Judgment

Narasimham, C J

[1] The three petitioners were tried before the Adalti Panchayat of Amrutmanohi for an offence under Section 323 , I. P. C. and petitioner No. 1 was sentenced to a fine of Rs. 20/- and petitioners Nos. 2 and 3 to a fine of Rs. 10/- each. They filed a revision petition before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kendrapara against their conviction and sentence alleging various irregularities in the trial. Bait the Sub-divisional Magistrate declined to interfere.

[2] The Amrutmanohi Adalti Panchayat was constituted under the provisions of the Orissa Grain Panchayats Act 1948 and the procedure to be followed by the Panchayat for the trial of offences is fully described in Chapter VII of that Act and the various rules framed thereunder. An offence under Section 323, I.P.C., is one of the offences cognizable by an Adalti Panchayat under Section 64(1) of the Act. The procedure before the Adalti Panchayat is summary and Section 82 of the Act directs every Adalti Panchayat to dispose of all cases as promptly as possible preferably on the very day on which the accused appears. Section 84 of the Act provides that the decision of the Adalti Panchayat shall be according to J