JUDGMENT
Pradeep Nandrajog, J.
1. As per the FIR the petitioner was apprehended on 2.2.2007 with 1025 gms of heroin. On being subjected to Chemical analysis by FSL Laboratory the sample was found to contain 2.1% of diacetylmorphine.
2. It is not in dispute that on a said percentage of offending compound actual weight of diacetylmorphine comes to 21.52 gms which falls much below the commercial quantity. It would actually fall in the category of medium quantity.
3. On the issue of percentage, unfortunately, there are 2 divergent views of 2 learned Single Judges of this Court. In the decision reported as Tyagi and Ors. v. State, O.P. Dwivedi, J opined that percentage purity of contraband substance is immaterial for the reason legislature has not stipulated purity levels in contraband substances in NDPS, 1985.
4. In the decision reported as 123 (2005) DLT 562 Ansar Ahmed and Ors. v. State B.D. Ahmed, J. has taken a contrary view.
5. It is urged by learned Counsel for the petitioner that whatever be the quantity recovered, it has become a tendency of police authorities in Delhi to mix up the contraband material with other harmless substances to inflate the quantity recovered.
6. Learned Counsel for the State disputes the said assertion.
7. The test of a reasonable man leads this Court to consider as to what quantity would be potent for the reason heroin is consumed by snorting, smoking or injected.
8. If offending substance has to be snorted or smoked, question would arise as to what quantity would have to be inhaled either directly or as fumes before the same becomes potent, i.e. gives a kick.
9. As per literature provided at the hearing today by learned Counsel for the parties diamorphine is 2-3 times more potent than morphine. The estimated minimum lethal dose is 200 mg but addicts are able to tolerate up to 10 times. In rare cases, fatalities have occurred even after doses of 10 mg.
10. If a contraband drug is a minuscule percentage of the sample lifted, either the buyer would have to refine the same or consume large quantities of contraband substance recovered.
11. In the instant case, percentage of the offending substance is 2.1%. Thus, to attain potency at least 20 gms of the seized material would have to be consumed by the user to get a kick out of it.
12. Prima facie, the quantity to be inhaled or consumed would be too excessive and disproportionate to the effect which can be achieved by taking a small quantity of the offending substance in its pure form.
13. I need not pen down any further. The contrary views taken by this Court are a subject matter of consideration before the Supreme Court.
14. Past record of the petitioner is clean. He is not an accused in any other case. He is a young boy aged 21 years. Continued incarceration would expose him to criminals.
15. I thus direct release of the petitioner on bail.
16. Petition stands disposed of directing learned Trial Judge to release the petitioner on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in sum of Rs. 20,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Judge.
17. Copy of this order be supplied dusty to learned Counsel for the petitioner.