Karthik v. The State Of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 20/11/2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN CRL OP(MD). Nos.9952 and 18717 of 2025 and Crl.M.P(MD) Nos.7356, 7357, 15495 and 15496 of 2025 Karthik ... Petitioner in Crl.O.P(MD) No.9952 of 2025 Gunasekaran ... Petitioner in Crl.O.P(MD) No.18717 of 2025 Vs State of Tamilnadu, Rep by Inspector of Police, Chatrakudi Police Station, Chatrakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Crime No.7/2020.

... Respondent (in both petitions) COMMON PRAYER :- These Criminal Original Petitions are filed under Section 528 BNSS, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned charge sheet in STC No.929 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Paramakudi and quash the same as illegal as against the petitioners.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Anandraj 1/7

For Respondent : Mr.R.Meenakshi Sundaram, Additional Public Prosecutor (in both petitions) COMMON ORDER These Criminal Original Petitions have been filed to quash the impugned charge sheet in S.T.C.No.929 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Paramakudi, which was filed for the offences under Sections 143, 353 and 188 of IPC.

2. The allegation in the final report is that the petitioners, along with others, indulged in a protest without valid permission and caused nuisance and disturbance to the general public, besides causing obstruction to traffic.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners, along with others, were exercising their right to assemble peacefully, which could not, by any stretch of imagination, constitute the offences alleged. He would rely upon the judgment of this Court in the case of Jeevanandham and others vs. State rep. by Inspector of Police, 2/7

Velayuthampalayam Police Station, Karur District and another, reported in 2018 SCC OnLine Mad 13698 in support of his submissions. 4.The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent, per contra, would submit that the petitioners, along with others, participated in an unauthorized protest and caused obstruction to traffic, besides causing nuisance and disturbance to the general public; and therefore, the impugned final report is justified. 5.Admittedly, the petitioners, along with others, participated in a protest. The question is whether such an act would constitute the offences alleged by the prosecution.

6.In the case of Jeevanandham, referred to supra, which related to a protest without valid permission and when the accused had filed quash petition of the final report filed for the offences under Sections 143 and 188 of IPC, this Court had held as follows:

"35 . Crl.O.P.(MD)No.11836 of 2018:- In this case, the Final Report has been filed only 3/7

for an offence under Section 143 of Cr.P.C and the Court below has taken cognizance of the Final Report. A reading of the allegations made in the Final Report would show that a group of persons were agitating for non supply of the essential commodities in a ration shop. In this case, the FIR was registered under Section 143 and 188 of IPC. The Final Report was filed for an offence under Section 143 of IPC. Insofar as the offence under Section 143 of IPC is concerned, the concerned Police Officer has quoted Section 30(2) of the Police Act, and therefore, has straight away proceeded to register an FIR under Section 143 of IPC.

As stated above, a mere violation of the so-called promulgation under Section 30(2) of the Police Act will not make out an offence under Section 143 of IPC by straight away declaring an assembly of persons to be an unlawful assembly. The power under Section 30(2) of the Police Act is merely regulatory in nature. In fact, Section 32 of the Police Act itself provides for a penalty for disobeying an order issued under Section 30(2) of the Police Act with a punishment of a fine not exceeding 200 rupees, where as an offence under Section 143 of IPC is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months.

Act will not by itself constitute an offence under Section 143 of IPC. In this case, the assembly of persons were made to express dissatisfaction of the governance and claiming for minimum rights that are guaranteed to an ordinary citizen. If such an assembly of persons are to be trifled by registering an FIR under Section 143 of IPC and filing a Final Report for the very same offence, no democratic dissent can ever be shown by the citizens and such prohibition will amount to violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.'' 7.The above observations of this Court would squarely apply to the facts of the instant case. Furthermore, there is no allegation of assault or criminal force to deter any public servant from discharging their duty. In the absence of assault or criminal force, the offence under Section 353 of IPC would not be made out.

8.Since the allegation does not constitute any of the offences, this Court is of the view that the impugned final report in STC No.929 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Paramakudi, is liable to be quashed and is accordingly quashed.

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9. In the result, this Criminal Original Petitions are allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 20.11.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No cp TO 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Paramakudi.

2.The Inspector of Police, Chatrakudi Police Station, Chatrakudi, Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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SUNDER MOHAN,J CP CRL OP(MD). Nos.9952 and 18717 of 2025 Date : 20/11/2025 7/7