Full Judgment
-1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N.S.SANJAY GOWDA WRIT PETITION NO. 100417 OF 2021 (GM-RES) BETWEEN:
1. SURESH SINGANAL, AGE. 46 YEARS,
2. MASKI SIDDANNA S/O. MALLIKARJUN, AGE. 47 YEARS, R/O. GANGAVATI,
3. KALLAPPA AGE. 67 YEARS, … PETITIONERS (BY SMT. VIDYAVATHI M. KOTTURSHETTAR, ADVOCATE) Digitally AND: signed by MANJANNA MANJANNA E E Date: 2024.02.08
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, +0530 GANGAVATI RURAL POLICE, DIST. KOPPAL-583227, R/BY STATE S.P.P., HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD.
2. K.R. DEVARAJ, FOOD SHERISTEDAR, TALUK OFFICE, GANAGAVATI DIST. KOPPAL-583227. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. P.N. HATTI, HCGP) -2- THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO IT IS HEREBY PRAYED THAT THE COMPLAINT FILED BY COMPLAINANT I.E., RESPONDENT NO.2 K.R.DEVARAJ ON 21.01.2021 BY REGISTERING FIR NO.0054/2021 BEFORE GANGAVATI SUB DIVISION RURAL POLICE STATION, AGAINST THE PETITIONERS FOR THE OFFENSES PUNISHABLE U/S.3 AND 7 OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT AND U./S.420 AND 201 OF I.P.C BY QUASHED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
1. This petition is filed challenging the registration of criminal proceedings for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 7 of Essential Commodities Act and under Sections 420 and 201 of I.P.C.
2. The allegation in the complaint is that the petitioners were transporting rice, which was meant for distribution under the Public Distribution System.
3. The Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, in
Criminal Petition No.101739/2021 and connected matters, disposed of on 16.2.2022, has held that unless the goods in question were examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory and certified to be an essential commodity -3- meant for Public Distribution System, the proceedings would be unsustainable.
4. In this case, admittedly, there is no
certification by the Forensic Science Laboratory that the rice that was seized was meant for Public Distribution. In that view of the matter, in the light of the above judgment, the petition is allowed and the proceedings stands quashed. Sd/- JUDGE VB CT:BCK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 134