JUDGMENT

Dr. A. S. ANAND, J.:—Trade union rivalry and fight for leadership, power and influence in the trade union, claimed the life of Prathab Chandran on 15th of June 1972 at the Simpson Plant, Sembium. For the said murder of Prathab Chandran, Ex-Vice-President of the Peravai Workers Union, seven accused were arrayed on seven charges and tried by the learned Sessions Judge, Madras Division who vide judgment dated 29th March 1975 acquitted all the accused of the charge of criminal conspiracy under S. 120B read with S. 302, IPC. All the accused other than accused No. 2 and accused No. 3 (hereinafter referred to as A-2 and A-3) were acquitted of the other charges framed against them and conviction was recorded against A2 and A-3 under S. 302 read with S. 34, IPC and each one of them was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life. A-2 and A-3, namely, Nadodi Jayaraman (A-2) and Dilli Bai (A-3) filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence in the High Court of Madras. A Division Bench of that Court, vide judgment dated 15th September 1976, dismissed their appeal, thereby upholding their conviction and sentence. Both A-2 and A-3 preferred special leave petitions (Crl.)