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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1658-1659 OF 2017 [@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) NOS. 6745-6746 OF 2017]

THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS.                     Appellant(s)                                 VERSUS

M/S SMART INDIA MARKETING & ANR.              Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J. 1. Leave granted.

2. Heard  Mr.  Shyam  Divan,  learned  senior  counsel appearing  for  the  appellants  and  Mr.  Nitin  Kumar Thakur,  learned  counsel  appearing  for  the caveator-respondents.

3. The appellants are before this Court, aggrieved by  the  interim  order  passed  by  the  High  Court  of Judicature  at  Patna  in  Criminal  Writ  Jurisdiction Case  No.  627  of  2017,  whereby  the  High  Court  has directed  to  de-seal  the  godown  belonging  to Respondent  No. 1  and release  the goods  therein on execution of a surety bond of Rs. 40 Lakhs.

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4. Having regard to the contentions raised by the learned  senior  counsel  based  on  the  Notification dated 24.01.2017 issued under Section 24(1) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, we are of the view that the matter needs to be finally decided by the High Court expeditiously.  Therefore, we dispose of these appeals with a request to the High Court to dispose  of  the  main  writ  petition,  being  Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 627 of 2017 expeditiously and preferably within six weeks from today.

5. We make it clear that it will be open to the respondents,  in case  they choose  so, to  amend the pleadings as well within two weeks from today.  Till the writ petition is disposed of, the implementation of the interim order passed by the High Court for de-sealing and releasing of goods shall be deferred.

6. Needless also to say that the presence of the officers on account of any non-compliance may not, hence, be required.   

No costs.   .......................J.

             [ KURIAN JOSEPH ]  

.......................J.               [ R. BANUMATHI ]  

New Delhi; September 15, 2017.

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ITEM NO.50               COURT NO.5               SECTION II-A                S U P R E M E  C O U R T  O F  I N D I A                        RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 6745-6746 of 2017 THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS.                          Appellant(s)                                 VERSUS M/S SMART INDIA MARKETING & ANR.                   Respondent(s) Date : 15-09-2017 These appeals were called on for hearing today. CORAM :  HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH          HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE R. BANUMATHI For Appellant(s) Mr. Shyam Diwan, Sr. Adv.  

Mr. Keshav Mohan, Adv.  Mr. Smarhar Singh, AOR Mr. Piyush Choudhary, Adv.  

                   For Respondent(s) Mr. Nitin Kumar Thakur, AOR

Mr. Pawan Kumar Sharma, Adv.  Mr. Rajiv Kumar Sinha, Adv.  Ms. Payal Soni, Adv.  

          UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following                              O R D E R

Leave granted.  The criminal appeals are disposed of in terms of the signed

non-reportable Judgment.   Pending Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand disposed of.

(JAYANT KUMAR ARORA)                              (RENU DIWAN)    COURT MASTER                                ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

(Signed non-reportable Judgment is placed on the file)