SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Before:- S.P. Bharucha and N. Santosh Hegde, JJ.

SLP (C) No. 2407 of 1999. D/d. 24.2.1999

Arjun Das - Petitioner

Versus

Rampyari and others - Respondents

For the Petitioner :- A.K. Sanghi, Advocate.

Petitioner seeking leniency in punishment - Petitioner punished for violation of law - Petitioner pleading that he has been punished harsh as he is 71 years old - 20 years elapsed before petitioner took steps in appeal - Non-compliance with order although there was no stay - Moreover, he must be punished for his breach regardless of his age - No reason to exercise discretion in favour of petitioner to impose lesser punishment than already imposed.

[Paras 1 and 2]

ORDER

S.P. Bharucha, J. - Learned counsel for the petitioner states that there are three options under the law for punishing a man who has violated the law as here. He also submits that the punishment is harsh because the petitioner is 71 years old. He submits that a token punishment should be awarded.

2. Firstly, 20 years have elapsed before the petitioner took steps in appeal and although there was no stay he did not comply with the order. Secondly, if he is in breach he must be punished regardless of his age. Thirdly, there is no reason why we should exercise our discretion in favour of such a man to impose anything less than the punishment which has been imposed.

3. The SLP is dismissed.