IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, J.
Ravichandra Gounder & Others – Petitioners
Versus
State by The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Villupuram District & Another – Respondents
Crl.O.P.No. 17866 of 2020 & Crl.M.P.Nos. 6951 & 6952 of 2020
Decided On : 06-07-2022
Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 - Section 482 - to call for the records - Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 - Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(u), 3(1)(za)(E), 3(1)(zc) and 3(2)(va) - Penal Code, 1860 Sections 147, 120B, 153A, 504 and 505(1)(c) - Protection of Civil Rights Act - Sections 4(1) and 6 - To call for the records – No sanction under Section 196 Cr.P.C for prosecuting the petitioners for having committed the offences under Sections 153-A, 504, and 505(1)(c) of IPC – No jurisdiction to take congnizance - Quash of Criminal proceedings - Held, Sub-Section (1) of Section 196, transpires that the offence punishable under Section 124A and Section 153A of IPC cannot be taken cognizance of by the Court except with previous sanction of the Central Government or of the State Government. Similarly, as provided in Sub-Section (1A) of Section 196, the Court cannot take cognizance of offence punishable under Section 153B or 505(2) of IPC except with the previous sanction of the Central Government or of the State Government or of the District Magistrate – Allowed.
JUDGMENT :
(Prayer: Criminal Original petition filed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, to call for the records in SPL.S.C.No.24 of 2020 pending on the file of Special Court for SC/ST (POA) Act, Villupuram district, and quash the same.)
This petition has been filed to quash the Proceedings in SPL.S.C.No.24 of 2020, on the file of the Special Court for SC and ST (POA) Act, Villupuram, for the offences under Sections 147, 120B, 153A, 504 and 505(1)(c) of IPC and Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(u), 3(1)(za)(E), 3(1)(zc) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 and Sections 4(1) and 6 of Protection of Civil Rights Act in Crime No.582 of 2019 dated 01.11.2019.
2.1. A complaint has been registered for the incident that was purported to have taken place on 01.11.2019 at about 07.30 A.M, based on the statement of the de-facto complainant who, with the help of the one Thangaraj, that he recorded a video in his mobile phone. The statement of the de-facto complainant and the said witness Thangaraj is that they both went to Ramani Grocery Store, situated at Nayinaar Street, where, the 6th and 7th petitioners, the owners of the grocery store, refused to sell groceries. The 7th petitioner is purported to have replied to the de-facto complainant by refusing to sell groceries and further alleged to have stated that if they sell the groceries to the de-facto complainant, the 6th and 7th petitioners have to pay a fine amount of Rs.1,00,000/- which will be imposed by the Ethanemili village people, who have conducted a meeting on 31.10.2019 at 09.00 P.M headed by the 1st to 5th petitioners herein. Due to the decision of the said villagers proposing to impose fine, the 6th and 7th petitioners, who are the owners of grocery shop, refused to sell their groceries to the de-facto complainant and the witness Thangaraj, who belong to Scheduled Caste community.
2.2. Other witnesses namely Sathya, Yegavalli, Amutha and Muthu, who were regularly supplying cow milk for the past five years to Thirumala Dairy Co-operative Society, where the 10th petitioner herein as the President of the Co-operative Society, alleged to have denied receiving Forty (40) Litres of milk from the above said witnesses. The 11th petitioner herein, a hotel owner, refused to sell tea to the Adi-Dravidar community people of the Ethanemili Village. For all the alleged offences, a complaint came to be registered.
2.3. Based on the complaint lodged by the de-facto complainant, a case has been registered under Sections 147, 120B, 153A, 504 and 505(1)(c) of IPC and Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(u), 3(1)(za)(E), 3(1)(zc) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 and Sections 4(1) and 6 of Protection of Civil Rights Act in Crime No.582 of 2019 dated 01.11.2019.
2.4. After registration of case, investigation was undertaken by the investigating officer and a Final Report dated 10.12.2019 was filed by the 1st respondent under Sections 147, 120B, 153A, 504 and 505(1)(c) of IPC and Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(u), 3(1)(za)(E), 3(1)(zc) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that there is no specific allegation in the complaint or any specific over tact as against the petitioners to attract the offences as alleged by the prosecution. The present complaint has been filed to hurt vengeance against the petitioners for the incident which was took place on 17.08.2019, when the 2nd respondent and his friends celebrated their political party leader-s birthday and they placed a flag post, banners in the village, which was opposed by the petitioners. Thus, the 2nd respondent said to have made complaint and the said dispute was mediated and solved by the Tahsildar, Gingee on 30.10.2019. He further submitted that the charge sheet has been filed only on the basis of the ele
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