Major K.Mathews v. S.Sivaraman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 23.01.2020
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH Crl.A.No.133 of 2012 Major K.Mathews ..Appellant/Complainant Vs.
1. S.Sivaraman
2. T.A.Sathiapalan (deceased)
3. V.Subramanian (deceased)
4. A.Gadhadharan
5. S.Ramalingam
6. M.P.Subramanian
7. S.Manivannan
8. E.Raghavan (deceased)
9. D.Kuppusamy (deceased)
10. C.G.Bhaskar (deceased)
11. S.Varadharajan
12. R.Sundarrajan
13. K.Manoj
14. P.Janaardhan
15. A.Kandasamy
16. S.Thirugnanam ..Respondents/Accused Criminal Appeal filed under Section 378 Cr.P.C. against the judgment and order dated 10.10.2011 passed in C.C.No.4605 of 2001 on the file of the XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet, Chennai.
For Appellant : Mr.B.Kumarasamy Amicus Curiae For Respondents: Mr.S.N.Thangaraj
JUDGMENT
Challenge in this criminal appeal is to the judgment and order dated 10.10.2011 passed in C.C.No.4605 of 2001 on the file of the XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet, Chennai.
2. Major K.Mathews initiated a prosecution in C.C.No.4605 of 2001 before the XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet, Chennai, for the offences under Sections 120-B, 500, 501 and 506 (I) r/w 34 IPC, against sixteen accused/respondents herein. During trial, T.A.Sathiapalan (A2), V.Subramanian (A3), E.Raghavan (A8), D.Kuppusamy (A9) and C.G.Bhaskar (A10) died and the case proceeded against the rest of the accused.
3. Before the trial Court, Major K.Mathews examined himself as PW1 and marked eight exhibits. On behalf of the accused, no witness was examined, but, one exhibit was marked.
4. After considering the evidence on record and hearing either side, the trial Court, by judgment and order dated 10.10.2011, acquitted the accused of all the offences.
5. Challenging the acquittal, Major K.Mathews has preferred the present appeal after obtaining special leave.
6. When this matter was posted for final disposal on 05.02.2019, there was no representation for Major K.Mathews. Again on 09.01.2020 also, there was no representation for him. Under Section 386 Cr.P.C., the Court is required to hear the appellant or his pleader only if he appears. If he does not appear, the Court can peruse the records and pass appropriate orders. However, on 09.01.2020, this Court appointed Mr.P.Kumarasamy, Advocate (Enrollment No.1156 of 1993) as counsel for Major K.Mathews to prosecute this appeal and adjourned the case.
7. Heard Mr.P.Kumarasamy, learned Amicus Curiae for the appellant and Mr.S.N.Thangaraj, learned counsel for the accused.
8. This Court perused the evidence on record and the exhibits marked in the trial Court.
9. It is the case of Major K.Mathews that he was elected as the President of Annaji Nagar Welfare Association for the period 1998-2000 and was re-elected for the period 2000-2002. While so,
it is alleged that the accused/respondents herein printed and circulated a defamatory pamphlet (Ex-P1) dated 24.02.2001 making false imputations against Major K.Mathews with the intention of defaming him. This pamphlet is the subject matter of the prosecution in C.C.No.4602 of 2001, in which, the accused therein were acquitted, challenging which, Major K.Mathews has preferred an appeal in Crl.A.No.132 of 2012.
10. Coming to the case at hand, it is the contention of Major K.Mathews that the accused herein convened a General Body Meeting of the Welfare Association on 04.03.2001 and passed resolutions against him. According to Major K.Mathews, the said resolutions are defamatory in nature. Hence, the present prosecution.
11. This Court carefully perused the evidence of Major K.Mathews and the exhibits marked in this case.
12. Major K.Mathews has filed only a photocopy of the resolution (Ex-P3) dated 04.03.2001. A reading of the resolution (Ex-P3) shows that fifty nine members of the Welfare Association had participated in the General Body Meeting held on 04.03.2001 and they had not passed any resolution, but have only discussed the activities of Major K.Mathews.
13. For instance, they have referred to the anonymous pamphlet (Ex-P1) dated 24.02.2001 as one of the subjects and have not taken any decision with regard to that. The resolution (Ex-P3) dated 04.03.2001 also refers to one incident, in which, Major K.Mathews was caught by the local people, when he was allegedly diverting metro water into the sump in his house; Major K.Mathews was threatening the members of the Welfare Association that he would file civil and criminal cases against them.
14. The evidence on record shows that Major K.Mathews filed a suit in O.S.No.2403 of 2001 in the City Civil Court, Chennai, for injunction against the members of the Welfare Association.
15. In the opinion of this Court, the General Body Meeting convened by fifty nine members out of hundred members of the Welfare Association to discuss certain issues touching upon the activities of Major K.Mathews in his capacity of the President of the Welfare Association, cannot be said to be defamatory.
16. In this context, it may be apposite to refer to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Arulvelu and another Vs. State represented by the Public Prosecutor and another1, wherein, in paragraph no.36, it is held as follows:
"36. Careful scrutiny of all these (2009) 10 SCC 206
judgments lead to the definite conclusion that the appellate court should be very slow in setting aside a judgment of acquittal particularly in a case where two view are possible. The trial court judgment can not be set aside because the appellate court's view is more probable. The appellate court would not be justified in setting aside the trial court judgment unless it arrives at a clear finding on marshalling the entire evidence on record that the judgment of the trial Court is either perverse or wholly unsustainable in law."
17. In view of the above, this Court does not find any infirmity in the judgment and order passed by the trial Court, warranting interference.
As a result, this criminal appeal is dismissed as being devoid of merits. The acquittal of the accused by the trial Court stands confirmed. This Court places on record its appreciation to Mr.P.Kumarasamy, Advocate (Enrollment No.1156 of 1993), for his meticulous preparation and presentation of the case. The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, Chennai, is directed to pay a sum of Rs.5,000/- as remuneration to Mr.P.Kumarasamy.
-s/d- Assistant Registrar True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar To
1. The XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai.
2. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, North Fort Road, High Court Campus, Chennai - 600 104.
3. The Deputy Registrar, with a direction to return (Crl.Side) the original records to the Madras High Court, trial Court Chennai - 104.
+1 Cc to Mr.S.N.Thangaraj, Advocate sr 4690.
+1 CC to Mr.B.Kumarasamy, Advocate sr 4589.
Crl.A.No.133 of 2012 RP(CO) SP(04/03/2020)