2023 Supreme(Mad) 1105
N THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G.CHANDRASEKHARAN, J.
T.Vijayakumar – Appellant
Versus
P.Jawahar - Respondent
Crl.O.P.No.2704 of 2023
Decided on : 14-03-2023
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr.S.Sridevi
Headnote:
Indian Penal Code,1860 - Sections 499 and 500 - Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Section 482 and 203 - Executed a gift deed - Defamatory allegations - Challenging orders - Attempt to commit Murder - Sale deed - Whether allegations made against petitioner in reply sent in pursuance to complaint of petitioner - Held, In case before hand in light of mutual charges leveled against each other in communication addressed to Deputy Director DTCP on face of allegations allegations cannot be construed as defamatory allegations for reason that if allegations made against petitione` are true truth is a defence in defamation case and offence of defamation cannot be made out - Allegations in respondent's reply are in nature of answer to allegations made against respondent in petitioner's complaint - That apart there is no material to show that alleged defamatory allegations against petitioner in respondent's reply was in anyway published so that third parties came to know about allegations thereby petitioner lost his reputation in eyes of third parties - Petition Dismissed.
ORDER :
PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. prayingto set aside the order in Crl.R.C.No.10 of 2021 dated 21.07.2022 passed bythe Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu confirming the orderpassed by the Judicial Magistrate No.1, Chengalpattu in Crl.M.P.No.8798 of2021 dated 26.10.2021.
This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to set aside the order in Crl.R.C.No.10 of 2021, dated 21.07.2022, passed by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu, confirming the order passed by the Judicial Magistrate No.1, Chengalpattu, in Crl.M.P.No.8798 of 2021, dated 26.10.2021.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that respondent is a promoter carrying on his business in the name and style of M/s.Vasantham promoters in Chennai. Respondent developed a layout in S.Nos.434/1A part, 438/1A part, 438/2, 439/2, 440 part, 441/1, 442, 443, 444/3 part, 444/4, 445/1C, 445/4B, 446, 447/1, 477/2, 448, 499 in the form of residential plots from numbers 1 to 197. Respondent also executed a gift deed in favour of the Village Administrative Officer, vide document No.5296/2012, with respect to 78732.5 sq.ft. Petitioner purchased plot No.79 in S.Nos.447/2 and 448, measuring 1500 sq.ft. on 01.06.2012. The boundaries of the plots are, on the North – 21 feet broad 5th cross street, South – Park, East – common road which leads to south part of Mamandur, West – plot No.80. After purchasing the property and taking possession, petitioner came to know that the boundaries are not as per the documents. He purchased the property mainly for the reason that the Southern boundary is a Park, in reality, there was no Park. Respondent had been doing certain acts contrary to the documents, by creating new plots in the Park and surrounding areas. Therefore, petitioner gave a complaint to the Joint Director on 07.01.2021. The Joint Director sought an explanation from respondent. On behalf of respondent, one P.Jawahar sent a reply dated 20.04.2021 making defamatory allegations against petitioner. Therefore, petitioner filed a private complaint under Section 200 Cr.P.C. for the offences under Sections 500 & 501 IPC in C.M.P.No.8798 of 2021. However, the Judicial Magistrate - I Chengalpattu, dismissed the petition under Section 203 Cr.P.C. Aggrieved over the dismissal of C.M.P.No.8798 of 2021, petitioner filed a criminal revision petition in Crl.R.C.No.10 of 2021 before the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Chengalpattu and the same also came to be dismissed.
3. It is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the complaint allegations clearly make out a case of defamation against respondent. The learned Judge, without properly understanding the definition of Section 499 IPC in proper perspective, dismissed the complaint on the reason that there was no publication of defamatory allegations. Therefore, challenging the said orders, this petition is filed.
4. Considered the submissions and perused the records.
5. It is seen from the complaint allegations in C.M.P.No.8798 of 2021 and the sworn statement of petitioner that petitioner purchased the property in plot No.79 for the reason that it was sold by stating that there is a Park on the southern side of the plot. Respondent gave trouble to petitioner stating that petitioner had encroached the Park on the southern side. He already gave a complaint against respondent for making an attempt to commit murder and a case in C.C.No.24 of 2021 is pending in this regard. He also made allegations against respondent alleging alteration of documents and gave a complaint.
6. To the complaint of the petitioner, a reply dated 20.04.2021 was sent by respondent to the Deputy Director, DTCP, Chengalpattu. It is seen from the reply that,
(i) in the permission granted by the Panchayat, there is no reference made that there is a Park to the south of plot No.79.
(ii) Vijayakumar had altered the Gift deed document No.5296 of 2012. There is no mention about Park near pl