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JA WALA RAM AND ANR.
A
v.
STATE OF H.P.
AUGUST 28, 1995
(K. RAMASWAMY AND B.L. HANSARIA, JJ.]
B
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 : Section 4.
Probation-Benefit of-Failure to file underlaking for-Dismissal of
appeal-Filing of explanation and unde1taking before Supreme Cowt-Accep-
C
tance and Directions.
The appellants were held entitled to benefit of Section 4 of the
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 by the High Court but their appeal was
dismissed for not filing the undertaking of good conduct. They filed their
explanation as well as the undertaking before this Court.
D
Accepting the same, this Court
HELD : The appellant shall remain on probation for a period of one
year from the date of this order. If they keep good conduct and behaviour
during this period, they shall be deemed to have served the sentence. In E
case they do not, the authorities would be free to take them into custody
to serve the sentence imposed on them. (116-D]
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Nos. 1000-1001 of 1995.
Criminal Appeal
From the Judgment and Order dated 21.4.95 of the Himachal
Pradesh High Court in Crl. A. No. 329 of 1989.
Krishan Mahajan, R.N. Karanjawala and Mrs. Manik Karanjawala,
F
for the Appellants.
G
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
As directed by the Court, the Registry issued notice to the standing
counsel for the state of Himachal Pradesh, but no appearance has been
entered so far. Nobody has appeared also.
H
115
116
SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A
Leave Granted.
The appellants have been convicted under ss.451, 426 read with s.34
of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo two m0nths imprison-
ment. The High Court postponed the sentence under s.4 of Probation of
Offender's Act subject to filing an undertaking of good conduct. Since the
B
appellants had not executed the under taking, the High Court dismissed
the appeal. Thus, this appeal by special leave.
c
In view of the finding of the High Court that the appellants are
entitled to Probation of Offender's Act and were directed to execute a
bond, and in view of the explanation given by the appellants in the form of
an affidavit filed. in this Court, we accept the explanation of non-receipt of
the advocate's letter. They have also filed an affidavit in this Court giving ·
an undertaking that they would keep good conduct for a period of one
year. We accept the undertaking and state that they shall remain on
probation for a period of one year from today. If they keep good conduct
D
and behaviour during this period, they shall be deemed to have served the
sentence. In case they do not, the authorities would be free to take them
into custody to serve the sentence imposed by the trial court and affirmed
by the High Court.
The appeal is accordingly allowed.
T.N.A.
Appeal allowed.
Lex