Srinagar: Caught in a state of drunkenness at a public place, the Judicial Magistrate here on Friday sentenced four city residents to community service for four days.
The court of 1st Additional Munsiff/Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Zirham Hamid, passed the order in a complaint under 355 BNS (intoxication and trespass in a public place and causing annoyance).
The complaint was filed by the Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Station Nowhatta. It stated that it had received credible information on April 1 that some drunkards were causing annoyance and abusing the general public at Main Road, Sheikh Colony, Nowhatta.
Accordingly, a police party was deputed and four persons identified as Manzoor Ahmad Malla, Javid Ahmad Qureshi, Parveez Ahmad Mochi and Shabir Ahmad Sheikh were apprehended and brought to the police station in an apparent drunken and intoxicated state.
The boozers were subsequently produced before a medical board at SMHS Hospital for medical examination, the police said in its report. The medical examination confirmed that the accused persons had consumed alcohol, it added.
The accused were informed in the court that they were not bound to plead guilty and in case they do so it shall be read against them. In one voice they submitted that they are voluntarily confessing before the court and that their decision to confess is not induced by any kind of fear, pressure or undue influence.
The accused confessed to have committed the act and stated of being the first-time offenders.
Magistrate Zirham convicted all the accused for the offence under section 355 BNS.
Citing the newest form of punishment in the form of community service enacted by the Indian legislature in line with practices of the current global order, the court emphasized rehabilitation over retribution.
Accordingly it ordered “all the accused be directed to perform community service and to do the cleaning and maintenance work of the shrine of Mukhdoom Sahib and Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Nowhatta”.
The court directed the accused to report to the ward officer in-charge of Mukhdoom Sahib Ziyarat and do the cleaning and maintenance work for two days w.e.f April 5 to 6 from 08:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
It also ordered “the accused shall do the cleaning and sweeping work at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Nowhatta for two days with effect from 07.04.2025 to 08.04.2025 from 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM.”
