IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Appeal No. 531 of 2025 Date of Decision: 10.11.2025 __________________________________________________ State of H.P. ...Appellant… Versus Govind Ram …..Respondent... Coram Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Romesh Verma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner: Mr. J.S.Guleria, Deputy Advocate General, Advocate. For the respondent: Ms. Urvashi Rajta, Advocate, vice Mr. Vinod K. Gupta, Advocate. _________________________________________________________ Vivek Singh Thakur , Judge (oral) Learned Deputy Advocate General submits that in the present matter, challan was presented in the Court against the respondent for having been found in possession of commercial quantity of charas i.e. 3.080 kgs and accordingly charge against the respondent was framed under Section 20 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (for short, “the Act”). The respondent has to be deemed to have been charged under Section 20 (b)(ii)(C) of the Act, however the respondent has been convicted for possession of small quantity of contraband, therefore, he has to be deemed to have been acquitted under Section 20 (b)(ii)(C) of the Act. 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 2. In the aforesaid facts, learned Deputy Advocate General, submits that in view of the judgment passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Cr. A. No. 325/2023, titled as State of H.P. vs. Shaul Borov, decided on 20.12.2023 as affirmed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP No. Diary No.50995/2024 (I.A. No.257015/2024), titled as State of H.P. vs. Shaul Borov, decided on 14.11.2024, the State intends to file to an appeal against the acquittal of the respondent under Section 20 (b)(ii)(C) of the Act and, therefore, the instant appeal be permitted to be withdrawn with a direction to the Registry to return the certified copy of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence to the State after replacing the same with photocopy thereof in record so as to enable the State to file certified copy of the judgment and order along with proposed appeal against the respondent. 3. Prayer is accepted and accordingly, the appeal is permitted to be withdrawn with a direction to the Registry to supply the certified copy of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence to the State within four days. 4. Needless to say, prayer for condonation of delay has to be considered by the Court, competent to hear the appeal, proposed to be filed, in light of Sections 5 and 14 of the Limitation Act in accordance with law. 3 5 Bail bonds, if any, furnished by or on behalf of the respondent in this appeal shall stand discharged. 6. The appeal stands disposed of, as withdrawn, so also the pending miscellaneous application(s), if any. (Vivek Singh Thakur) Judge (Romesh Verma) Judge November 10, 2025 (Nisha)