In Brief
The State challenged a High Court order that had reduced the sentence of a man convicted under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to time already served. The Supreme Court held that where a statute prescribes a mandatory minimum sentence, courts cannot impose less, and Article 142 of the Constitution cannot be used to circumvent this. The High Court's reduction was impermissible. The Court set aside the High Court's order and directed the respondent to serve the remaining six-month imprisonment sentence imposed by the trial court, restoring the original conviction and sentence.
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