1. These appeals are from convictions under S.500 I. P. C. in respect of the same article, first published in one newspaper and then reproduced in another. The appeals have been heard together since they involve the same questions and they may be disposed of by a common judgment.

2. The accused in Crl. Appeal 81 of 1958 from C. C. 3 of 1957 is the editor, printer and publisher of a Malayalam daily of Trivandrum by the name of "Pothujanam". In the issue of the 21st August 1957 of this newspaper there appeared the article, Ext. P1 (a), attacking Sri V. R. Krishna Iyer, the Minister for Law and Electricity of this State. The article purported to be from the newspaper's own correspondent and it may be translated thus:

"IRREGULAR APPOINTMENTS.

Interference by the Law Minister in appointments in the Electricity Department. Trivandrum - August 21.

Information is to hand that although appointments under the Electricity Board are to be made through the Public Service Commission since no rules have yet been framed regarding the powers of the Board, Minister Krishna Iyer has, contrary to this, begun some appointment Kumbhkonams. He has thus made the gambit for filling up the Electric