Registry to collate information regarding total number of pending appeals (year wise) under NDPS Act in Punjab and Haryana High Court

Read Order: BHUPENDER SINGH v. NARCOTIC CONTROL BUREAU

Tulip Kanth

Chandigarh, October 11,2021: While considering bunch of applications by which convicts were seeking suspension of sentence pertaining to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Registry to collate information regarding total number of pending appeals (year wise) under the Act in the Court.

In these bunch of applications convicts were seeking suspension of sentence on the preliminary ground that they had undergone a substantial part of the sentence and the appeal/s had not been heard.

The issue in these criminal matters related to the parameters to be followed for grant of suspension of sentence to persons who had been convicted under the NDPS Act.

It was suggested by the counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant-appellant, Amicus Curiae and the State counsel that before considering this issue, it would be appropriate if statistics are summoned regarding total number of pending appeals (year wise) under the Act, in this Court.

The Division Bench of Justice Alka Sarin and Justice Ajay Tewari was in agreement with the above said suggestion.

The Bench adjourned the matter to October 26, 2021 and directed the Registry to collate the information and place it before the Bench.