High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K M NATARAJAN
C. S. Varadachari and Others - Appellant
Versus
C. S. Shanti - Respondent
Case No : Criminal M.P. No. 7370 of 1983
Decided On : 24 December 1986
Accused 3 to 6 in C.C. 376 of 1983 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate No. 1, Madurai, have preferred this petition to quash the said proceeding against them under S. 482, Cr.P.C. The respondent herein filed a complaint against these petitioners and four other accused on the following allegations. The first accused is the husband of the complainant. Accused 3 and 4 are the parents of the first accused. The sixth accused is the sister of the complainant's mother. The fifth accused is the husband of the sixth accused. Accused 7 and 8 are the parents of the second accused. The complainant married the first accused on 22-8-1975 according to the caste custom and the said marriage is subsisting. There were misunderstandings between them and at the instigation of accused 3 to 6, the first accused was compelling her to give consent for his second marriage. On 25-5-1983 the first accused left the house without informing the complainant and when she questioned accused 3 and 4, they refused to divulge any information about his address. The complainant's father came to know that the first accused married the second accused at the instigation of accused 3 to 8 and in their presence on 26-5-1983, at about 11 a.m. in the house of the second accused, the first accused tied thali around the neck of the second accused and they exchanged garlands. Witnesses 1 and 2 cited in the complaint at the invitation of the first accused attended the marriage and they were informed that the relationship between the complainant and the first accused was severed. Accused 3 to 8, after the thali was tied, threw Akshathai (holy rice) and blessed the couple and gave presents. Hence, she has preferred the complaint. Her sworn statement was recorded. The complaint was taken on file against the first accused under Section 494, IPC and against the other accused under S. 494 read with S. 114, IPC. Aggrieved by the same, accused 3 to 6 have filed this petition to quash the proceeding on the following grounds : According to the petitioners even if the entire allegations in the complaint as well as the sworn statement are true, they would not constitute an offence of abetment of bigamy against these petitioners. It is further submitted that under S. 114, I.P.C. abetment of the offence is not prior to the time the offence takes place but the abettor also helps in the commission of the offence. It is further submitted that the complainant has no personal knowledge of the bigamy marriage and the role played by any of the accused and that none of the witnesses cited in the complaint has been examined under S. 200, Cr.P.C. before even the complaint was taken on file. Since there is no legal (sic) on record for application of judicial mind at the time of taking the complaint, the order passed by the Magistrate is without jurisdiction and is liable to be quashed. It is further submitted that the said complaint has been filed against those accused due to enmity and with ulterior motive to harass them by abuse of the process of court.
2. At the outset, it is to be found out whether the allegations levelled in the complaint and the sworn statement do constitute and offence of abetment under S. 114, I.P.C. and whether there is any legal evidence to support the same. In the complaint it is alleged that due to enmity between the complainant and accused 3 to 6, the first accused, at their instigation, was compelling the complainant to give her consent, for some time prior to the occurrence, for remarriage. Another allegation made in the complaint is that the complainant came to know that the father of the complainant was informed by the first witness cited in the complaint that accused 1 and 2 celebrated the second marriage at the instigation of accused 3 to 8, and in their presence the marriage was celebrated in the house of the second accused by tying thali and exchanging garlands and that accused 3 to 8 after marriage threw holy rice and blessed the coupl
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