Allowed

Senthil Kumar v. State of Kerala

Kerala HC27 Oct 2023Crl.Rev.Pet/116/2013

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

High Court allowed criminal revision petition, acquitting the petitioner based on the ratio that prosecution under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act cannot succeed if food sample analysis is not conducted in a Central Government notified laboratory under Section 23(1-A)(ee).

What did the court decide?

Revision petition allowed; impugned judgments set aside; petitioner acquitted and set at liberty; bail bonds cancelled; fine money released if remitted.

Senthil Kumar Vs State of Kerala — Writ and Judicial Review | Kerala HC (2023)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.S.DIAS

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FRIDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 5TH KARTHIKA, 1945

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CRL.REV.PET NO. 116 OF 2013

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AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 29.09.2012 IN CRA NO.150/2010 OF
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT (ADHOC), THODUPUZHA

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AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 12.05.2010 IN CC NO.644/2004 OF
JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -II, PEERUMEDU

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REVISION PETITIONER/1ST APPELLANT/1ST ACCUSED:

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SENTHIL KUMAR,
GEETHA BHAVAN,
ROSAPOOKANDAM, KUMILY,
IDUKKI DT

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BY ADVS.SRI.T.J.MICHAEL
SRI.JOHN VIPIN

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RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT:

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STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT OF KERALA,
ERNAKULAM 682031

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OTHER PRESENT:

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PP SMT NIMA JACOB

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THIS CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 27.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:

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Crl.R.P.No.116/2013

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Dated this the 27^th day of October,2023

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O R D E R

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The revision petition is filed questioning the legality and correctness of the judgments in Crl.A. No.150/2010 of the Court of the III^rd Additional District and Sessions Judge (Adhoc-I), Thodupuzha (Appellate Court) and CC No.644/2004 of the Court of the Judicial First Class Magistrate-II, Peermade (Trial Court), holding the revision petitioner guilty for the offences under Section 16(1)(a)(i) and Section 16(1A) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (for brevity, PFA Act) and the Rules framed thereunder. The revision petitioner was the first accused and the respondent was the complainant before the Trial Court. For convenience, the parties are referred to as per their status before the Trial Court.

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Relevant facts:

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The prosecution case was that, on

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29.04.1999, the Food Inspector, Kumily Grama Panchayat (the complainant), inspected the shop owned by the second accused, where the first accused was employed as a salesman. The complainant purchased 750 grams of Bengal gram (kadala) and sent it for analysis. The Public Analyst, by Ext P12 Form III report, found one of the samples was not conforming to the standards prescribed under the Rules. Therefore, the accused have committed the above offences.

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The accused denied the substance of accusation read over to them.

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In the trial, the prosecution examined PWs 1 to 5 and marked Exts P1 to P23 in evidence. The accused denied the incriminating circumstances that were put against them.

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The learned Magistrate, after appreciating

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the materials placed on record, found the accused guilty and convicted and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year and pay a fine of Rs.2,000/- for the offences under Section 16(1) (a)(i) and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of thirty days and rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years for the offence under Section 16(1A) and pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- and in default to undergo further imprisonment for a period of 45 days. The substantive sentences were directed to run concurrently.

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Aggrieved by the said judgment, the accused filed Crl.A. No.150/2010 before the Appellate Court.

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The Appellate Court, after re-appreciating the materials placed on record, found that the second accused was a juvenile, as on the date of incident, and he could not be convicted under the provisions of the Act. Hence, the matter was forwarded to the Juvenile

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Justice Court for passing appropriate orders under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. However, the first accused was found guilty and the conviction of the Trial Court was upheld; but the sentence was modified by reducing it to rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year and six months, respectively, and pay a fine of Rs.3,000 and Rs.2,000/-, respectively, for the above offences and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 30 days. Again, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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It is aggrieved by the said judgment that first accused has filed the revision petition.

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Heard; Sri. T.J Michael, the learned counsel appearing for the revision petitioner and Smt.Nima Jacob, the learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent – State.

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The learned Counsel appearing for the revision petitioner placed reliance on the judgments of

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the Honourable Supreme Court in Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Ltd v. Food Inspector and Another [2010 (4) KHC 767] and the Division Bench of this Court in Rasheed v. Food Inspector [2016 (2) KLT 390] and argued that since the sample was analysed in a laboratory not recognised by the Central Government as provided under Section 23(1-A)(ee) of the Act, the prosecution has to fail and the revision petitioner is to be acquitted. He submitted that without even going into merits of the other grounds urged, the revision petition is to be allowed.

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The learned Public Prosecutor on the contrary contended that the decision in Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (supra) needs to be reconsidered, particularly because Section 8 of the Act enables the Central Government and the State Government to appoint a Public Analyst for the local areas as assigned

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by the Central Government and State Government. In

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the State of Kerala, Public Analysists have been appointed invoking the above provision. Therefore, the decision in Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (supra) has no application to the case on hand. Hence, the revision petition may be dismissed.

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Is there any illegality, impropriety or irregularity in the impugned judgments.

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The Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered the judgment in Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd. (supra) on 18.11.2010. Subsequent to the pronouncement of the judgment, there were several cases filed before this Court to quash the proceedings initiated under the Act.

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There was cleavage of opinion and divergent views taken by three learned Single Judges of this

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Court in interpreting the ratio decidendi in Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd. (supra).

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Due to cleavage of opinion in interpreting the above judgment, a bunch of cases were referred to a Division Bench of this Court for an authoritative pronouncement.

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Accordingly, in Rasheed v. Food Inspector (supra), a Division Bench of this Court, on a threadbare analysis of the law laid down in Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd. (supra), has answered the reference in the following manner:

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“18. Bearing in mind the fact that the Hon'ble Apex Court in Pepsico's case (supra) held that the provisions under S.23(1A)(ee) and (hh) are not directory and that this Court has erred in holding that they are only enabling provisions we will proceed further to answer the referred questions. For answering the terms of reference a broad understanding of the said declaration is necessary. When once the Hon'ble Apex Court held that the said provisions are not directory and the failure to adhere to the provisions cannot be said to be not fatal to the prosecution it has to be understood and applied in all cases where a

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public analyst was to carry out an analysis and to give a report to form the basis for launching the prosecution. Thus, evidently, for that purpose the report should be one made after conducting an analysis in a laboratory defined under S. 23(1A)(ee). It is to be noted that after the decision in Pepsico's case (supra) by the Hon'ble Apex Court a notification was followed whereby Rule in relation to S.23(1A)(hh) was framed as R. 4(9) of the PFA Rules. Thus, in the light of Pepsico's case (supra) in order to be reliable and to be taken the basis for the purpose of launching prosecution a report by a public analyst must be one made after conducting an analysis in a laboratory defined under S.23(1A)(ee) of the Act. In that context the indisputable common case is that till the repealing of 1954 Act no laboratory was defined in terms of the provision under S.23(1A)(ee). If that be so, there could not have been any question of conducting an analysis by a public analyst under the PFA Act in a laboratory defined under S. 23(1A)(ee) of the PFA Act . In view of the above findings and conclusions we will answer the questions referred. First question referred is as follows: (1) Could all the prosecutions under the Act of 1954 be stifled by raising a contention that the laboratories or methods of analysis were not defined? In the light of what we have held herein before the said it can only be answered in the following manner: Wherever an analysis has to be conducted from a laboratory to find whether the particular sample of item of the particular food article is adulterated, to form the basis for initiation

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of prosecution under the PFA Act the report of the analyst in relation to that sample must be one conducted in a laboratory defined under S.23(1A) (ee). Since no such laboratory was defined till the repealing of the PFA Act wherever an analysis from a laboratory was inevitable for making a report regarding item concerned as adulterated there cannot be any successful prosecution in the absence of such a report. In such circumstances the prosecution proceedings have to be terminated for the failure to define laboratories in terms of S. 23(1A)(ee) and the consequential failure to conduct an analysis of the particular sample by the public analyst from such a laboratory. In other words taking note of the nature of the food article involved and the method to be employed to find out the adulteration if an analysis from a laboratory is not at all required in such circumstances the prosecution cannot be stifled on the ground that the laboratories in terms of provisions under S.23(1A)(ee) were not defined. It cannot be said that all the prosecutions under the 1954 Act should be stifled owing to the failure to define laboratories in terms of S.23(1A)(ee) as there may be cases registered against persons for contravention of the provisions under S.16(1)(c), S.16(1)(d) and S.14A (Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954). So also a case where the Article in food was lifted and sent for analysis prior to the introduction of the provisions under S.23(1A)(ee) viz. 01/04/1976 cannot be stifled as anything previously done could not be invalidated owing to the failure to define laboratory in terms of S.23(1A)(ee) in view of the provisions under S.23(2). In

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the context of the term of reference No. 1 it is to be noted that subsequent to Pepsico's case (supra) the method of analysis was, in fact, defined and it was brought into by incorporating R.9(4) in the PFA Rules with effect from 25/03/2008.

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The second question referred is as hereunder: (2) Is it proper to hold that since Central Government has not taken steps to effectuate S.23(1A)(ee) and (hh) of the Act of 1954, no prosecution will lie under the Act of 1954 even if it is established that the standards prescribed for various food items have been flouted? In respect of items of food articles where, for holding that the standard prescribed for the same was flouted or it was not maintained if an analysis from a laboratory is inevitable in such cases also if the analysis was conducted by the public analyst under the PFA Act in a laboratory not defined in terms of S.23(1A)(ee), in the light of Pepsico's decision, no prosecution will lie based a report made after such an analysis. The last question referred is follows: (3) Whether the ratio in Pepsico's case (supra) can be applied to all cases of alleged food adulteration under the Act of 1954 irrespective of the fact whether or not standards have been prescribed for food items? In cases where standard is prescribed or in respect of a food item to say that the said item of food is adulterated and to launch the prosecution, if an analysis from a laboratory by a public analyst is inevitable in such circumstances also the ratio in Pepsico's case (supra) will be applicable. In the light of the answers to the referred questions it has become absolutely unnecessary to go into the question referred herein

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before based on the decision in Narayana Reddiar's case which was declined to be referred.

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Having answered the reference as above, we are of the view that the fate of the criminal revision petitions and the Crl MCs depend upon the question whether in respect the item of food involved in individual cases, the sample of which was collected, an analysis from a laboratory is required or not for holding the same as adulterated. If the answer is in the affirmative necessarily in the absence of a report made after an analysis from a laboratory defined in terms of the provisions under S.23(1A)(ee) there can be no successful prosecution . We will therefore, consider the individual cases in the aforesaid manner and in the light of the answers to the referred questions. Needless to say that if the answer to the aforesaid question in respect of a particular case is in the negative there can be no legal impediment in continuing with the prosecution. In view of the fact that till the repealing of the said Act no laboratories were defined in terms of S.23(1A)(ee) all those cases have to be decided based on a consideration as aforesaid.”

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(emphasis given by me)

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The exposition of law in Rasheed v. Food Inspector (supra), following the declaration in Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd (supra) leaves

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no room for any further interpretation on the question

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that, if an allegedly adulterated food sample is not analysed in a laboratory under Section 23(1-A)(ee) of the Act, the same is fatal to the prosecution and the prosecution has to necessarily fail.

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In the instant case, the prosecution was launched on the basis of Ext P12 Form III report of the

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Public Analyst, wherein it was found that the sample was adulterated as it did not conform to the standards prescribed under the Rules. Admittedly, the sample was tested in a laboratory not notified by the Central Government under Section 23(1-A) (ee) of the Act. Thus, the ratio decidendi in Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd and Rasheed vs. Food Inspector (supra) stands attracted and prosecution fails. Consequentially,

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