JUDGMENT

YOGESHWAR DAYAL, J. :— These appeals arise from the judgment of the Madras High Court dated 9th August, 1990 passed in Criminal Appeals Nos. 840 to 855 of 1978, 867 of 1978, 881 to 885 of 1978, 887 of 1978, 889 to 913 of 1978, 916 of 1978, 923 to 937 of 1978, 943 of 1978 and 944 of 1978 and C.A. No. 156 of 1981 whereby the accused/appellant before the High Court were acquitted by the High Court.

2. All the accused, except accused 105 and 106 were either employed or associated with the Corporation of Madras; Accused 2, 3, 4 and 5 were working as Engineers in Electrical Department besides the 1st accused, who died during the trial of the case; accused 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 were Electrical Supervisors; accused 11, 13, 14, and 15 were employed as Asstt. Electrical Supervisors; accused 16 and 17 were Charge Engineers; accused 18 and 19 were Lighting Inspectors, accused 20, 23 and 24 were Temporary Time-keepers; accused 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 37 were Time-keepers; accused 34 and 35 were A. 4 Clerks; accused 36 and 37 were doing the work of A.4 clerks; accused 38, 39, 40 and 41 were clerks; accused 42 and 43 were Tax Collectors; accused 44 and 49 were Acco