This is an appeal by 76 accused (alleged to be the residuum of 1,000 rioters) in S.C.Nos.41 and 42 of 1950 on the file of the Court of Session, West Tanjore division. In the two cases, popularly known as the Nannalur Rioting case, there were in all 122 accused before the Court of Sessions. The charges against them were as follows:

"That you, accused 1 to 122, on or about the 14th day of April, 1948, at Singamangalam and Vadakku Nannalur, were members of an unlawful assembly, and in prosecution of the common object of such assembly viz., preventing the arrest of persons and rescuing of arrested persons concerned in the rioting at Thuruvarankollai Odai, Singamangalam on 12th April, 1948; and assaulting and murdering the Police party stationed at Vadakku Nannalur and wresting by force the rifles of the Police, committed the offence of rioting, that you accused 44, 47 and 49 were armed with deadly weapons and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 148 of the Indian Penal Code and the rest of you under section 147, Indian Penal Code and within my cognizance.

2. That you, accused 1 to 122, at or about the same time and place, and in the course of the same transacti