The main legal point established in the judgment is that the continuation of criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of process of law when there is no material evidence to support the charges.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, praying to call for the records relating to the charge sheet in S.T.C.No.566 of 2022 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Kamuthi and quash the same as against the petitioner is concerned.)

1. This petition is filed to quash the charge sheet in S.T.C.No.566 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Kamuthi and quash the same as against the petitioner.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner did not involve in any crime as alleged by the second respondent. In fact, the petitioner went out to buy medicine to his mother and he explained the critical situation of his mother to the second respondent. However, the respondent police registered the case against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 269 and 270 of IPC. As far as the offence under Section 143 IPC is concerned, whoever is a member of unlawful assembly, shall be punished and as far as the offence under Sections 269 and 270 IPC are concerned, whoever, unlawfully or negligently or malignantly does any act, which is, and which he knows or has reasons to believe, to be likely to spread the infection or disease dangerous to life, shall be punished. Therefore, the offences would not attract against the petitioner and hence, he prays for quashing the said charge sheet.

3. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that after registering the case, investigation has been completed and charge sheet has been filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Kamuthi and the same has been taken on file in S.T.C.No.566 of 2022 and before commencement of trial, the said charge sheet cannot be quashed.

4. I have considered the submission of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and the learned Government Advocate (criminal side) appearing for the respondent police.

5. A perusal of records shows that the petitioner is an accused in S.T.C.No.566 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Kamuthi. The charge against the petitioner is that the petitioner along with other accused persons, without following Covid-19 restrictions participated in Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Guru Poojai. Hence, the case has been registered in Crime No.166 of 2020 for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 269 and 270 of IPC. Admittedly, the petitioner is not a member of the unlawful assembly. To that effect, there is no material evidence available on record. Further, for attracting Sections 269 and 270 of IPC, there is no material on record that the petitioner acted in spreading the infection or disease dangerous to life. Therefore, the petitioner is not a member of unlawful assembly and he has not acted in spreading the infection or disease dangerous to the public. Therefore, no offence is made out under Sections 143, 269 and 270 of IPC. In these circumstances, the continuance of criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of process of law. Hence, the charge sheet is liable to be quashed.

6. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed. The charge sheet in S.T.C.No.566 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Kamuthi, is hereby quashed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed.