JUDGMENT :

Karamjit Singh, J.

1. The present appeal has been filed by appellant against the judgment and order dated 17.07.2004 passed by the Court of Special Judge, Amritsar whereby the appellant and one Piara Singh were convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 6 months and to pay a fine of Rs.300/- each and in default of payment of fine to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 15 days each, under Section 3 (1) (x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (in short the Act).

2. The brief facts of the case are that complainant/respondent No.1 Dhanna Singh lodged complaint under Section 3(1) (x) of the Act and under Sections 323, 506 read with Section 34 of IPC against appellant Hari Singh, Piara Singh, Manjit Singh and Kartar Singh with the Illaqa Magistrate, wherein it was alleged that complainant belongs to Scheduled Caste being Mazbi Sikh and his wife was sarpanch of the village at the time of occurrence. That on 20.07.2000 at about 02:00 PM, a panchayat was convened regarding dispute over shamlat land between appellant Hari Singh and one Rattan Singh son of Sardul Singh and at that time Manjit