ORDER

By this judgment we propose to dispose of Criminal Appeal Nos. 905-906 of 2007. The facts have been taken from Criminal Appeal No. 905 of 2007. They are as under:

1. Accused No. 1, Rathinam is the son of the owner of Sundaram Textiles Waste Cotton Mill, Madam Sundarammal, situated at Erumal Thottam, Chinnavedampatti. Ten persons were employed in the mill working in three shifts - the day shift from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., the half night shift from 4.00 p.m. to midnight and the night shift from midnight to 7.00 a.m. on the next day. The deceased Chitra, PW 4 Ravi, PW 5 Andy, PW 6 Palanisamy, PW 14 Aruchami and a few other ladies were working in the mill as well. On 22nd December 1995 accused No. 4 Sundaram, his wife Kalamani and one Sivakami attended the day shift which was over by 3.30 p.m. whereafter PW's Ravi and Andy and some lady workers including Vadivu, Vijaya, Poongodi and Yasotha were to attend the half night shift from 4.00 p.m. to midnight. Of the four ladies referred to above, the first three were working in the Spinning Section of the mill. PW Ravi also reached the mill for his duty and while he was working on his machine in the Cording Section he was asked by Madam