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CRL.A No. 983 of 2011
C/W CRL.A No. 984 of 2011
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.N.DESAI
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 983 OF 2011 (A)
C/W
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 984 OF 2011
IN CRL.A NO.983 OF 2011
BETWEEN:
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REPRESENTED BY THE
REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER,
PUTTUR, D.K.
…APPELLANT
(BY SMT. K.P. YASHODHA., HCGP)
AND:
SRI KORAGAPPA GOWDA,
46 YEARS,
S/O MONTA GOWDA,
R/O CHIKKAMUDNOOR VILLAGE,
BANNUR POST,
PUTTUR TALUK,
DAKSHINA KANNADA.
…RESPONDENT
(BY SRI.T HAREESH BHANDARY., ADVOCATE)
THIS CRL.A. FILED U/S.378(1) & (3) CR.P.C BY THE STATE
P.P. FOR THE STATE PRAYING TO GRANT LEAVE TO FILE AN APPEAL
AGAINST
THE
DT:22.7.11
PASSED
BY
ADDL.SESSIONS JUDGE, FAST TRACK COURT PUTTUR, D.K., IN
CRL.A.NO.59/10 AND RESTORE THE ORDER PASSED IN C.C.NO.
Digitally signed by
NAGARATHNA M
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
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2523/06 DATED:30.4.2010 PASSED BY THE ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND
JMFC, PUTTUR D.K.-CONVICTING THE RESPONDENT/ACCUSED FOR
THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 3 AND 4 PUNISHABLE
UNDER SEC.12(1)(a) AND (b) OF KARNATAKA MOTOR VEHICLE
TAXATION ACT,1957.THE RESPONDENT/ACCUSED IS SENTENCED TO
PAY A FINE OF RS.9,360-00 WELL AS TO PAY THE TAX AS
DEMANDED BY THE R.T.O. FOR RS.9,360-00 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
1.2.2000 TO 31-7-04 IN DEFAULT TO PAY FINE AND TAX AMOUNT,
HE SHALL UNDERGO SI FOR 2 MONTHS.
IN CRL.A NO.984/2011
S/O MONTA GOWDA,
THIS CRL.A. IS FILED U/S.378(1) & (3) CR.P.C BY THE STATE
JUDGEMENT
DT:22.7.11
PASSED
BY
ADDL.SESSIONS JUDGE, FAST TRACK COURT PUTTUR, D.K., IN
CRL.A.NO.58/10 AND RESTORE THE ORDER DATED:30.4.2010
PASSED BY THE ADDL.CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, PUTTUR D.K. IN
C.C.NO.715/08 -CONVICTING THE RESPONDENT/ACCUSED FOR THE
OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 3 AND 4 PUNISHABLE
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UNDER SEC.12(1)(a) AND (b) OF KARNATAKA MOTOR VEHICLE
TAXATION ACT,1957.THE RESPONDENT/ACCUSED IS SENTENCED TO
PAY A FINE OF RS.3,300-00 AS WELL AS TO PAY THE TAX AS
DEMANDED BY THE R.T.O. FOR RS.3,300-00 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
1.8.04 TO 31-1-06 IN DEFAULT TO PAY FINE AND TAX AMOUNT, HE
SHALL UNDERGO SI FOR 2 MONTHS.
THESE APPEALS, COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, THE
COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT
Since both appeals arise out of a common order, they are taken
up together, heard and disposed of by this common order.
2. The two appeals arise out of the judgment of acquittal
passed by learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, Puttur,
Dakshina Kannada, dated 22.07.2011 in Crl.A.No.58/2010 and
Crl.A.No.59/2010 wherein the judgment and order of conviction
passed
by
learned
Addl.
Civil
Judge
&
JMFC,
Puttur
in
C.C.No.715/2008 and C.C.No.2523/2006 dated 30.04.2010 were set-
aside and the accused is acquitted for the offence punishable under
section 12(1) (a) of Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1957(for
short 'KMVT Act').
3. The brief case of the prosecution is that the respondent
accused is the registered owner of Ambassador Car bearing No.KA-
19-4245 which is a transport passenger taxi. The respondent was
required
to
pay
quarterly
tax
of
a
sum
of
Rs.3,300/-
(C.C.No.715/2008) for the period from 1.08.2004 to 31.01.2006 and
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Rs.9,360/-(C.C.No.2523/2006) for the period from 01.02.2000 to
31.07.2004. But, the respondent did not pay the tax for the
aforementioned periods and he was called upon to pay the tax by
issuing notice, inspite of which, he did not deposit the tax. Thereby,
he committed an offence under section 12(1) (a) of KMVT Act.
Hence, the R.T.O., Puttur filed a charge sheet before the Court.
4. In order to prove the case, the prosecution examined Sri. Seva
Naik, the Regional Transport Officer, Puttur as PW-1 and got marked
four documents as Ex-P1 to P4. After recording 313 Cr.P.C.
statement and after hearing the arguments, the learned JMFC
convicted the accused. Aggrieved by the same, the accused preferred
Crl.A.No.58/2010
and
Crl.A.No.59/2010,
wherein
the
learned
Sessions Judge allowed the appeals and set-aside the judgment of
conviction and acquitted the accused. Aggrieved by the judgment and
order of acquittal, these two appeals are filed by the State.
5. Heard Smt. K.P. Yashodha., learned HCGP for the appellant and
Sri. T. Hareesh Bhandary, learned counsel for the respondent in both
the appeals.
6. Learned HCGP argued that the impugned judgment of acquittal
passed by learned sessions Judge is illegal and contrary to law.
Learned Sessions Judge has not considered the provisions of sections
4, 6 and 9 of the KMVT Act which is a Special Act and it is for the
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respondent to establish that he was not in possession of the ve
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