Gujarat High Court Criminal Manual (subordinate court practice), 1977
(1) The discretion granted to the Courts as to the amount and kind of punishment is extremely wide and Courts should exercise their discretion after careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances of the case. (2) Short sentences of imprisonment are seldom suitable. They do not act as deterrent and the period is not long enough or the reformatory influences to work or for the offenders' learning any useful trade or occupation. They are also likely to cause harm by bringing first or casual offenders into contact with habitual offenders. Such sentences may, however, serve a useful purpose in the case of offences against taxation laws, Food Adulteration Act and other laws enacted to promote social welfare.