, the sureties, if any, and the probation officer concerned.”

#11. Even if there is minimum sentence provided in Section 7 of the EC Act, in our opinion, the appellant is entitled to the benefit of probation, the EC Act, being of the year 1955 and the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 being later. Even if minimum sentence is provided in the EC Act, 1955 the same will not be a hurdle for invoking the applicability of provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. Reference can be made to a judgment of this Court in Lakhvir Singh v. The State of Punjab.”

#13. In view of the observations as cited above, the appellant can be released on probation since the incident related to the year 1984. The appellant to be taken into custody to serve out the sentence would not be expedient in the interest of justice after a lapse of nearly 42 years.

#14. The appellant is directed to be released on probation under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 on entering into bond of Rs.20,000/- with two sureties to ensure that he will maintain peace and good behaviour for the remaining part of his sentence, failing of which he can be called upon to serve the sentence. Fine to be paid of Rs.20,000/- within 60 days from the date of this order failing which he shall be called to serve out the sentence.

#15. In view of the aforesaid observations, the instant criminal appeal stands disposed of.

#16. Trial Court records along with a copy of this judgment be sent down at once to the Learned Trial Court for necessary action. 10

#17. Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on priority basis on compliance of all formalities. (Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J.)