Narcotics Control Bureau v. Satkholal & ANR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ CRL.A. 1569/2014 NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU ..... Appellant Through Mr. B.S. Arora, Adv.

versus SATKHOLAL & ANR ..... Respondents Through None

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. PATHAK

O R D E R

% 03.10.2018 Respondent nos. 1 and 2 pleaded guilty before the trial court. They were convicted under Section 25A of the NDPS Act ("the Act", for short) read with Section 29 of the Act. Respondent no. 1 was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years with fine of ` 1 lac each for the aforesaid offences. It was further ordered that in case of default of payment of fine, he shall face simple imprisonment for three months for each of the offences.

Keeping in view that respondent no. 2 was about 62 years of age, a widow with three minor children and was having poor financial background; trial court sentenced her to the period already undergone by her in jail.

Aggrieved by the sentences handed down to the respondents, appellant has filed this appeal in the year 2014. Appeal was first taken up for hearing on 18th November, 2014 and respondents were summoned. Despite the fact that four years have gone by, appellant has failed to serve the respondents. From time to time appellant was given opportunity to trace out the addresses of respondents. Even process fee was not filed pursuant to the orders dated 22nd May, 2017 and 24th July, 2018. Vide order dated 24th July, 2018 last opportunity was granted to the appellant to serve respondents but to no effect.

Learned counsel for the appellant submits that fresh addresses of respondents could not be located.

Be that as it may, in my view four years is sufficient time to trace out the addresses and serve the respondents.

Appeal is dismissed for non-prosecution.

A.K. PATHAK, J.

OCTOBER 03, 2018 r.bararia