Before the Full Bench of the Punjab &
Haryana High Court in Ajit Singh v. State of Punjab2 it was
argued on behalf of the appellant therein, who was in "active
service" of the Air Force, that on account of the non-compli-
ance with the provisions of Section 125 of the Act and Section
549 CrPC (corresponding to Section 475 of the Code), the
committal of the appellant and his trial held in pursuance
thereof must be held to be without jurisdiction. The Full Bench
repelled the argument and opined:
Before the Full Bench of
the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Ajit Singh v. State of
Punjab2 it was argued on behalf of the appellant therein,
who was in "active service" of the Air Force, that on
account of the non-compliance with the provisions of
Section 125 of the Act and Section 549 CrPC
(corresponding to Section 475 of the Code), the
committal of the appellant and his trial held in
pursuance thereof must be held to be without
jurisdiction. The Full Bench repelled the argument and
opined:
Before the Full Bench of the Punjab &
Haryana High Court in Ajit Singh v. State of Punjab2 it was
argued on behalf of the appellant therein, who was in "active
service" of the Air Force, that on account of the non-compli-
ance with the provisions of Section 125 of the Act and Section
549 CrPC (corresponding to Section 475 of the Code), the
committal of the appellant and his trial held in pursuance
thereof must be held to be without jurisdiction. The Full Bench
repelled the argument and opined:
11. Therefore, in view of the settled principle of law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the decisions cited supra, it is not safe and desirable for the Court to compare the signature of the accused with the admitted signature on its own and to base its findings and as such, the reason assigned by the learned Magistrate in dismissing the petitions is unacceptable and unreasonable.
19. It is pertinent to mention here that the incident took place on
21.10.06 whereas the sample of illicit liquor was deposited in excise
laboratory on 23.11.06. It is clear that there is ordinate delay in sending the
sample/ case property to the excise laboratory which has not been explained
and in such circumstances, when the seal was not handed over to
independent person and remained with the police officials of the same police
station where the property was lying, benefit of doubt must be given to the
accused as observed in Ajit Singh Vs. State of Punjab 1984 (2) RCR 1995.
9. Further, there is also delay of about 24 days in sending the
sample property to the excise lab which has not been explained and in such
FIR No. 6/9
circumstances especially when the seal was not handed over to independent
persons and remained with the police officials of the same police station
where the property was lying benefit of doubt must be given to the accused
as observed in AJIT SINGH VS. STATE OF PUNJAB 1984 (2) RECENT
CRIMINAL REPORTS 95.
9. Further, there is also delay of about 16 days in sending the
sample property to the excise lab which has not been explained and in such
circumstances especially when the seal was not handed over to independent
persons and remained with the police officials of the same police station
where the property was lying benefit of doubt must be given to the accused
as observed in AJIT SINGH VS. STATE OF PUNJAB 1984 (2) RECENT
CRIMINAL REPORTS 95.
9. Further, there is also delay of about 30 days in sending the
sample property to the excise lab which has not been explained and in such
circumstances especially when the seal was not handed over to independent
persons and remained with the police officials of the same police station
where the property was lying benefit of doubt must be given to the accused
as observed in AJIT SINGH VS. STATE OF PUNJAB 1984 (2) RECENT
CRIMINAL REPORTS 95.
18. Apart from the non joining of independent witness the prosecution
story suffers from various loop holes. Admittedly, no signatures of the
person depositing the case property in the Malkhanna were taken in
register no. 19 by MHC (M) and neither the signatures of the person who
took the sample to FSL were taken. These circumstances especially when
the seal was not handed over to independent persons and remained with
the police officials of the same police station where the property was lying
benefit of doubt must be given to the accused as observed in AJIT SINGH
VS. STATE OF PUNJAB 1984 (2) RECENT CRIMINAL REPORTS 95.