Jamiruddin Ahmed Vs.
State of West Bengal [2009] INSC 628 (26 March 2009)
Judgment
CRIMINAL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1535 OF 2008 JAMIRUDDIN AHMED ... APPELLANT(S)
:VERSUS:
ORDER The only
contention raised in this appeal is that although admittedly a raid was
conducted in the house of the appellant in a remote village at midnight, no
reason as is required in terms of the proviso appended to Section 42(1) of the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ("NDPS Act) had been
recorded.
Respondent - State of
West Bengal has filed a counter affidavit, stating :
"(i) That there
is no challenge by the Petitioner regarding compliance of section 50 of the
N.D.P.S. Act;
(ii) That the only
point that has been argued is that non-compliance of the provision of Section
42 of the N.D.P.S. Act;
(iii) That in a
peculiar situation the search was conducted where the higher officials did not
feel it proper to obtain a prior authorisation, lest the entire purpose of the
search and seizure would be rendered futile in such a situation;
(iv) That the raiding
party was accompanied by Senior Officials in the rank of Addl. S.P. and we
think that there was due compliance of Section 42 of the N.D.P.S. Act."
Before us, all the
relevant documents have been produced by the State.
However, we do not
find anything in the record to show that the reasons had been recorded by the
raiding party in terms of the proviso to Section 42(1) of the NDPS Act.
The provisions of the
NDPS Act provide for stringent punishment. The safeguards contained therein
are, therefore, required to be scrupulously complied with. The statute, if for
such compliance is directory in nature, states so in clear terms.
The raiding party had
sufficient time to record reasons. Why the requirement contained in the proviso
appended to Section 42 of the NDPS Act could not be complied with, has not been
explained. The search of a place without recording such reasons may violate somebody's
right to privacy.
When a power of
entry, search, seizure and arrest without warrant or authorisation is conferred
upon the authority specified in the statute, the conditions precedent laid down
therefor require compliance.
-3- An empowered officer
in terms of the proviso is required to record the grounds of his belief that a
search warrant or authorisation cannot be obtained without affording
opportunity for concealment of evidence or facility for the escape of an
offender. As he had sufficient time at his disposal, there was no reason as to
why the same had not been complied with.
We are, therefore,
of the opinion that the search being wholly illegal, the impugned judgment
cannot be sustained. It is set aside accordingly. The appeal is allowed. The
appellant, who is in jail, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless
required in connection with any other case.
...........................J
(S.B. SINHA)
...........................J
(Dr. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA)
NEW
DELHI,
MARCH
26, 2009.
Back
Pages: 1 2 3