- Bookmark
- Share
- CaseIQ
Dayalu Kashyap (S) v. State Of Chhattisgarh (S).
Factual and Procedural Background
On 11 September 2010, Sub-Inspector K.S. Singh (PW-5) apprehended the appellant, Dayalu Kashyap, who was allegedly transporting ganja in two green polythene bags tied to the ends of a wooden kanwad while travelling from Bhaisabeda to Pithapur. He was charged under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act). The Special Judge convicted him, imposing ten years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh. The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed his appeal on 28 March 2019.
Before the Supreme Court, notice was issued on 1 February 2021, especially because the appellant had completed the ten-year custodial sentence and had already served around six months of the default sentence for non-payment of the fine. On 1 March 2021 the Court reduced the default imprisonment from one year to approximately six months and ordered his release, which occurred on 3 March 2021. The appeal, however, continued on the limited question of compliance with Section 50 of the NDPS Act.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the search was vitiated because the appellant was offered a third option—consent to search by the seizing officer himself—in addition to the two statutory choices mandated by Section 50(1) of the NDPS Act (search before a Gazetted Officer or a Magistrate).
- Whether any alleged non-compliance with Section 50, which governs “personal search”, extends so far as to invalidate the recovery of contraband found in bags carried by the accused rather than on his person.
Arguments of the Parties
Appellant's Arguments
- The search notice (Ex. P-5) impermissibly offered a third option—search by the investigating officer—contrary to Section 50(1), thereby diluting the statutory protection afforded to the accused.
- Reliance was placed on State of Rajasthan v. Parmanand, (2014) 5 SCC 345, which in turn applied the Constitution Bench decision in State of Punjab v. Baldev Singh, (1999) 6 SCC 172, to contend that any deviation from strict Section 50 compliance renders the recovery and conviction invalid.
- It was urged that once the personal search is tainted, the entire recovery—including articles not found on the body but in the bag—stands vitiated.
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| State of Rajasthan v. Parmanand, (2014) 5 SCC 345 | Failure to strictly follow Section 50(1) (informing the accused of the right to be searched before a Gazetted Officer or Magistrate) vitiates recovery and conviction. | Relied on by the appellant; the Supreme Court distinguished the present facts and declined to apply the principle. |
| State of Punjab v. Baldev Singh, (1999) 6 SCC 172 | Constitution Bench: mandatory nature of Section 50 safeguards in cases of personal search. | Referenced indirectly via Parmanand; Court held the decision inapposite because the contraband was in a bag, not on the person. |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court observed that the contraband was recovered from polythene bags hanging on a kanwad, not from the appellant’s body. Section 50 applies to “personal search”; therefore, even if an irregularity occurred in offering a third option, it would not ipso facto invalidate a search of a carried bag. The Court rejected the appellant’s attempt to extend the constitutional safeguards beyond their textual scope, holding that the presence of an additional, non-statutory choice in the notice did not vitiate the seizure when the recovery was not from the person of the accused.
Holding and Implications
Appeal Dismissed.
The conviction and sentence under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) NDPS Act remain undisturbed. As the appellant had already been released after serving the custodial component, the practical effect is limited to affirming the legality of the conviction and fine. The judgment does not create new precedent but re-affirms that Section 50 safeguards are confined to personal searches and do not automatically extend to searches of containers or baggage carried by the accused.
1. Leave granted.
2. The present appeal arises qua an incident of 11.09.2010 of 10.30 in the morning when Sub Inspector K.S. Singh (PW-5), on the basis of the information received, apprehended the appellant and found that he was carrying Ganja in a green polythene bag on a wooden Kanwad from Bhaisabeda to Pithapur for transportation. The appellant was charged under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (‘NDPS Act’) and tried by the Special Judge who convicted the appellant under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of the NDPS Act and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. The appellant preferred an appeal before the High Court of Chhattisgarh but that appeal was dismissed by the impugned order dated 28.03.2019.
3. We issued notice on 01.02.2021 including on the bail application as the appellant had undergone sentence of 10 years and his inability to pay fine was resulting in him serving out the remaining sentence of one year. In the course of hearing this matter with some other matter, on 01.03.2021, we noticed that the only point which really arose for consideration was from the effect of provisions of Section 50 of the NDPS Act. Since the petitioner had already undergone 10 years of sentence and served about six months in the alternative sentence of one year for non-payment of fine, we considered appropriate to substitute the sentence of one year against non-payment of fine by the sentence of about six months and directed the appellant to be set free. The appellant was accordingly set free on 03.03.2021.
4. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant on the aforesaid question posed by him. Learned counsel has drawn our attention to the testimony of the Officer (PW-5) carrying out the search. Para 6 of the testimony reads as under:
“6. Thereafter, on the spot, at the side of Pithapur Thothapada Chowk, Murumroad, the accused was served notice u/s 50 of the NDPS Act at 12.45 O'Clock that the information has been received from the informer that the Ganja is kept at both ends of his Kanwad for which it is necessary to conduct search. You can get the search conducted from any Gazetted Officer, Magistrate or even by me. The accused was explained about the meaning of Gazetted Officer and Magistrate. Then, the accused gave verbal consent to get the search conducted by me. The consent given for search was recorded as dictated by the accused. The notice served by me is Exhibit P.5 which bears my signature at part C to C. On the same date at 13 O' clock, at the spot itself, on getting the consent from the accused, I got myself, accompanying staff and motorcycle searched from the accused. No objectionable article was found in the search. Our personal search is Search Memo (Exhibit P.6) which bears my signature at part C to C. At 13 : 15 O'clock, at the spot, the green coloured polythese bundle wrapped at both ends of Kanwad kept in the possession of accused and accused Dayalu Kashyap were searched. Then, the article similar to Ganja were found inside both the polythene bundles. Search Memo is Exhibit P.7 which bears my signature at part C to C.”
5. Learned counsel submits that the option given to the appellant to take a third choice other than what is prescribed as the two choices under sub-Section (1) of Section 50 of the Act is something which goes contrary to the mandate of the law and in a way affects the protection provided by the said Section to the accused. To support his contention, he has relied upon the judgment of State of Rajasthan v. Parmanand, (2014) 5 SCC 345, more specifically, para 19. The judgment in turn, relied upon a Constitution Bench judgment of this Court in State of Punjab v. Baldev Singh, (1999) 6 SCC 172 to conclude that if a search is made by an empowered Officer on prior information without informing the person of his right that he has to be taken before a Gazetted Officer or a Magistrate for search and in case he so opts, failure to take his search accordingly would render the recovery of the illicit article suspicious and vitiate the conviction and sentence of the accused where the conviction has been recorded only the on basis of possession of illicit articles recovered from his person. The third option stated to be given to the accused to get himself searched from the Officer concerned not being part of the statute, the same could not have been offered to the appellant and thus, the recovery from him is vitiated.
6. In the conspectus of the facts of the case, we find the recovery was in a polythene bag which was being carried on a Kanwad. The recovery was not in person. Learned counsel seeks to expand the scope of the observations made by seeking to contend that if the personal search is vitiated by violation of Section 50 of the NDPS Act, the recovery made otherwise also would stand vitiated and thus, cannot be relied upon. We cannot give such an extended view as is sought to be contended by learned counsel for the appellant.
7. The aforesaid being the only aspect for consideration, we are not inclined to grant relief to the appellant and appeal is accordingly dismissed leaving parties to bear their own costs.
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 514/2021
(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 28-03-2019 in CRA No. 857/2011 passed by the High Court Of Chhatisgarh At Bilaspur)
Dayalu Kashyap.….Petitioner(s)
v.
The State of Chhattisgarh.….Respondent(s)
(Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Advocate (Amicus Curiae) Mr. Nikhil Goel, Advocate for High Court of Gujarat IA No. 10234/2021 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES IA No. 110932/2021 - PERMISSION TO PLACE ADDITIONAL FACTS AND GROUNDS)
Date : 25-01-2022 This petition was called on for hearing today.
(Before Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh, JJ.)
Jail Petition
For Petitioner(s) Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Adv/AC
For Respondent(s) Mr. Sumeer Sodhi, AOR
Mr. Gaurav, Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
8. Leave granted.
9. The appeal is dismissed in terms of the signed reportable order.
10. Pending applications stand disposed of.
Alert