PANIGRAHI, J.

( 1 ) PETITIONER No. 1, Sarat Chandra Das, is the Patjoshi of the Maharaja of mayurbhanj and Petitioner No. 2, Gananath Tripathy, is the Purohit of the maharaja. They have both been convicted under Section 500,. P. C. and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 40/- each.

( 2 ) THE complainant, Bhagaban Das is the Patjoshi appointed by the State to perform the Jayadurga Puja at the palace of the Maharaja on the Gamha purnima Day. His case was that on 27-8-50 he went to Kichakeswari temple, inside the Palace, to perform certain initial ceremonies connected with the durga Puja, by getting rice and nut touched at the feet of the Deity. The two petitioners who were there prevented him from doing so and insulted him by using certain words alleged to be defamatory in character. The complainant examined P. W. 2 the Mahaldar and P. W. 3, said to be a Brahmottardar of the palace, in support of his case.

( 3 ) THE Magistrate who tried the case found that the words complained of had been proved to have been used and convicted the petitioners as aforesaid. The conviction and sentence were affirmed, on appeal, by the learned Sessions judge, Mayurbhan.

( 4 ) IN the complaint-petition th