IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** 338 CRA-S-79-SB-2006 Date of Decision:-02.05.2025 RANJIT SINGH …..Appellant Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB ….Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA Present:- None for the appellant. Mr. Animesh Sharma, Addl.AG. Punjab. **** DEEPAK GUPTA, J. (ORAL) Appellant was tried by Ld. Special Court, Amritsar in a case arising out of FIR No.302 dated 10.11.2003 under Sec+on 18/61/85 of the NDPS Act, 1985 registered at Police Sta+on Sultanwind as he was found in possession of 700 grams of opium. A3er trial, the appellant was convicted vide judgment dated 03.01.2006 by the trial Court and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay fine of ₹1,000/- with default sentence of two months rigorous imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine. 2. Against the abovesaid convic+on and sentence, this appeal was filed. 3. A3er being admi6ed on 13.01.20006, this appeal has been listed today for the first +me, but today nobody is appearing on behalf of the appellant. This Court has gone through the impugned judgment of the trial Court and finds that convic+on has been recorded a3er proper apprecia+on of the evidence on record. This Court does not find any reason so as to interfere in the impugned judgment of convic+on and as such, the PRIYANKA 2025.05.02 17:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRA-S-79-SB-2006 same is hereby maintained. 4. However as far as the impugned order of sentence is concerned it is no+ced that appellant was sentenced for imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay fine of ₹1,000/- with default sentence of two months rigorous imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine. 5. Counsel for the respondent-State states that the appellant has already undergone actual custody sentence of 01 month and 14 days and further states that appellant is neither involved in any other criminal case nor involved in any criminal ac+vity a3er the impugned convic+on. 6. In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, it will be in the interest of jus+ce, if the period of imprisonment is reduced to the period already undergone by the appellant, instead of sending him behind bars in the company of hardened criminals. 7. Consequently, the present appeal is partly accepted. By maintaining the impugned judgment against convic+on, the order of sentence as passed by the trial Court is modified and the appellant is sentenced to imprisonment for the period already undergone by him. As far as fine is concerned, it will remain same. 8. However, it is made clear that amount of fine, if not paid earlier, shall be deposited before learned Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned, within a period of four weeks from today, failing which the appellant will have to carry out the complete sentence as imposed by the trail Court. Disposed of. ( DEEPAK GUPTA ) JUDGE May, 02, 2025 Pry Whether Speaking/reasoned Yes Whether Reportable No PRIYANKA 2025.05.02 17:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document