Observing that a drunken driver is like a suicide bomber and deserves a stern punishment, a Delhi court has dismissed an appeal by an auto-driver seeking waiver of his 20-day sentence in a drunken driving case.
The driver, Pawan kumar, had pleaded guilty in the trial of the case by a Metropolitan Magistrate under different Sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Magistrate had sentenced him to 20-day imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000. He has already deposited the fine amount. The breath analysis report of the appellant had revealed that the alcohol content in his blood was found to be 539.7 mg/100 ml, the permissible limit of which is 30 mg/100 ml, the court noted in its order.
Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat said, “I am of the opinion that the sentence of imprisonment of 20 days imposed upon the appellant is in no way, harsh or unwarranted. The appeal is sans any merit. Hence the same is hereby dismissed.’’
“The fact that the appellant, in the instant case, was driving a commercial vehicle in the peak hours, after heavy intake of alcohol, makes the offence committed by him more severe. There would have certainly been a horrible tragedy, if he was not stopped by traffic police officials,” Mr. Bhat said.
“Hence it won’t be inappropriate to say that a drunken driver is like a suicide bomber, who has set out to kill himself as well as the other road users and thus deserves a very stern sentence which should have a deterrent effect and discourage everyone from driving after alcohol intake,” Mr. Bhat said.
Delhi court dismisses appeal by auto-driver seeking waiver of his 20-day sentence in a drunken driving case
