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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
Jackson, J.
Arunachala Chetty
Versus
Emperor
Decided On : 19.02.1931
Section 194 - Madras Local Boards Act 1920 - The court found that the accused had obtained permission to install the machinery by December 1928, and the permission was not cancelled until the following August. The court also emphasized that the offence of installing machinery without a license is not a continuing offence, as the word 'install' indicates inception and not user. Therefore, the conviction under Section 194 was not upheld, and the petitioner was acquitted with the fine ordered to be refunded.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was fined under Section 194, Madras Local Boards Act 1920 for installing machinery without a license. The petitioner had applied for a license, and although his application never came before the Union Board, he was deemed to have obtained permission by December 1928. The president had refused permission to install the machinery on 24th October 1928, but the petitioner had obtained permission to use the premises under Section 193. The petitioner was prosecuted under Section 194 and convicted.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the accused had obtained permission to install the machinery by December 1928, and the permission was not cancelled until the following August. The court also emphasized that the offence of installing machinery without a license is not a continuing offence, as the word 'install' indicates inception and not user. Therefore, the conviction under Section 194 was not upheld, and the petitioner was acquitted with the fine ordered to be refunded.
Issues: The issues involved the petitioner's application for a license, the refusal of permission to install the machinery, the prosecution under Section 194, and the interpretation of the offence as a continuing offence.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the fact that the accused had obtained permission to install the machinery by December 1928 and that the offence of installing machinery without a license is not a continuing offence, as the word 'install' indicates inception and not user.
Final Decision: The petitioner was acquitted, and the fine imposed under Section 194 was ordered to be refunded.
Jackson, J.
1. The petitioner has been fined Rs. 50 under Section 194, Madras Local Boards Act 1920 for installing machinery without a license. He applied for license on 4th September 1928 and his application never came before the Union Board, so by provision of Sub-clause 4 in the 1920 Act he would be deemed to have obtained permission by 4th December 1928. A mahazar was sent to the Board asking it to grant him permission to "begin machine work" and this was permitted by the Board on 21st November 1928. The learned appellate Magistrate finds that this was only permission to use the premises under Section 193 and not permission to install the machinery under Section 194. This is to press the case against an accused. He had applied for leave to install, and leave to install was what the president refused on 24th October 1928. It was that refusal which inspired the mahazar on the same day, 24th October 1928, and obviously what the people wanted was the permission for what the accused had applied for, and what the president had refused.
2. There can be no doubt that at least by December 1928 accused had permission to install the machinery.
3. The permission was not cancelled till the following August by which time apparently the machinery was installed; at any rate there is no evidence to the contrary.
4. Meanwhile accused was regularly paying license fees up to 31st March 1930. For the next period license was refused and accused was prosecuted. He might possibly have been prosecuted under Section 193, but the Union Board Clerk, P. W. 1, states in terms that he was being prosecuted under Section 194 and it is under that section that he has been convicted.
5. The learned Subdivisional Magistrate finds that the offence of installing machinery without a license is a continuing offence, but this view has no justification. The very word install shows that inception and not user is contemplated: of Muthu Bala Chettiar v. Chairman, Madura Municipality A.I.R.1927Mad.961 at p. 125 (of 51 Mad.):
Section 250 (194 in Local Boards Act) does not deal with the user of such places, but only with their inception.
6. Once a factory is installed, its user cannot be said to be a continuous installation. In these circumstances the conviction under Section 194 cannot be upheld. Petitioner is acquitted, the fine is ordered to be refunded.
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