Gauhati High Court
Biraj Kalita vs The State Of Assam on 13 July, 2016
Author: Paran Kumar Phukan
Bench: Paran Kumar Phukan
1
IN THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(THE HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Crl. Appeal 264/2012
Sri Biraj Kalita
S/o Late Phatik Kalita
R/o- village & P.O. Bhawanipur,
P.S. & Dist. - Barpeta, Assam
....Appellant
-Versus-
The State of Assam
.... Respondent
BEFORE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PARAN KUMAR PHUKAN Advocates for the Appellant : Mr. B.D. Konwar, Mrs. J.M. Konwar, Mr. R. Kalita, Ms. P. Choudhury, & Ms. G. Ghosh Advocate for the Respondent : Mr. BJ Dutta, Addl. P.P., Assam Date of hearing : 08.06.2015 Date of judgment : 13.07.2016 2 JUDGMENT AND ORDER (CAV) This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 28.8.2012 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Barpeta in Special (NDPS) Case No. 2/2012 convicting the appellant under Section 20(b) (i) of the NDPS Act and sentencing him to rigorous imprisonment for 4 (four) years and to pay fine of Rs. 20,000/-, in default, to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
2. The factual aspects of the case sans unnecessary details are that on 27.01.2012, the Officer-In Charge, Sorbhog Police Station, on receiving secret information that the accused appellant was proceeding towards Balabhitagaon in his motor cycle carrying cannabis (ganja), made GD Entry No. 823 dated 27.01.2012 and immediately proceeded towards the spot with other staff members including Sub-Inspector of Police Basant Kumar Bora. At about 5 pm they noticed the accused appellant riding a motor cycle carrying 2 bags in the backside and proceeding towards Balabhita and when the police party tried to intercept him, he diverted his motorcycle and entered into the campus of one Mohuruddin. Following his trail, the police party also entered into the campus and on conducting search of the bags found in the motor cycle, they recovered suspected cannabis (ganja) in two air bags tied with the motorcycle. Immediately information was given to the Superintendent of Police, Barpeta and he immediately deputed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Head Quarter), Barpeta to the place of occurrence. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Head Quarter) on arrival at the spot, having come to know about the recovery of the materials, authorized Sub Inspector Basanta Kr. Borah to seize the suspected cannabis (ganja) found in the bags carried by the accused appellant and accordingly those were seized in presence of D.S.P. (Head Quarter) by the Sub-Inspector Basanta Kr. Borah. He also took weight of the seized ganja on the spot by collecting weighing scale and took four samples in four separate bags. Sketch map was prepared, the accused appellant was taken into custody and was brought to the police station along with the materials seized from his possession. On 29.01.2012 the samples were sent to FSL for examination and after obtaining the FSL report which gave positive test for cannabis (ganja), Sub-Inspector Basanta Kr. Borah lodged a formal FIR against the accused appellant and handed over the case diary to the Officer-In-Charge of Sorbhog Police Station with all the connected papers.
33. On the basis of the FIR a case was registered under section 20 (b) of the NDPS Act and on conclusion of investigation charge sheet was submitted under the said section. The accused appellant pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
4. To prove the charge the prosecution examined 7 witnesses and one witness was examined as a Court Witness. The connected documents were produced and exhibited. In his defence statement recorded under Section 313 Cr.P.C. the accused appellant denied having been in possession of the cannabis but no evidence has been adduced by him. On conclusion of trial, the learned Sessions Judge (Special Judge) found accused appellant guilty under Section 20 (b) (i) of the NDPS Act and sentenced him as stated above.
5. Being highly aggrieved and dis-satisfied with the judgment, the accused appellant has preferred this appeal before this Court challenging the judgment of the trial court.
6. Heard Mr. B.D. Konwar, learned Senior Counsel for the accused appellant and also Mr. B.J. Dutta, learned Additional Pubic Prosecutor, Assam.
7. Mr. Konwar, while assailing the prosecution case, raised the contention that there has been total non-compliance of the provisions of Section 42, 50 and 57 of the NDPS Act and therefore, the conviction is not sustainable under the law. Mr. Konwar, learned Sr. Counsel submitted that the procedure as laid down in sub-Section (2) of Section 42 of the Act has not been complied with inasmuch as the Investigating Officer has not reduced the information to writing and has also not led any evidence of having made a full report to his immediate superior. He further submitted that Section 42 of the NDPS Act is mandatory and failure to take down the information in writing and immediately sending the report to his immediate superior officer has caused prejudice to the accused appellant. He also submitted that it was the bounden duty of the Investigating Officer after seizure and arrest of the accused to make a full report of the particulars such as arrest or seizure to his immediate superior officer but that has not been complied with. Going further, he has submitted that there has been non- compliance of Section 50 of the NDPS Act inasmuch as, the Investigating Officer failed to produce the accused appellant before the nearest Gazetted Officer as mandated by Section 50 of the Act. Further contention of Mr. Konwar is also that the prosecution has not been able to prove as to from where they got weighing scale etc for taking weight of the samples. The police also could not give any valid reason as to why they had gone to 4 the spot. This shows that they were pre-prepared and have falsely implicated the accused appellant.
8. Per contra, Mr. B.J. Dutta, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the immediate superior officer of the Investigating Officer was present at the time of seizure of the contraband ganja and the entire matter was in his seisin and he himself authorized the police officer to seize the materials and as such, there is no question of non-compliance of the aforesaid provisions of the Act. The appellant was apprehended with the contraband ganja by the police party and was taken to the police station immediately after seizure of the contraband ganja and he has been rightly convicted by the trial court under Section 20(b) (i) of the NDPS Act. All the prosecution witnesses are reliable and trustworthy having no animus against the accused appellant.
9. Before adverting to the submission of the learned counsels, I would like to have an overview of the evidence of the prosecution witnesses as well as the court witness. It is worthwhile to mention here that all the witnesses examined by the prosecution were present at the time of recovery and seizure of contraband ganja. The evidence of P.W. 1, Basanta Kr. Borah, who was the Sub- Inspector of Sorbhoj Police Station at the relevant point of time, reveals that secret information regarding carrying of contraband ganja was received by the police station and in pursuance to that, GD Entry No. 823 of Sorbhoj Police Station dated 27.01.2012 was made and he immediately proceeded to the spot with other staff and while they were in ambush in Balabhita area, they noticed the accused appellant proceeding in his motorcycle but on seeing the police party he changed his direction and entered into the courtyard of Mohuruddin. The police party also followed the accused appellant and found him in the courtyard with the motorcycle and on conducting search of the bags found in the motorcycle they recovered suspected cannabis (ganja) carried in two bags in the motorcycle. Immediately information was passed on to the Superintendent of Police, Barpeta and he deputed D.S.P. (Head Quarter) Sadhan Ch. Biswas to the place of occurrence and on his arrival and having come to know about the recovery authorized Sub- Inspector P.W. 1 Basanta Kr. Borah to seize the recovered ganja and accordingly same was seized on the spot in his presence and in presence of other independent witnesses, motorcycle was also seized. After taking weight and collecting samples those were taken in four packets and photograph was also taken, sketch map was drawn and all of them along with the accused and seized materials were brought to Sorbhog Police Station. On the next day, the accused appellant was forwarded to court and seized materials were also produced and on 5 29.01.2012 the samples were sent to FSL for examination which gave positive test of cannabis and thereafter he lodged the formal FIR with the O.C., Sorbhog PS and all connected papers were submitted to him. P.W. 1 proved the FIR as well as the GD Entry (Ext. 2). He also proved the seizures Ext. 3, 4 and 5 and other relevant documents Ext. 6 and 7 received from the FSL in connection with examination of the samples in the FSL. His evidence relating to search and seizure has amply been corroborated by the independent witnesses P.W. 3 Mohuruddin, P.W. 4 Sadek Ali Sikdar, P.W. 5 Abdus Salem. P.W. 6 Mazid Ali also to some extent supported the prosecution and according to him, after hearing hue and cry, he came to the spot and saw a huge gathering in front of the house of Mohuruddin and he also noticed two bags on the ground but he could not say anything about the contents of the two bags.
10. P.W. 7 Pranab Kumar Saikia was the Officer-In Charge of the Sorbhog Police Station at the relevant time and it was he who made the G.D. Entry dated 27.01.2012 on getting the secret information that the accused appellant was coming from the side of Bhawanipur with suspected cannabis in his motorcycle and was proceeding towards Balabhitagaon. Fully corroborating the evidence of P.W. 1 he also deposed that he proceeded to the spot with staff and at about 5 pm they saw the accused appellant riding a motorcycle with two bags and when the police party tried to intercept, the appellant diverted his motorcycle towards the house of one Mohuruddin where he was captured. Immediately the information was given to the Superintendent of Police Barpeta and then D.S.P. (Head Quarter), Barpeta came to the place of occurrence. On being authorized by the D.S.P. (Head Quarter), P.W. 1 Basanta Kumar Bora seized the bags from the possession of the accused in presence of the D.S.P. (Head Quarter) and other witnesses and the samples were taken at the spot sending the same to the FSL, when the report of FSL indicated positive test for cannabis. Mr. Basanta Kumar Borah, lodged the FIR on the basis of which Sorbhog P.S. Case No. 28 of 2012 under Section 20 (b) (i) of the NDPS Act was registered and he himself took up the investigation of the case and on completion of investigation submitted charge sheet against the accused. He has proved the G.D. Entry No. 823 dated 27.01.2012 (Ext. 2). In cross-examination also he reaffirmed that he proceeded towards the Balabhita village on the basis of a secret information. He denied the suggestion that on the date of occurrence nothing was seized from the possession of the accused appellant.
11. Since the prosecution did not examine the D.S.P. (Head Quarter) who was present during the entire operation, the trial court examined him as C.W. 1. The 6 evidence of C.W. 1 Sadhan Ch. Biswas is that, on that day at about 5.30 pm, he was informed by the Suptd. of Police, Barpeta that some suspected cannabis have been recovered at Balabhita and accordingly he was asked to visit the place of occurrence. As instructed, he proceeded to the spot and authorized the Sub- Inspector Basanta Kumar Borah to conduct search and seizure as regards the suspected cannabis and search and seizure was made in his presence and samples were also taken in his presence. He also put his signature in seizure Ext. 3. He has also proved the authority letter authorizing Sub- Inspector Basanta Kumar Borah to conduct the search and seizure which has been marked as Ext. 10. His positive evidence is that P.W. 1 Basanta Kumar Borah conducted search and recovered suspected cannabis in two bags from the motorcycle of the accused in his presence and other independent witnesses. His evidence reveals that 19kgs. 600 gms of cannabis (ganja) was recovered in two air bags from the possession of the accused which tested positive for cannabis in the Forensic Science Laboratory which is corroborated by P.W. 2, the FSL expert has deposed that he received the parcel on 30.01.2012 while he was working as Deputy Director in the Drugs and Narcotics Division, Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Assam, Guwahati and on examination of the samples found inside the bags, he found the same tested positive for cannabis (ganja). He proved his report as Ext. 8 and the forwarding report as Ext. 9.
12. On a critical analysis of the entire evidence on record as discussed above, more particularly, the evidence of P.W. 1 and P.W. 7 which is corroborated by the independent witnesses P.W. 3 to P.W. 6, I have found that they have given consistent and uniform version regarding the recovery and seizure of the contraband ganja weighing 19 kgs 600 gms.
13. Now the pertinent question is whether the same can be said to have been recovered and seized from the possession of the accused appellant. This aspect of the matter has been elaborately discussed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Mohanlal Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in MANU/SC/0465/2015 and the relevant observations applicable to the facts and circumstances of the present case are reproduced below :
8. When one conceives of possession, appears in the strict sense that the concept of possession is basically connected to "actus of [physical control and custody". Attributing this meaning in the strict sense would be understanding the factum of possession in a narrow sense.
With the passage of time there has been a gradual widening of the concept and the quintessential meaning of the word possession. The classical theory of English law on the term "possession" is fundamentally dominated by Savigny- ian "corpus" and "animus" doctrine. Distinction has also been made in "possession in fact" and 7 "possession in law" and sometimes between "corporeal possession"
and "possession of right" which is called "incorporeal possession".
Thus, there is a degree of flexibility in the use of the said term and that is why the word possession can be usefully defined and understood with reference to the contextual purpose for the said expression. The word possession may have one meaning in one connection and another meaning in another.
9. The term "possession" consists of two elements. First, it refers to the corpus or the physical control and the second, it refers to the animus or intent which has reference to exercise of the said control.
12. Coming to the context of Section 18 of the NDPS Act, it would have a reference to the concept of conscious possession. The legislature while enacting the said law was absolutely aware of the said element and the word "possession" refers to a mental state as is noticeable from the language employed in Section 35 of the NDPS Act. The said provision reads as follows :-
35. Presumption of culpable mental state. (1) In any prosecution for an offence under this Act which requires a culpable mental state of the accused, the Court shall presume the existence of such mental state but it shall be a defence for the accused to prove the fact that he had no such mental state with respect to the act charged as an offence in that prosecution.
Explanation - In this section "culpable mental state"
includes intention, motive, knowledge, of a fact and belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purpose of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the Court believes it to exist beyond a reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability."
On a perusal of the aforesaid provision, it is plain as day that it includes knowledge of a fact. That apart, Section 35 raises a presumption as to knowledge and culpable mental state from the possession of illicit articles. The expression "possess or possessed" is often used in connection with statutory offences of being in possession of prohibited drugs and contraband substances. Conscious or mental state of possession is necessary and that is the reason for enacting Section 35 of the NDPS Act."
14. Applying the above law to the facts of the present case what I have found is that the accused appellant was the owner of the motorcycle in which two bags containing contraband ganja were found and he was carrying the same in the backside of the motorcycle. Although the accused admitted ownership of the motorcycle, he denied having been in possession of the ganja which was found in the backside of his motorcycle. The facts and circumstances clearly established the culpable mental state of the accused appellant and there is no room for doubt that he had been in conscious possession of the ganja which was carried in the backside of the motorcycle. From the evidence on record it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that the accused appellant had the knowledge that in his motorcycle he was carrying contraband 8 ganja which was recovered and seized from him. The accused appellant could not offer any explanation for possessing the contraband ganja.
15. With regard to the submission of Mr. Konwar, learned Senior Counsel regarding non-compliance of Section 42 (2) of the Act, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor has contended that in the instant case, Section 42 of the Act has no application and to buttress his submission, he relied on the decision of the Apex Court in M. Pabhulal Vs. Assistant Director, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, (2002) 8 SCC 449, wherein the Apex Court has observed that "Section 42 (2) is not applicable when search, seizure etc. is conducted by Gazetted Officer u/s 41 (2) and (3) of the NDPS Act."
16. Moreover from the evidence of P.W. 7, Pranab Kalita who was the O.C. of the Police Station at the relevant time, it is established that the secret information by him was reduced to writing vide Ext. 2 and he also informed the S.P., Barpeta who deputed C.W. 1, DSP (Head Quarter), Barpeta to proceed to the place of occurrence and on his arrival he authorized P.W. 1 to conduct the search and seizure which was done in his presence. Under such facts and circumstances, it cannot be said that the provision of Section 42 of the NDPS Act has not been complied with. The evidence of C.W. 1 clearly reveals that he was present at the time of search and seizure and he himself was the Gazetted Officer and immediate superior of PW 7 and therefore, Section 42 (2) has no application and consequently, the submission regarding non-compliance is not found to be acceptable.
17. In the instant case P.W. 7, the Officer-In- Charge of the police Station, received the secret information while he was in the police station and made G.D. Entry and proceeded to the spot with his staff. He had no time at that stage to submit the written report of the information to his immediate superior officer and on his arrival after the accused appellant was caught with the suspected cannabis, he immediately sent information to the Superintendent of Police, who deputed the D.S.P. (Head Quarter) to the spot and in his presence the search and seizure was made on being authorized by him. Under these facts and circumstances, it must be held to have been established that the superior officer had full knowledge regarding the occurrence and with his authorization 9 the search and seizure was made which cannot be said to be illegal and in contravention of Section 42 of the NDPS Act.
18. Mr. Konwar also contended that there was non-compliance of the provisions of Section 50 of the NDPS Act. Learned Addl. Public Prosecutor submits that since the ganja was recovered from the motorcycle of the accused appellant which he was driving at the relevant time, Section 50 of the Act would not be applicable.
19. Law in this regard is well settled. The Apex Court in Kalema Tumba v. State of Maharashtra (1999) 8 SCC 257 has observed as follows :
"If a person is carrying a bag or some other article with him and a narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance is found from it, it cannot be said that it was found from his „person."
20. Similarly in Megh Singh v. State of Punjab (2003) 8 SCC 666, the Apex Court observed as follows :
"16. A bare reading of Section 50 shows that it only applies in case of personal search of a person. It does not extend to a search of a vehicle or a container or a bag, or premises."
21. The scope and ambit of Section 50 was also examined by the Apex Court in State of H.P. v. Pawan Kumar (2005) 4 SCC 350 wherein the Supreme Court observed as follows :
"10. We are not concerned here with the wide definition of the word "person", which in the legal world includes corporations, associations or body of individuals as factually in these type of cases search of their premises can be done and not of their person. Having regard to the scheme of the Act and the context in which it has been used in the section it naturally means a human being or a living individual unit and not an artificial person. The word has to be understood in a broad common- sense manner and, therefore, not a naked or nude body of a human being but the manner in which a normal human being will move about in a civilized society. Therefore, the most appropriate meaning of the word "person" appears to be - "the body of a human being as presented to public view usually with its appropriate coverings and clothing". In a civilized society appropriate coverings and clothings are considered absolutely essential and no sane human being comes in the gaze of others without appropriate coverings and clothings. The appropriate coverings will include footwear also as normally it is considered an essential article to be worn while moving outside one's home. Such appropriate coverings or clothing‟s or footwear, after being worn, move along with the human body without any appreciable or extra effort. Once worn, they would not normally get detached from the body of the human being unless some specific effort in that direction is made. For interpreting the provision, rare cases of some religious monks and sages, who, according to the tenets of their religious belief do not cover their body with clothings, are not to be taken notice of. Therefore, the word "person" would mean a human being with appropriate coverings and clothings and also footwear.10
"11. A bag, briefcase or any such article or container, etc. can, under no circumstances, be treated as body of a human being. They are given a separate name and are identifiable as such. They cannot even remotely be treated to be part of the body of a human being. Depending upon the physical capacity of a person, he may carry any number of items like a bag, a briefcase, a suitcase, a tin box, athaila, a jhola, a gathri, a holdall, a carton, etc. of varying size, dimension or weight. However, while carrying or moving along with them, some extra effort or energy would be required. They would have to be carried either by the hand or hung on the shoulder or back or placed on the head. In common parlance it would be said that a person is carrying a particular article, specifying the manner in which it was carried like hand, shoulder, back or head, etc. Therefore, it is not possible to include these articles within the ambit of the word "person"
occurring in Section 50 of the Act."
22. The Apex Court also held in Jarnail Singh v. State of Punjab (2011) 1 SCC 1191 as follows :
"This apart, it is accepted that the narcotic/opium i.e. 1 kg and 750 gm was recovered from the bag (thali) which was being carried by the appellant. In such circumstances, Section 50 would not be applicable. The aforesaid section can be invoked only in cases where the drug/narcotic/NDPS substance is recovered as a consequence of the body search of the accused. In case, the recovery of the narcotic is made from a container being carried by the individual, the provisions of Section 50 would not be attracted."
23. In the instant case it is established that the contraband ganja was carried by the accused in his motorcycle and the bags containing ganja were recovered from the backside of the motorcycle. Keeping in view the observations of the Apex Court in the above mentioned cases, there is no doubt that Section 50 of the NDPS Act would not be applicable in the present case.
24. It was also contended by Mr. Konwar that there was non-compliance of Section 57 of the Act. Section 57 mandates that whenever any person makes any arrest or seizure, under this Act, he shall, within 48 hours next after such arrest or seizure, make a full report of all the particulars of arrest or seizure to his immediate superior officer. In the present case the immediate superior officer of the seizing officer was himself present during the search, seizure and arrest of the accused and under his supervision and direction search, seizure and arrest was made and as such, the detail report of search, seizure and arrest is obviously not necessary as envisaged u/s 57 of the NDPS Act. It was C.W. 1 who authorized P.W. 1 to conduct the search and seizure vide Ext. 10, authority letter and under his authorization everything was done and thus it can be said that there was substantial compliance of Section 57 of the NDPS Act.
25. The accused has failed to account for the possession of contraband cannabis (ganja) and therefore, presumption u/s 35 and 54 of the Narcotic 11 Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 can be raised against them. There is clear, cogent and reliable evidence on record that the samples were intact and there is nothing to show that the case property has been tempered with. The Investigating Officer rigidly complied with the provisions of Section 55 of the Act.
26. On perusal of the impugned judgment of the learned Session Judge I do not find any infirmity which calls for interference in this appeal. In his elaborate judgment he has discussed all the details and considered all the evidence on record and came to the findings that the accused appellant has committed offence u/s 20 (b) (i) of the NDPS Act. I do not find any reason to interfere with the said findings of the learned Sessions Judge.
27. Resultantly, the impugned judgment stands affirmed.
28. The appeal fails.
29. Send down the LCR.
JUDGE arup