T.Albert v. The State Rep. By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

( Criminal Jurisdiction ) Friday, the Twentieth day of December Two Thousand Nineteen PRESENT The Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS PETITION No.9863 of 2019 IN CRL.A.No.454 of 2019 T.ALBERT [APPELLANT/ACCUSED ] Vs THE STATE REP. BY [ RESPONDENT ] THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ALL WOMEN POLICE STATION, ST. THOMAS MOUNT, CHENNAI.

Petition praying that in the circumstances stated therein and in the affidavit filed therewith the High Court will be pleased to (i) To set aside the conviction and suspend the sentence imposed upon the appellant by Sessions Judge Mahila Court at Chengalpattu, in Spl.C.No.24 of 2017, by judgement dated 09.07.2019. Order : This petition coming on for orders upon perusing the petition and the filed in support thereof and upon hearing the arguments of M/S.GR.SRIDHARAN, Advocate, for M/S.A.RAMESH MANIKANDAN, Advocate for the petitioner, and of MR. K.PRABAKAR, Additional Public Prosecutor, on behalf of the Respondent, the court made the following order:- The petitioner faced trial in Spl. Case No.24 of 2017 on the file of learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Chengalpattu. Under judgment dated 09.07.

2019, the trial Court found the petitioner guilty under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and sentenced him to undergo Rigorous imprisonment for a period of ten years and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000/-, in default, to undergo simple imprisonment for a further period of six months. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner has filed this Criminal Appeal along with the petition seeking suspension of sentence.

2. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner/accused that the amount of fine had already been paid, as directed by the trial Court in its judgment and he has also produced a receipt before this Court to that effect. He further submitted that

there are several infirmities and inconsistencies in the prosecution case and there are also contradictions in material particulars in the evidence of the prosecution. He also submitted that there are arguable points available in this Criminal Appeal, which is not likely to be taken up for final hearing in the near future and hence, the substantive sentence imposed against the petitioner may be suspended.

3. Heard learned Additional Public Prosecutor on the submissions made by the learned counsel for petitioner.

4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and taking into account the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side, this Court is of the view that the petitioner herein can be granted the relief of suspension of sentence.

5. Accordingly, the substantive sentence of imprisonment alone is suspended and the petitioner herein is directed to be enlarged on bail on the following conditions:- a) The Petitioner/Accused shall deposit a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Fifty Thousand only) to the credit of Spl. Case No.24 of 2017 before the Trial Court, on or before 10.01.2020;

b) On such deposit being made, the Trial Court shall redeposit the said amount in a Fixed Deposit Account, in any one of the Nationalized Banks, renewable thereafter periodically. The disbursal of this amount shall be decided at the culmination of the Appeal.

c) Thereafter, the Petitioner/Accused is ordered to be released on bail, on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only) with two sureties of whom, one should be a blood relative, each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, Chengalpattu;

d) The Petitioner/Accused and the sureties shall affix their photographs and Left Thumb Impressions in the surety bonds and the Magistrate may obtain a copy of their Aadhaar Cards or Bank Pass Books to ensure their identities; and e) The Petitioner/ Accused shall appear before the Trial Court on the first working day of every month at 10.30 a.m., until the disposal of the Appeal and if he is not able to appear before the Trial Court on any day, due to unavoidable circumstances, he shall make arrangements to file an application under Section 317 of Cr.PC. and shall appear before the Trial Court on any other day in lieu of his absence, as directed by the Trial Court. Such an application shall not be entertained often.

f) On the failure of the Petitioner/Accused, depositing the said amount, it is open to the Trial Court to commit the Petitioner / Accused into custody for undergoing the sentence.

-sd/- 20/12/2019 This order, on being produced, be punctually observed and carried into execution by all concerned TRUE COPY Sub-Assistant Registrar (Statistics/C.S.) High Court, Madras - 600 104.

TO 1 THE SESSIONS JUDGE, MAHILA COURT, CHENGALPATTU.

2 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ALL WOMEN POLICE STATION, ST. THOMAS MOUNT, CHENNAI.

3 THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT, MADRAS.

4 THE SUPERINTENDENT, CENTRAL PRISON, PUZHAL.

C.C. to M/S.A.RAMESH MANIKANDAN Advocate on payment of necessary charges +2 C.C. to M/S.G.V.SRIDARAN, Advocate on payment of necessary charges SR.NO.26320 Order in CRL MP.9863/2019 in CRL.A.No.454/2019 Date :20/12/2019 From 7.2.2001 the Registry is issuing certified copies of the BAIL/Anti.BAIL Orders in this format TA-20/12/2019