1. The petitioner is the sole accused in S.C. No.129 of 2006 on the file of the learned Assistant Sessions Judge/Chief Judicial Magistrate, Erode. By judgment dated 16.2.2007, the learned Assistant Sessions Judge convicted the petitioner under Sections 498-A and 306, I.P.C. and sentenced him to undergo one year’s rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- in default to undergo one month rigorous imprisonment for the offence under Section 498-A, I.P.C. and further to undergo three years’ rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- in default to undergo two months’ rigorous imprisonment for the offence under Section 306, I.P.C. Challenging the same, he filed an Appeal in C.A. No.65 of 2007. The learned Additional District, and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court No.1), Erode by judgment dated 16.2.2008 while confirming the conviction, modified the sentence. Instead of three years’ rigorous imprisonment for the offence under Section 306, I.P.C., the learned Appellate Court reduced the same to two years. The fine imposed for the said offence was confirmed.

The sentence imposed for offence under Section 498-A was also confirmed. Challenging the same, the petit