{"id":179698,"date":"2009-03-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-02T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/om-parkash-sharma-vs-state-of-punjab-on-3-march-2009"},"modified":"2017-08-15T10:09:02","modified_gmt":"2017-08-15T04:39:02","slug":"om-parkash-sharma-vs-state-of-punjab-on-3-march-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/om-parkash-sharma-vs-state-of-punjab-on-3-march-2009","title":{"rendered":"Om Parkash Sharma vs State Of Punjab on 3 March, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Punjab-Haryana High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Om Parkash Sharma vs State Of Punjab on 3 March, 2009<\/div>\n<pre>           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n                       -1-\n\nIn the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh.\n\n                   Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n\n                   Date of decision:3-3-2009.\n\nOm Parkash Sharma.\n\n                                                ...Appellant.\n\n            Versus\n\nState of Punjab.\n\n                                                ...Respondent.\n\n            ...\n\nCoram:      Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. C. Puri.\n\n            ...\n\nPresent:    Mr.Puneet Jindal Advocate for the appellant.\n\n            Mr. K. S. Pannu, AAG, Punjab.\n\n            ...\n\nK. C. Puri, J.\n<\/pre>\n<p>Judgment.\n<\/p>\n<p>            This is a Criminal Appeal and has been directed against<\/p>\n<p>the judgment dated 13.3.2000 passed by Shri Gurdev Singh,<\/p>\n<p>Special Judge, Jalandhar, convicting the appellant under Section 7<\/p>\n<p>read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,<\/p>\n<p>1988 ( in short the Act) and vide order of same date, was sentenced<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -2-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year and to<\/p>\n<p>pay a fine of Rs.5,000\/- and in default thereof, to further undergo<\/p>\n<p>rigorous imprisonment for a period of four months.<\/p>\n<p>              The prosecution story, in brief, is that on 16.8.1997,<\/p>\n<p>Harish Kumar, DSP received information from reliable source that<\/p>\n<p>the accused, who was employed as Junior Engineer in the Fisheries<\/p>\n<p>Department, Jalandhar went to village Jajja Khurd in connection<\/p>\n<p>with taking measurements of the Fish Pond of Kulwinder Kaur and<\/p>\n<p>for getting a subsidy of Rs.20,000\/- for Kulwinder Kaur and her<\/p>\n<p>son Bhawan Singh, demanded a sum of Rs.6,000\/- as bribe. The<\/p>\n<p>said bribe amount of Rs.6,000\/- was given to him on his demand<\/p>\n<p>on 5.10.1995 by Bhawan Singh and Pal Singh. On the basis of said<\/p>\n<p>information, the DSP sent his ruqqa Exhibit PE to the Police<\/p>\n<p>Station on the basis of which formal FIR, Exhibit PE\/1 was<\/p>\n<p>recorded against the accused under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2)<\/p>\n<p>of the Act.\n<\/p>\n<p>              During investigation, it transpired that Kulwinder Kaur<\/p>\n<p>had land in village Jajja Khurd for establishing a Fish Farm in two<\/p>\n<p>killas of her land. She applied for a loan to the Land mortgage<\/p>\n<p>Bank, Goraya. On 28.9.1995, she applied to the Chief Executive<\/p>\n<p>Officer, Fishery Department, Jalandhar for obtaining subsidy vide<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -3-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>application, Exhibit PD. In the same month, the accused visited the<\/p>\n<p>land for checking the Fish Pond and taking measurements thereof.<\/p>\n<p>After taking the measurements, he told her in the presence of her<\/p>\n<p>son that they would be paid Rs.20,000\/- as subsidy and for getting<\/p>\n<p>the same sanctioned, demanded a sum of Rs.6,000\/-. She withdrew<\/p>\n<p>a sum of Rs.5,000\/- from her account No.25876\/38 in Punjab<\/p>\n<p>National Bank Goraya and obtained Rs.1,000\/- as loan from Pal<\/p>\n<p>Singh. She handed over a sum of Rs.6,000\/- to her son Bhawan<\/p>\n<p>Singh and that amount was paid by him on 5.10.1995 to the<\/p>\n<p>accused in his office where he had gone along with Pal Singh. The<\/p>\n<p>said amount was paid by them to the accused on his demand.<\/p>\n<p>Subsequently, Kulwinder Kaur came to know that she was not<\/p>\n<p>required to pay any such amount for obtaining subsidy. Then, she<\/p>\n<p>made a complaint against the accused to the Vigilance Bureau<\/p>\n<p>Department, Chandigarh.\n<\/p>\n<p>             After the completion of investigation, the accused was<\/p>\n<p>challaned.\n<\/p>\n<p>             The accused was charge-sheeted accordingly to which<\/p>\n<p>he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.\n<\/p>\n<p>             In order to prove its case, the prosecution examined<\/p>\n<p>PW-1 Nanthan Lal, Senior Assistant, PW-2 Kulwinder Kaur, PW-3<br \/>\n             Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                        -4-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Bhawan Singh, PW-4 Vidya Sagar, Chief Executive Officer, PW-5<\/p>\n<p>Pal Singh and PW-6 Harish Kumar, SP.\n<\/p>\n<p>             After the close of prosecution evidence, the accused<\/p>\n<p>was examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. He denied all the<\/p>\n<p>incriminating circumstances appearing in evidence against him. He<\/p>\n<p>stated that he was working as J.E in the Fishery Department and<\/p>\n<p>the entire State of Punjab was his working field. In that connection,<\/p>\n<p>he was neither the recommending or administrative authority to<\/p>\n<p>sanction\/recommend          the    loans.    He   was   only   to   submit<\/p>\n<p>measurements reports wherever Fish Ponds were constructed and<\/p>\n<p>on    the      basis      of      those     measurement    reports,    the<\/p>\n<p>sanctioning\/administratrative authority sanctioned a loan @<\/p>\n<p>Rs.1,000\/- per Kanal. Kulwinder Kaur was not known to him<\/p>\n<p>personally. The case made against him is false and has been<\/p>\n<p>prompted by some of his colleagues named Nanthan Lal and<\/p>\n<p>Makhan Singh, driver. Nanthan Lal has demanded some money<\/p>\n<p>from his pay or T.A. Bills which he never paid whereas Makhan<\/p>\n<p>Singh driver was departmentally dealt with on a complaint for<\/p>\n<p>stealing petrol. Both of them were inimical towards him.They have<\/p>\n<p>been giving applications against him directly or indirectly in order<\/p>\n<p>to harass him. His services have been appreciated by the<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -5-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>department.\n<\/p>\n<p>           When called upon to enter his defence, the accused<\/p>\n<p>produced DW-1 Raj Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, DW-2<\/p>\n<p>Nirmal Singh, Senior Fishery Officer and DW-3 M.C.Aggarwal,<\/p>\n<p>Assistant Director.\n<\/p>\n<p>           After the conclusion of trial, the accused was convicted<\/p>\n<p>and sentenced, as noticed in the earlier part of the judgment.<\/p>\n<p>           The learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that<\/p>\n<p>according to the prosecution, the amount of bribe is stated to have<\/p>\n<p>been paid on 5.10.1995. The FIR, in question, was recorded after<\/p>\n<p>about two years of the occurrence. The motive, for the occurrence,<\/p>\n<p>was stated to be regarding payment of subsidy for setting up a<\/p>\n<p>Fishery Pond. The appellant was simply working as a Junior<\/p>\n<p>Engineer and his duty was only to make measurements of the<\/p>\n<p>Fishery Pond. He was neither the sanctioning authority nor<\/p>\n<p>disbursing authority and as such there was no question of payment<\/p>\n<p>of bribe to him.\n<\/p>\n<p>           It is further contended that two enquiries were<\/p>\n<p>conducted, one by the department and the other by he Public<\/p>\n<p>Grievance Officer. In both those enquiries, the allegations of<\/p>\n<p>payment of Rs.6,000\/- as illegal gratification were held to be not<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -6-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>proved. The complainant has kept quiet for more than six months<\/p>\n<p>in making complaints for the first time. Her complaints were duly<\/p>\n<p>investigated by the department and the Public Grievance Officer<\/p>\n<p>and they found the allegations to be false. In spite of that, the<\/p>\n<p>learned trial Court has convicted the appellant on flimsy grounds.<\/p>\n<p>           The learned counsel for the appellant has further<\/p>\n<p>contended that sanction for the prosecution under Section 19 of the<\/p>\n<p>Act is not merely a formality. The prosecution is required to prove<\/p>\n<p>that the competent authority has duly applied its mind before<\/p>\n<p>granting sanction for the prosecution. The immunity of the public<\/p>\n<p>servant from prosecution has been incorporated keeping in view<\/p>\n<p>his duty. Unless, the competent authority applies its mind, there<\/p>\n<p>cannot be valid sanction. In the present case, there is nothing on<\/p>\n<p>the file that enquiries Exhibits DA and DB, proved on the file were<\/p>\n<p>put up before the competent authority. So, in these circumstances,<\/p>\n<p>there cannot be valid sanction.\n<\/p>\n<p>           The learned counsel for the appellant has further<\/p>\n<p>contended that to prove the ingredients of offence under Sections 7<\/p>\n<p>and 13 of the Act, the prosecution is required to prove the factum<\/p>\n<p>of demand, acceptance and recovery of illegal gratification. It is<\/p>\n<p>contended that it is not the case of the prosecution that illegal<br \/>\n          Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                     -7-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>gratification was recovered from the accused as it is not a case of<\/p>\n<p>trap. The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the demand and<\/p>\n<p>acceptance of illegal gratification. In the present case, PW-2<\/p>\n<p>Kulwinder Kaur has stated that illegal gratification of Rs.6,000\/-<\/p>\n<p>was demanded by the accused in the office. In the cross-<\/p>\n<p>examination, she has stated that she was also present at the time of<\/p>\n<p>payment of illegal gratification. However, according to the<\/p>\n<p>prosecution case, Rs.6,000\/- were paid by Bhawan Singh in the<\/p>\n<p>presence of Pal Singh, PW-5. Bhawan Singh is the son of the<\/p>\n<p>complainant. Pal Singh is a criminal type of person and he was<\/p>\n<p>produced in the Court in the hand-cuff on the date of recording of<\/p>\n<p>his testimony. The appellant has brought on the file the glaring<\/p>\n<p>discrepancy inter-se between the testimony of PW-2 Kulwinder<\/p>\n<p>Kaur, PW-3 Bhawan Singh and PW-5 Pal Singh. The learned trial<\/p>\n<p>Court has ignored those discrepancies regarding demand and<\/p>\n<p>acceptance on the ground that these are minor discrepancies.<\/p>\n<p>           It is further submitted that according to PW-2<\/p>\n<p>Kulwinder Kaur, Om Parkash, JE and Shri Vidya Sagar, Chief<\/p>\n<p>Executive Officer, came to the village on 29.9.1995, for making<\/p>\n<p>measurements. PW-4 Vidya Sagar, Chief Executive Officer has<\/p>\n<p>categorically stated that no complaint was brought to his notice<br \/>\n          Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                     -8-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>that any amount of illegal gratification was demanded by the<\/p>\n<p>accused at any occasion. It is further contended that from the<\/p>\n<p>record, it is revealed that the work of the complainant was done<\/p>\n<p>smoothly. The accused has sent the completion certificate on<\/p>\n<p>28.9.1995. So, there was no occasion for him to demand or accept<\/p>\n<p>illegal gratification on 5.10.1995. The only job attributed to the<\/p>\n<p>accused was regarding measurements which have been made by<\/p>\n<p>him on 28.9.1995. It is clear from the back side of document,<\/p>\n<p>Exhibit PA, produced by the prosecution. Fishery Extension<\/p>\n<p>Officer, has sent the case recommending subsidy of Rs.18,000\/- on<\/p>\n<p>11.10.1995 and ultimately the Chief Executive Officer has<\/p>\n<p>sanctioned subsidy of Rs.18,000\/- to the appellant on 17.10.1995.<\/p>\n<p>The draft was prepared on 19.10.1995 and credited to the account<\/p>\n<p>of Kulwinder Kaur on 26.10.1995 as is clear from Exhibits PB and<\/p>\n<p>PC, produced by the prosecution itself.\n<\/p>\n<p>          It is further contended that DSP has mentioned in the<\/p>\n<p>FIR that from the reliable source it has come to his notice that<\/p>\n<p>Rs.6,000\/- were paid as illegal gratification to the accused. The<\/p>\n<p>FIR is not based on the complaint of Kulwinder Kaur. The FIR was<\/p>\n<p>registered on the same day. It is mentioned in the FIR that demand<\/p>\n<p>for illegal gratification was made in the month of September,1995.\n<\/p>\n<p>           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -9-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>No specific date has been given. It is not mentioned in the FIR as<\/p>\n<p>to what were the sources of the DSP for acquiring the knowledge<\/p>\n<p>of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification. So, it is<\/p>\n<p>contended that the prosecution has utterly failed to prove its case.<\/p>\n<p>           The learned counsel for the appellant has relied upon<\/p>\n<p>the following authorities:-\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>           1. <a href=\"\/doc\/1992131\/\">Mansukhlal Vithaldas Chauhan v. State of<\/p>\n<p>                Gujarat, AIR<\/a> 1997 SC 3400.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>           2. State of T.N.Versus M.M.Rajendran, (1998) 9<\/p>\n<p>                Supreme Court Cases 268.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>           3. <a href=\"\/doc\/56401\/\">State of Karnataka v. Ameer Jan., AIR<\/a> 2008 SC<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                108.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>           4. State     of    Karnataka        through   CBI   Versus<\/p>\n<p>                M.K.Vijay Lakshmi, (2005) 8 Supreme Court Cases<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                370<\/span><\/p>\n<p>           5.     <a href=\"\/doc\/790251\/\">K.Radhal v. C.B.I, Cochin Unit, AIR<\/a> 2008 SC<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                111.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>           The learned counsel for the appellant has further<\/p>\n<p>contended that Kulwinder Kaur has stated that the accused has not<\/p>\n<p>deposited the subsidy cheque till bribe money was paid to him.<\/p>\n<p>According to the record, subsidy cheque was deposited in the<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -10-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>account of Kulwinder Kaur on 26.10.1995 whereas according to<\/p>\n<p>the prosecution, the amount of Rs.6,000\/- was paid on 5.10.1995.<\/p>\n<p>So, the prosecution has failed to reconcile the fact when the<\/p>\n<p>amount of illegal gratification was paid. The documentary<\/p>\n<p>evidence produced by the prosecution belies the testimony of<\/p>\n<p>Kulwinder Kaur.\n<\/p>\n<p>            Learned State counsel has supported the judgment of<\/p>\n<p>the trial Court.\n<\/p>\n<p>            I have given my thoughtful consideration to the rival<\/p>\n<p>submissions made by both sides and have gone through the record<\/p>\n<p>of the case.\n<\/p>\n<p>            Section 19 of the Act has been enacted to give<\/p>\n<p>protection to the public servants against unwarranted and uncalled<\/p>\n<p>for complaints. The very purpose of enacting the said provision of<\/p>\n<p>law is that a public servant should not be harassed by unwarranted<\/p>\n<p>and uncalled for elements while discharging his duties. Generally,<\/p>\n<p>a public servant is involved for the offence under the Act by<\/p>\n<p>conducting a raid or in respect of illegal gratification or in respect<\/p>\n<p>of disproportionate assets. In the case of a raid, there is full proof<\/p>\n<p>evidence as Phenol-phthalein Powder is applied on the notes. The<\/p>\n<p>complainant and the shadow witness visit the accused and that the<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -11-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>accused accepts illegal gratification on demand and thereafter the<\/p>\n<p>hand wash or pocket wash of the Government servant is conducted<\/p>\n<p>and in case the same proves positive, in that case, no scope is left<\/p>\n<p>regarding the involvement of the accused. In those cases also, the<\/p>\n<p>Courts insist on direct proof of demand,acceptance and recovery of<\/p>\n<p>illegal gratification. In the case of disproportionate assets, the<\/p>\n<p>income of the accused during the check period is taken into<\/p>\n<p>account and then compared with the expenditure and in case the<\/p>\n<p>expenditure is more, in that case he is found guilty of offence<\/p>\n<p>under the Act. That case is also to be proved according to the<\/p>\n<p>mathematical calculations and there is no error in that eventuality.<\/p>\n<p>           So far as the present case is concerned, it hinges on the<\/p>\n<p>oral testimony of three witnesses. No doubt, the testimony of<\/p>\n<p>witnesses should not ordinarily be discarded but when there is a<\/p>\n<p>scope of creating doubt in the prosecution version, in that case, the<\/p>\n<p>Court should be slow in convicting the accused under Sections 7<\/p>\n<p>and 13 of the Act. If there are allegations of corruption against a<\/p>\n<p>Government servant, the same amounts to civil death of that<\/p>\n<p>Government servant. On that count, Section 19 of the Act has been<\/p>\n<p>enacted to give protection to the Government servant. In the<\/p>\n<p>present case, illegal gratification is alleged to have been paid on<br \/>\n           Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                      -12-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>5.10.1995 but the case has been registered in August, 1997 and<\/p>\n<p>that, too, on the basis of secret information. The complainant made<\/p>\n<p>a complaint against the accused after about six months regarding<\/p>\n<p>which one enquiry was conduced by the department and the other<\/p>\n<p>by Public Grievance Officer and the enquiry reports have been<\/p>\n<p>proved on the file as Exhibits DA and DB. In both these enquiries,<\/p>\n<p>the accused has been exonerated. In the present case, the<\/p>\n<p>Investigating Agency should have taken into account those enquiry<\/p>\n<p>reports. The grant of sanction for the prosecution is not merely a<\/p>\n<p>formality. There is nothing on the file to prove the fact that the<\/p>\n<p>above-said enquiries were taken into account by the competent<\/p>\n<p>authority before granting sanction for the prosecution of the<\/p>\n<p>accused. Authorities in cases Manshukhlal Vithaldas Chauhan,<\/p>\n<p>M.M. Rajendran, Ameer Jan. and M.K.Vijay Lakshmi (supra)<\/p>\n<p>relate to grant of sanction against public servants. In all these<\/p>\n<p>authorities, it has held that valid sanction could only be considered<\/p>\n<p>if it is brought on the file that the sanctioning authority has applied<\/p>\n<p>its mind. Ignoring the previous enquiries, Exhibits DA and DB,<\/p>\n<p>would lead to the conclusion that the sanctioning authority has not<\/p>\n<p>applied its mind properly.\n<\/p>\n<p>           In a bribery case, demand and acceptance of illegal<br \/>\n          Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                     -13-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>gratification has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. From the<\/p>\n<p>perusal of the judgment of the trial Court, it is revealed that<\/p>\n<p>discrepancies regarding demand and acceptance of illegal<\/p>\n<p>gratification were brought to the notice of the trial Court but the<\/p>\n<p>same have been ignored on the ground that the same are minor in<\/p>\n<p>nature However, glaring discrepancies go to the root of the case.<\/p>\n<p>           According to Kulwinder Kaur, complainant, she was<\/p>\n<p>also present when illegal gratification was alleged to have been<\/p>\n<p>paid to the accused but according to PW-3 Bhawan Singh, his son<\/p>\n<p>and PW-5 Pal Singh, the complainant was not present. This is not a<\/p>\n<p>minor discrepancy. The testimony of PW-2 Kulwinder Kaur in<\/p>\n<p>respect of payment of illegal gratification on 5.10.1995 is<\/p>\n<p>contradicted by her own testimony. During cross-examination, she<\/p>\n<p>stated that the accused had not handed over the cheque till the<\/p>\n<p>payment of illegal gratification was made by her. According to the<\/p>\n<p>record produced by the prosecution itself, the cheque was credited<\/p>\n<p>in the account of the complainant on 26.10.1995 whereas it is the<\/p>\n<p>specific case of all the prosecution witnesses that illegal<\/p>\n<p>gratification was paid on 5.10.1995. Kulwinder Kaur, PW-2 has<\/p>\n<p>stated that on 28.9.1995, Om Parkash, JE and Vidya Sgar, Chief<\/p>\n<p>Executive Officer came for the measurements of the Fish Pond.\n<\/p>\n<p>          Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                     -14-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>PW-4 Vidya Sagar, Chief Executive Officer,has categorically<\/p>\n<p>stated that the accused made measurements of the pond in his<\/p>\n<p>presence. He has further stated that no complaint of demand of<\/p>\n<p>illegal gratification of any type was made to him on that day.<\/p>\n<p>According to PW-2 Kulwinder Kaur, illegal gratification of<\/p>\n<p>Rs.6,000\/- was paid 10 days prior to 5.10.1995. So, according to<\/p>\n<p>this calculation, the alleged demand of Rs.6,000\/- was made prior<\/p>\n<p>to 28.9.1995. So, in case there was any demand of illegal<\/p>\n<p>gratification, Kulwinder Kaur and other PWs. must have narrated<\/p>\n<p>this fact to Vidya Sagar, being officer of the Fishery Department<\/p>\n<p>on 28.9.1995. He is a witness for the prosecution itself. So, this<\/p>\n<p>fact goes a long way in deciding the case of the accused. Bhawan<\/p>\n<p>Singh being son of Kulwinder Kaur is interested in the success of<\/p>\n<p>the case and Pal Singh was produced in custody. No doubt, the<\/p>\n<p>testimony of a convicted person cannot be discarded on the ground<\/p>\n<p>of his conviction but he seems to be interested being friend of<\/p>\n<p>Bhawan Singh. Moreover, no positive explanation has been given<\/p>\n<p>by the prosecution for not registering the case for about 1 year and<\/p>\n<p>10 months of the alleged giving of bribe.\n<\/p>\n<p>           Although the enquiry reports, Exhibits DA and DB, one<\/p>\n<p>by the department and the other by the District Vigilance Officer<br \/>\n          Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                     -15-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>itself are not sufficient to throw the prosecution story but when<\/p>\n<p>there is such discrepancy regarding the demand and acceptance and<\/p>\n<p>there is defective sanction, in that case, conviction cannot be<\/p>\n<p>maintained. The delay in lodging the FIR also assumes importance<\/p>\n<p>in these circumstances.\n<\/p>\n<p>           Therefore, keeping in view above discussion, the appeal<\/p>\n<p>is accepted. The impugned judgment of trial Court stands set aside<\/p>\n<p>and the accused stands acquitted by giving him benefit of doubt.<\/p>\n<p>           A copy of this judgment be sent to the trial Court for<\/p>\n<p>strict compliance.<\/p>\n<pre>\n\nMarch 3rd ,2009.                              ( K. C. Puri )\nJaggi                                              Judge\n <\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Punjab-Haryana High Court Om Parkash Sharma vs State Of Punjab on 3 March, 2009 Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000. -1- In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh. Criminal Appeal No.300-SB of 2000. Date of decision:3-3-2009. Om Parkash Sharma. &#8230;Appellant. Versus State of Punjab. &#8230;Respondent. &#8230; Coram: Hon&#8217;ble Mr. Justice K. C. Puri. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-punjab-haryana-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Om Parkash Sharma vs State Of Punjab on 3 March, 2009 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/om-parkash-sharma-vs-state-of-punjab-on-3-march-2009\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Om Parkash Sharma vs State Of Punjab on 3 March, 2009 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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