Ramalingam @ Murugavel v. Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 02..02.2024

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH and Crl MP Nos .731 and 733 of 2024 1.Ramalingam @ Murugavel 2.Venkadesha Sudharshan @ Venkatesa Sudharshan 3.Ashok Kumar @ Aatral Ashok Kumar 4.R.Mani @ Delux Mani 5.S.N.Muthukumar 6.Sekar @ Vidiyal Sekar 7.Krishnamoorthi @ K.S.Krishnamurthu 8.R.Arunkumar 9.Senthil @ C.Senthilnathan 10.Anand @ Anadhkumar 11.Mohan @ Mohanraj 12.Mohan Nallasamy @ Nallsamy 13.P.Jagathesh @ Jagadheeshwaran 14.S,Muthukumar 15.Suresh @ Anoor Suresh ... Petitioners/Accused No.1 to 15 Vs.

1/6

1.The State Represented by The Inspector of Police Kankeyam Police Station Tiruppur District.

..1st Respondent/Complainant (Crime No.466 of 2023) 2.Karthikkumar Sub Inspector of Police Kangeyam Police Staion Tiruppur District.

..2nd Respondent/Defacto Complainant Criminal Original Petition under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code praying to call for the records relating to P.R.C.No.26 of 2023 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Kangeyam and quash the same. For Petitioner :

Mr.M.Guruprasad For Respondents :

Mr.K.M..Muhilan Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

Considering the materials placed before this Court, this Court was inclined to take up the main petition itself for final hearing. 2.

The allegation against the petitioners is that the petitioners association is a registered association under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1974 and the association conducted the sitting protest and 2/6

hunger strike. While doing so, they had instructed the protesters to cause disturbance to the public and throw stones on the vehicles in order to grab the attention of the Government. With these allegations, the FIR came to be registered in Crime No.466 of 2023. On completion of investigation, the final report was also filed before the Court below and the same was taken on file in PRC No.26 of 2023. The Court below has taken cognizance for offence under Section 143 and 341 of IPC and Section 5 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992. 3.

Heard Mr.M.Guruprasad , learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.K.M..Muhilan, learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for the respondents.

4.

There is no dispute with regard to the fact that the protest was conducted based on the permission given by this Court while passing orders in WP No.26325 of 2023 dated 11.09.2023. In view of the same, the protest cannot be held to be an unlawful assembly under Section 143 of IPC. That apart, there is absolutely no material to show that any one was involved in the 3/6

destruction of any property. There is no material to show that there is any wrongful restraint and hence, the offence under Section 341 of IPC is also not made out. A charge under Section 5 of TNPPDL Act has been included on mere surmises and assumption and without any basis. This is a case which has been foisted with ulterior motives and it is attended with malafides. That apart, even if the entire allegations are taken to be true, no offence has been made out against the petitioner and hence, the continuation of the Criminal proceedings against this petitioner is an abuse of process of law which requires the interference of this Court exercising its Jurisdiction under Section 482 of Cr.PC.

5.

In the light of the above discussion, the proceedings in PRC No.26 of 2023 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Kangeyam, is hereby quashed and this Criminal Original petition stands allowed. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 02.02.2024 kp Index : Yes/No Speaking order:Yes/No 4/6

To

1. The Inspector of Police Kankeyam Police Station Tiruppur District.

2.Karthikkumar Sub Inspector of Police Kangeyam Police Staion Tiruppur District.

3.The Judicial Magistrate, Kangeyam.

4.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court.

5/6

N.ANAND VENKATESH,J kp Crl.O.P.No.1066 of 2024 02.02.2024 6/6