In Brief
The appellant was convicted and sentenced for possession of 20 grams of opium under Section 17(b) of the NDPS Act (two years imprisonment). The Supreme Court held that 20 grams constitutes a small quantity, attracting Section 17(a) (six months imprisonment), not Section 17(b). Applying the principle that criminal statutes do not operate retrospectively, the Court reduced his sentence to six months under Section 17(a) while maintaining his conviction under Section 20(b)(ii)(A) for possession of charas. Fines and default clauses were affirmed; sentences run concurrently.
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