In Brief
A man convicted of possessing and selling 1 kilogram of heroin was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment under the NDPS Act. He challenged the sentence on appeal, arguing that courts must assign reasons based on specific factors in Section 32B before exceeding the 10-year minimum. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, holding that courts retain discretion to consider factors beyond those listed in Section 32B, including the quantity of drugs. Since the appellant possessed four times the commercial minimum quantity and the Act aims to deter drug trafficking, the 15-year sentence was justified despite his poverty and status as a carrier. The appeal was dismissed.
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