JUDGMENT :

A.V. RAVINDRA BABU, J.

1. The judgment, dated 06.11.2009, in SCs & STs Sessions Case No. 04 of 2008 on the file of the Court of Special Judge for trial of cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, West Godavari, Eluru (for short “the learned Special Judge”) is under challenge in the Criminal Appeal filed by the unsuccessful accused.

2. The appellant as accused faced trial in the aforesaid Sessions Case for the charge under Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for short “the SCs and STs Act”). The learned Special Judge on conclusion of trial found the accused guilty of the charge under Section 3(1)(x) of the SCs and STs Act and convicted him under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C and, after questioning him about the quantum of sentence, sentenced him to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for a period of six (6) months and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- in default to suffer Simple Imprisonment for one (1) month.

3. The parties to this Criminal Appeal will hereinafter be referred to as described before the trial Court, for the sake of convenience.

4. The SCs & STs Sessions Case No. 04 of 2008 ar