There is 'steep increase' in drunken driving incidents: Court

Observing that there was a steep increase in drunken driving incidents, a Delhi court has refused to lessen seven-day imprisonment awarded to a man in one such case, saying he needed to be sensitised about road safety rules.
Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna dismissed an appeal filed by convict Harvinder Singh against an order passed by a Metropolitan Magistrate, awarding him the jail term and a fine.
"After considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the impugned order dated August 3, 2016, I am of opinion that no interference is called for. Metropolitan Magistrate has already taken lenient view by imposing token sentence of seven days on the accused...

"The accused was found driving the vehicle in a dangerous manner and under the influence of liquor. The accused needs to be sensitised about road safety rules and no leniency can be shown when there is steep increase in such incidents," the court said and dismissed the appeal.
Singh was convicted by the metropolitan magistrate for the offence under several sections of Motor Vehicles Act in case of drunken and dangerous driving and was awarded simple sentence of seven days in jail along with a fine of Rs 3,000.
The fine was paid by Singh, who filed an appeal on the quantum of substantive sentence.

In the appeal, the convict had pleaded that he was first time offender and, therefore, was entitled to leniency and benefit of probation.