LOPCHAND NARUJI JAT vs STATE OF GUJARAT

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellants under Section 9-B(i)(b) of the Explosive Act, 1884, for possession of 180 detonators without a license. The Court clarified that no prior sanction from the Central Government was required for prosecution under this Act, distinguishing it from the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The Court found the evidence sufficient to establish that the seized items were indeed explosives as defined under Section 4(d) of the Act, affirming the lower courts' decisions.