MOHINDERversusSTATE OF HARYANA

                     (2013] 2 S.C.R. 555

                        MOHINDER                                   A
                             v.
                   STATE OF HARYANA
            (Criminal Appeal No. 1564 of 2008)
                       APRIL 8, 2013
                                                                   B
         [P. SATHASIVAM AND M.Y. EQBAL, JJ.]

   NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC
SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985:
                                                                   c
     ss. 18 and· 54 - Accused carrying a tin containing 3 ~
kg. opium - Conviction and sentence of 10 years Rf with a
fine of Rs. 1 /akh awarded by trial court affirmed by High Court
- Held: In the light of oral and documentary evidence and in
view of s. 54 of the Act and in the absence of any evidence        0
from the accused discharging the presumption as to the
possession of the contraband, there is no reason to interfere
with conviction and the sentence.

    The accused-appellant was apprehended with a tin
suspected to contain contraband. He was produced                   E
before DSP (PW-5). The tin contained 3 Ya kg. of opium.
The trial court convicted the appellant u/s 18 of the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985,
and sentenced him to 10 years RI and to pay a fine of Rs.
1 lakh. The High Court affirmed the conviction and the             F
sentence.

    Dismissing the appeal, the Court

    HELD: 1.1 The prosecution is supported by the
evidence of PWs-1, 5 and 6 apart from the evidence                 G
produced on record through PWs 2 and 4. Head
Constable (PW-1) and 1.0. (PW-6) explained the manner
in which they had seen the appellant carrying a tin,

                              555                                  H
        556    SUPREME COURT REPORTS               [2013] 2 S.C.R.


    A interception and seizure of the tin containing opium.
      Immediately after the message, within 10 minutes DSP
      (PW-5) had reached the scene and 3 Yz kgs of opium was
      recovered from the tin held by the appellant in his hand.
      Even though the only independent witness (PW-3) who
    B stood as a witness for recovery has not supported the
      prosecution and was declared hostile, however, he did
      not deny the existence of his signature on Ext.PA. [para
      7] [559-G-H; 560-A-C]

1
    C     1.2 Regarding the absence of evidence as to
      conscious possession, as rightly observed by the High
      Court, once the appellant was asked by the court that he
      was carrying a tin in his hand and opium was recovered
      therefrom, the aspect of conscious possession of the
      contraband is presumed and in the absence of any contra
    D evidence, there is no reason to disbelieve the prosecution
      version. [para 11] (561-A-C]

           1.3 In the light of the materials placed by the
      prosecution in the form of oral and documentary
    E evidence and in view of s. 54 of the Act and in the
      absence of any evidence from the accused discharging
      the presumption as to the possession of the contraband,
      this Court is in entire agreement with the conclusion
      arrived at by the courts below. [para 12] [561-D-E]
    F      1.4 As regards reduction of sentence, it is not in
      dispute that possession of 3 Yz kgs of opium involves
      commercial quantity and, therefore, in terms of sub-s. (b)
      of s.18, imprisonment shall not be less than 10 years.
      Admittedly, there is no enabling provision to the court for
    G reduction of sentence by giving special or adequate
      reasons in the statute, particularly, in s.18. [para 13] [561-·
      E-F]

          CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
    H No. 1564 of 2008.
          MOHINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA                       557

    From the Judgment and Order dated 04.07.2007 of the              A
High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal
Appeal No. 72-SB of 1994.

    Shubhashis R. Soren, Delhi Law Chambers for the
Appellant.
                                                                     8
   Kamal Mohan Gupta, Mohd. Zahid Hussain, Sanjeev
Kumar for the Respondent.

    The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

     P. SATHASIVAM, J. 1. This appeal has been filed against         C
the final judgment and order dated 04.07.2007 passed by the
High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal
Appeal No. 72-SB of 1994 whereby the High Court dismissed
the appeal preferred by the appellant herein and confirmed the
order dated 05.02.1994 passed by the Court of Additional             D
Sessions Judge, Sirsa in Sessions Case No. 11 of 1993
convicting him under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (in short 'the Act') and
sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for a
period of 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1 lakh, in default, to   E
further undergo RI for a period of two years.

     2. Brief facts:

     (a} According to the prosecution, on 23.08.1991 at about
 1.30 p.m., S.l/SHO Dalbir Singh (PW-6), who was then posted         F
at P.S. Ellenabad was present at Chowki of Mamera Khurd
along with Head Constable Jagdish Rai (PW-1} and
Constables Pratap Singh and Jang Singh and one Rameshwar
(PW-3). The accused-appellant came there and on seeing the
police party, he sneaked into the field of Narma crop. He was        G
apprehended on suspicion by Dalbir Singh (PW-6). At that time,
the appellant was carrying a tin in his hand and on suspecting
that he was carrying narcotic substance, Dalbir Singh (PW-6)
sent a V.T. Message to DSP Ram Gobind (PW-5) who
                                                                     H
    558       SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  [2013] 2 S.C.R. .


A reached the scene at about 2 p.m. Dalbir Singh (PW-6)
  presented the appellant before DSP Ram Gobind (PW-5) along
  with Exh. PB for conducting the search of the tin carried by him
  in terms of the provisions of Section 50 of the Act.

         (b) On search being conducted by DSP Ram Gobind (PW-
B   5), 3 % kgs of opium was found in the tin and out of the same,
    200 gms. was separated from thEl same as sample and the
    residue contraband were sealed. An FIR dated 23.08.1991
    came to be registered at Police Station Ellenabad by Dilbag
    Singh (PW-4) at 3.40 p.m. under Section 18 of the Act. The
C . case property was deposited and duly sealed. Before reaching
    the Police Station, S.I. Dalbir Singh submitted a report to the
    DSP Ram Gobind (PW-5) under Section 57 of the Act.

         (c) On 28.08.1991, the sample was handed over by Dilbag
o   Singh to constable Khazan Singh (PW-2) for being taken to
    FSL, Madhuban and PW-2 delivered the said sample duly
    intact on 30.08.1991 at the FSL. A report dated 20.04.1992
    was received from FSL, Madhuban to the effect that the sample
    was that of opium.
E        (d) On completion of the evidence and hearing, learned
    Addi. Sessions Judge, Sirsa, by judgment and order dated
    05.02.1994 in Sessions Case No. 11 of 1993 convicted the
    appellant and sentenced him to RI for 10 years and imposed
    a fine of Rs. 1 lakh, in default of payment of fine, shall further
F   undergo RI for a period of two years.

      (e) Aggrieved by the conviction and sentence awarded by
  the Addi. Sessions Judge, the appellant preferred Criminal
  Appeal No. 72 (SB) of 1994 before the High Court of Punjab
G and Haryana at Chandigarh. By impugned judgment dated
  04.07.2007, the High Court confirmed the conviction and
  sentence as recorded by the trial Court and dismissed the
  appeal. Hence the present appeal by way of special leave.

          3. Heard Mr. Shubhashis R. Soren, learned counsel for the
H
           MOHINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA                        559
                 [P. SATHASIVAM, J.]

 appellant and Mr. Kamal Mohan Gupta, learned counsel for the          A
 respondent-State.

 Contentions:
      4. Mr. Soren, learned counsel for the appellant, after taking
 us through the entire materials mainly contended that the entire      B
 investigation is defective and not in accordance with Section
 50 of the Act read with Section 100 of the Code of Criminal
 Procedure, 1973 (in short "the Code"). He also submitted that
 there was a delay of 2 days in sending the contraband for
 chemical analysis. He further pointed out that there is no            C
 evidence as to conscious possession of contraband. He also
 submitted that the appellant being a rustic villager, the
 imposition of sentence of 10 years is on the higher side.

      5. On the other hand, Mr. Gupta, learned counsel for the         o
 State submitted that there is no violation of any of the statutory
 provisions. Even otherwise, according to him, in the absence
 of any search, there is no question of compliance of Section
 50 of the Act. He also submitted apart from the police officers,
 one independent witness was also examined. In respect of the          E
 allegation relating to delay of two days in sending the
 contraband to the laboratory, it is pointed out that in view of the
 fact that the container was duly packed/sealed, the appellant
 has no way prejudiced and nothing has been elicited from any
 of the prosecution witnesses. He further pointed out that in view     F
 of Section 54 of the Act, it is for the appellant to discharge his
 burden.

     6. We have carefully considered the rival contentions and
 perused. the relevant materials.
                                                                       G
 Discussion:

       7. It is seen that the case of the prosecution is supported
  by the evidence of PWs-1, 5 and 6 apart from the evidence
. produced on record through PWs 2 and 4. Head Constable
                                                                       H
    560     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2013] 2 S.C.R.


A Jagdish Rai, (PW-1) and 1.0. Dalbir Singh (PW-6) explained
  the manner in which they had seen the appellant carrying a tin,
  interception and seizure of the tin containing opium. It is also
  seen that immediately after the message, within 10 minutes
  DSP (PW-5) had reached the scene and 3 Y:i kgs of opium was
B recovered from the tin held by the appellant in his hand. Even
  though the only independent witness Rameshwar (PW-3) who
  stood as a witness for recovery has not supported the
  prosecution and declared hostile, however, as rightly pointed
  out by the state counsel, he did not deny the existence of his
c signature on Ex.PA.
        8. We have also perused the evidence of DSP Ram
  Gobind (PW-5) who explained the recovery and drawing of the
  sample. He also made an entry of his visit in the logbook.
  Though, learned counsel for the appellant pointed out that the
D prosecution was not definite where the recoveries and writings
  were made either under a tree or sitting on th~ road, on perusal
  of the evidence of PWs 1, 5 and 6, we feel that the said
  discrepancies are trivial in nature and there is no serious
  infirmity in the version of PWs 1, 5 and 6.
E
        9. Regarding the delay in sending the contraband for
  examination by the FSL, it was PW-2, who carried the samples
  from the Police Station to FSL at Madhuban but he was not
  asked any question in the cross examination, though opportunity
F was given to the defence. Even otherwise, FSL report Ex. P1
  would show that the sample was received at the FSL in· tact
  with the seal which tallied with the specimen seals forwarded.
  Accordingly, the said objection is liable to the rejected.

       10. Even though it is argued that there is discrepancy as
G to the quantity of sample, it is highlighted by the state counsel
  that sample weighing 200 gms. was drawn by PW-5 himself
  and the weight of the same was found to be approximately 250
  gms. by the FSL. It is relevant to note that the weight at FSL
  was inclusive of the container and not of the contraband alone
H drawn as a sample.
          MOHINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA                         561
                [P. SATHASIVAM, J.]
     11. Regarding the absence of evidence as to conscious            A
possession, it is brought to our notice that search was
conducted by DSP leading to recovery of 3 % kgs of opium
from a tin retained by the appellant. Nothing has been explained
or denied by the appellant in his Section 313 statement nor
examined anyone as a defence witness. As rightly observed             B
by the High Court, once the appellant was asked by the court
that he was carr'ying a tin in his hand and opium was recovered
therefrom, the aspect of conscious possession of the
contraband is presumed and in the absence of any contra
evidence, there is no reason to disbelieve the prosecution            c
version. Further, it is not the case of the appellant that
incriminating circumstances were not put to him under Section
313 of the Code.

     12. In the light of the materials placed by the prosecution
in the form of oral and documentary evidence and in view of           D
Section 54 of the Act and in the absence of any evidence from
the accused discharging the presumption as to the possession
of the contraband, we are in entire agreement with the
conclusion arrived at by the trial Court and the High Court.
                                                                      E
     13. As regards the reduction of sentence, it is not in dispute
that possession of 3 % kgs of opium involves commercial
quantity and if that is so, in terms of sub-section (b) of Section
18, imprisonment shall not be less than 10 years. Admittedly,
there is no enabling provision to the court for reduction of          F
sentence by giving special or adequate reasons in the statute
particularly in Section 18. Accordingly, we reject the request of
the learned counsel for the appellant.

    14. In the light of the above discussion, we are in entire
agreement with the conclusion arrived at by the courts below.         G
Consequently, the appeal fails and the same is dismissed.

R.P.                                         Appeal dismissed.

                                                                      H