This Second Appeal is preferred against the decree and judgment of the learned Subordinate Judge of Tanjore in A.S. No. 189 of 1954, reversing the decree and judgment of the learned District Munsiff of Tanjore in O.S. No. 195 of 1953.

In 1950 the District of Tanjore and especially the area of the Sub-Divisional Magistracy of Pattukottai was the seat of continuous trouble between the landlords and the kisans. This kisan movement was being fully exploited by the Communists and their fellow-travellers on the foot that every trouble was welcome for fomenting agitations against the Government and for promoting forces of disorder and violence. The net result was that the Government took stringent measures to restrain the activities of these Communists. Special Police Officers were posted and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pattukottai, directed all the Taluk Magistrates of Pattukottai and Arantangi to promulgate prohibitory orders under section 144, Criminal Procedure Code, in all the villages under their jurisdiction and especially as the Communists were for instance trying to mar the celebrations of the Republic Day and threatening to commit acts of violence and disturb peace a