Madras High Court

Ra.Kannan vs City Public Prosecutor on 19 February, 2021

                                                          1             Crl.OP No.3126 of 2021

                                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                                DATED : 19.02.2021

                                                        CORAM

                               THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH

                                              CRL.O.P.No.3126 of 2021
                                                        and
                                          Crl.MP.Nos.1779 & 1781 of 2021

                     1.Ra.Kannan, Son of Raj,
                       Editor & Publisher

                     2.S.Madhavan,
                       S/o.Subramanian,
                       Printer,
                       'Ananda-Vikatan'.                                       ...Petitioners
                                                              .Vs.

                     City Public Prosecutor
                     High Court Campus,
                     Chennai.                                                 ...Respondent


                     PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the
                     Code of Criminal Procedure,         call for the records in respect of
                     C.C.No.28 of 2015, on the file of the Principal Sessions Judge,
                     Chennai and quash the same as against the petitioners/accused.
                                      For Petitioners   : Mr.N.Ramesh
                                      For Respondent    : Mr.C.Raghavan
                                                          Government Advocate (Crl.Side)




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                                                         2              Crl.OP No.3126 of 2021

                                                    ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash

the proceedings initiated against the petitioners for an offence

punishable under Section 500 and 501 IPC.

2.The complaint has been filed through the City Public

Prosecutor under Section 199 (2) of Cr.P.C., r/w the relevant

Government Orders.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted

that even if the allegations made in the complaint are taken as it

is, the same does not constitute defamatory allegations with

respect to the act or conduct of the then Chief Minister in

discharge of her public functions and at the best it can only be

treated as a personal defamation. Therefore, the learned counsel

submitted that such a complaint cannot be maintained through the

City Public Prosecutor and it does not satisfy the requirements

under Section 199(2) of Cr.P.C. The learned counsel in order to

substantiate his submissions relied upon the judgments of the

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Hon'ble Supreme Court in K.K.Mishra v. The State of Madhya

Pradesh & Anr. reported in (2018) 2 LW Crl.17 and

R.Avudayappan v. Muthukaruppan Public Prosecutor District

and Sessions Court, Tirunelveli District reported in (2018) 2

LW Crl 24.

4.Per contra, the learned Government Advocate

appearing on behalf of the respondent submitted that the

petitioners have indulged in making wild allegations against the

then Hon'ble Chief Minister and thereby have defamed her name

in the eyes of the general public. The learned counsel submitted

that the petitioners in the name of freedom of press cannot make

such defamatory and derogatory allegations against the former

Chief Minister and the petitioners will have to necessarily face the

trial before the Court below and prove their innocence.

5.This Court has carefully considered the submissions

made on either side and the materials available on record.

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6.The defamatory statements that were relied upon

from the news item published by the magazine has been extracted

in the complaint and for proper appreciation, the same is

extracted hereunder:

”bey; bfhs;Kjy;

ViH tptrhapfspd; eyidf;fhf;Fk; bghUl;L jkpH;ehL murpd; Efh;bghUs; thzpgf;fHfnk bey;bfhs;Kjy; bra;fpwJ/ Mdhy; bfhs;Kjy; epiyr; rPh;nfL kw;Wk; KiwnfL fhuzkhf bey;iy jdpahh; tpahghhpfsplk; tpw;gid bra;a[k; epiyf;Fj; js;sg;gl;oUf;fpd;wdh;/ tptrhapfs;. Me;jpuh. fh;ehlfh khepy';fspypUe;J juk; Fiwe;j bey;iy. XU Ftpz;lhy; 750 Kjy; 1.000-= U:gha; tiu vd kpff; Fiwe;j tpiyf;F ,ilj;jufh;fs; K:yk; th';fp cs;S:h; tptrhapfspd; bgahpy; nghyp; Mtz';fisj; jahh; bra;J muR bey; bfhs;Kjy; epiya';fspy; tpw;gid bra;ag;gLfpwJ/ mij xU Ftpz;lhy; bey;iy 1.470 U:gha;f;F bfhs;Kjy; bra;fpwhh;fs;/ ,jdhy; Ftpz;lhy; xd;Wf;F 450 Kjy; 600 U:gha; tiu vdf; nfhof;fzf;fpy; CHy; eilbgWfpwJ vd tptrhapfSk; vjph;fl;rpfSk; Fw;wk; rhl;Lfpwhh;ffs;/

jkpHf murpd; gjpy;fs;

elg;g[bfhs;Kjy; gUtk; 2014=2015y; jkpHf;fj;jpd; bkhj;jk; 138 ,yl;rk; bk/ld; bey; bfhs;Kjy; MFk; vd ntshz;ik Jiwapduhy; bjhptpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ mjd; mog;gilapy; jkpH;ehL Efh;bghUs; thzpgf;fHfj;jhy; 20 ,yl;rk; bk/ld;

bey;bfhs;Kjy; bra;a ,yf;F eph;zak; bra;ag;gl;L 29/08/2015 tiu

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14/49 ,yl;rk; bk/ld; bey; bfhs;Kjy; epiya';fSf;F bfhz;Ltug;gLk; bey; K:l;ilfs; tptrhapfspd; gl;lh. rpl;lh ml';fy; Mfpa Mtz';fs; Ma;t[ bra;ag;gl;L. bey;ypd; juk; kw;Wk; <ug;gjk; bjhlh;ghd fHfj;jhy; eph;zak; bra;ag;gl;l jphpg[fspd; ve;jtpj Fiwt[kpd;wp ju Ma;thsh;fshy; ju Ma;t[ bra;J kj;jpa murhy; mwptpf;fg;gl;Ls;s Fiwe;j gl;r Mjhutpiy rd;d ufk; 1400-= kw;Wk; bghJ ufk; 1360-= khepy murhy; tH';fg;gLk; Cf;fj;bjhif rd;dufj;jpw;F U:70-= bghJufj;jpw;F 50-= Mf bkhj;jk; TLjy; rd;dufj;jpw;F 1470 kw;Wk; bghJufj;jpw;F 1410 Ftpz;lhy; xd;Wf;F vd;w tpiyapy; me;je;j gFjpapYs;s tptrhapfsplkpUe;J kl;Lnk bey; neuoahf bfhs;Kjy; bra;ag;gLfpwJ/

gUg;g[ bfhs;Kjy; CHy;

gUg;g[ bfhs;Kjy; CHy; KiwnfL jhd;

czt[j;Jiwapy; elf;Fk; CHYf;F xU rhk;gps;. nuc&d; filfspy; bghJ tpepnahfj; jpl;lj;jpd; fPH; tH';Ftjw;fhf bfhs;Kjy; bra;ag;gl;l gUg;gpy; KiwnfLfs; ele;jjhf gh/k/f epWtdh; uhkjh!;jhd; Kjypy; jphp bfhSj;jpg;nghl;lhh;/

nuc&d; filfspy; gUg;g[ tH';Ftjw;fhf xt;bthU khjKk; ruhrhpahf 13.461 ld; Jtuk; gUg;g[k; 9.000 ld; cSj;jk; gUg;g[k; bfhs;Kjy; bra;ag;gLfpd;wd/ khh;f;bfl;oy; gUg;g[ tiffspd; tpiy mof;fo khWtjhy; khjhe;jpu mog;gilapy; bfhs;Kjy; bra;ag;gl;L te;jJ/ ,jw;fhf xt;bthU khjKk; blz;lh; nfhug;gl;L te;jd/ ,e;j tHf;fj;ij khw;wp Xh; Mz;Lf;F jyh xU yl;rk; fpnyh cSj;jk; gUg;g[k; Jtuk; gUg;g[k; tpepnahfpf;f blz;lh; nfhhpdhh;fs;/ me;j blz;lhpy; g';nfw;f gy epWtd';fs; nghl;oapl;l nghJk; g[Jg;g[J epge;jidfisg; nghl;L me;j epWtd';fSf;F

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mDkjp kWf;fg;gl;ljhk;/ Mdhy; rpy epWtd';fSf;F kl;Lk; tpnc& mDkjp tH';fg;gl;oUf;fpd;wd/

btspr;re;ijapy; Fiwe;j tpiyapy; gUg;g[ tiffs; fpilf;Fk; epiyapy; cSj;jk;gUg;g[k; Jtuk; gUg;gk[ ; TLjy; tpiyf;F th';fg;gl;lhy; muRf;F 730 nfho U:gha; ,Hg;g[ Vw;gLk; xl;L bkhj;jkhf Xh; Mz;Lf;fhd gUg;g[ tiffisf; bfhs;Kjy; bra;tjhy; re;ijapy; gUg;g[ tpiy Fiwa[k; nghJ. muRf;F U:/3.000-= nfhof;Fk; mjpfkhd ,Hg;g[ Vw;gl;lUf;ff;TLk;/ Vnjh xU ed;wpf;flDf;fhf Fwpg;gpl;l epWtdj;Jf;F kl;Lk; Mh;lh; tH';fg;gLtJ Vd; vd;bwy;yhk; uhkjh!; vGg;gpa re;njf';fSf;F ,Jtiu tpilapy;iy/ gUg;g[ tH';f mDkjpf;fg;gl;l fpwp!;o gpiuL epWtdk; fh;ehlfj;jpy; Fhe;ijfs;. fUt[ww; bgz;fs; kw;Wk; ,sk; jha;khh;fSf;F Cl;lr;rj;J czt[ tH';Ftjw;fhd xg;ge;jj;ijg; bgw;W jukw;w g{r;rpfs; bespa[k; czt[g; bghUis tH';fpajw;fhf jFjp ePf;fk; bra;ag;gl;l epWtdk; ,jw;fhf me;j epWtdj;jpd; chpikahsh;fshd Fkhurhkp. Rg;gpukzp cs;spl;nlhh; kPJ fh;ehlf ePjpkd;wj;jpy; tHf;F bjhlug;gl;L Fw;wg;gj;jphpf;if jhf;fy;

                                   bra;ag;gl;oUf;fpwJ             mjw;Fg;gpwFk;          ,e;j     epWtdk;         mspj;j
                                   xg;ge;jg;g[ss
                                               ; pia            jkpH;ehL           muR          Ma;t[f;F        vLj;Jf;

bfhs;sg;gl;oUf;fpwJ vd;bwy;yhk; nfs;tpfs; vGg;gpdhh; uhkjh!;/

Mdhy; btspg;gilahd Kiwg;gona blz;lh;fs; nfhug;gl;L ,Wjp bra;ag;gLtjhy; ve;jtpj KiwnfLfSk; elg;gjw;F tha;g;g[ ,y;iy vd;W kl;Lk; brhy;yp Koj;Jf; bfhz;lhh; fhkuh$;/

jkpHf murpd gjpy;fs;

gUg;g[ kw;Wk; rikay; vz;bza; Mfpatw;wpd;

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btspr;re;ij tpiyia fl;Lg;gLj;Jk; bghUl;Lk; FLk;g ml;iljhuh;fSf;F kypt[ tpiyapy; ,g;bghUl;fis tH';Fk; bghUl;Lk; rpwg;gg[ ; bghJ tpepnahfj;jpl;lk; muR eilKiwg;gLj;jp tUfpwJ/ ,j;jpl;lk; muR foj vz; 16452 vg;,12014/1,. Tl;Lwt[ czt[ kw;Wk; Efh;nthh; (vg;1) ghJfhg;g[j; Jiw. Ehs; 30/09.2014 d;go 30/09/2015 tiu ePl;of;fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ ,j;jpl;lj;jpw;fhd 13461 bkl;hpf; ld; fdoad; k";rs; gUg;g[ kw;Wk; 7000 bkl;hpf; ld; cSj;jk; gUg;g[ xJf;fPL bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ/ ,j;jpl;lj;jpw;F njitahd gUg;g[ tiffis jkpH; ehL Efh; bghUs; thzpgf; fHfk;/ bfhs;Kjy; bra;a xg;ge;j g[ss ; pfs; nfhug;gl;L jkpH;ehL btspg;gilahd xg;ge;jg;g[s;spfs; rl;l tpjpKiwfspd; fPH; ( Tamil

Nadu Tenders Transparency Act) Kot[fs; vLf;fg;gl;L bfhs;Kjy; bra;J tH';FfpwJ/

,jid bfhs;Kjy; bra;tjw;F Kd;g[ gpd;gw;wg;gl;l khjhe;jpu bfhs;Kjy; xg;ge;jg;g[s;spfs; nfhUk; Kiwapy; vjph;bfhz;l eilKiw rpuk';fisj; jtph;f;Fk; bghUl;Lk; jukhd bghUl;fs;. Fwpj;j fhyj;jpy; tH';Ftjpy; rpuk';fs; ,Ue;j fhuzj;jhy; mtw;iw epth;j;jp bra;a xU ePz;l fhy xg;ge;jg[s;sp nfhug;gl;lJ/ ,jd;go 1.00.000 bkl;hpf; ld; fdoad; bay;nyhbyd;oy; 1.00.000 bkl;hpf; ld; cSj;jk; gUg;g[ kw;Wk; 50.000 bkl;hpf; ld; Jtuk; gUg;g[ th';f 15/04/2013 md;W xg;ge;jg[s;spfs; jpwf;fg;gl;ld/ ,jpy; gpd;tUk;

                                   epWtd';fs; g';nfw;wd/
                                   1   PEC    ypkpbll;. g[J jpy;yp
                                   2 mg;g[ g[l;!;. flY}h;
                                   3 uhrp epa{l;hp g[l;!;. MjD}h;
                                   4 fphp!;o gpiuL fpuhk; ehkf;fy;
                                   ,tw;wpy;    ,dk;     1     kw;Wk;       2y;       cs;s      epWtd';fs;    jkpH;ehL

btspg;gilahd xg;ge;jg[s;spfs; rl;l tpjpKiwfspd;go jFjpapd;ik

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ePf;fk; bra;ag;gl;L ,dk; 3 kw;Wk; 4y; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;s epWtd';fs; bjhpt[ bra;ag;gl;ld/

,jw;fpilapy; jpUthsh; kPdhl;rp onulh;!; cah;ePjp kd;wj;jpy; bjhlh;e;j rPuha;t[ kD vz;264 kw;Wk; 265/2014 ,y; ePjpkd;wk; gpwg;gpj;j cj;jputpd; mog;gilapy; 13/01/2014 md;W tpiyg;g[s;spfs; jpwf;fg;gl;ld/ ,g;bghUs; mnj njjpapy; eilbgw;w FG Tl;lj;jpy; ghprPyid bra;J epuhfhpf;fg;gl;lJ/ ,jd; gpd; ,th;fis miHj;J ngr;R thh;j;ij elj;jpl 07/02/2014 md;W cah;ePjpkd;wk; cj;jutpl;lJ/ ghuhSkd;w bghJ njh;jy; ed;dlj;ij tpjpfs; mKypy; ,Ue;jjhy; cldoahd ngr;Rthh;j;ij eilbgwtpy;iy/

gpd;dh; 27/08/2014 md;W L1 epWtdj;Jld; ngr;Rthh;j;ij elj;jg;gl;lJ/ mjd; tpguk; 25/09/2014 ,af;Feh; FGkf; Tl;lj;jpy; itf;fg;gl;lJ/ mjd;gpd; ,e;j tptu';fs; 12/11/2014 njjpapy; eilbgw;w ,af;Feh; FGkf; Tl;lj;jpy;. itf;fg;gl;lJ/ tpiy Fiwg;g[ bra;tjw;fhf kPz;Lk; xU Kiw ngr;Rthh;j;ij elj;j ,af;Feh; FG jPh;khdpj;jJ/ mjd;go ngr;Rthh;j;ij elj;jg;gl;ljpy; xg;ge;jg[s;spapy; g';nfw;Ws;s epWtd';fs; Muk;gj;jpy; mspj;j g[ss ; papypUe;J Fiwe;j tpiyg;g[s;spia mspj;jdh;/ ,g;bghUs; kPJ Kot[ vLg;gjw;fhf. 02/01/2015 md;W eilbgw;w ,af;Feh; FGkf; Tl;lj;jpy; jpUthsh;fs; uhrp epa{l;up g[l;!; epWtdk; mspj;j kW tpiyg;g[s;spapid js;Sgo bra;Jk; 15/03/2013 md;W eilbgw;w xg;ge;jg[s;spapid uj;J bra;Jk;

,af;Feh; FGkj;jhy; Mizaplg;gl;lJ vd bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/

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vdnt fphp!;o gpiuL fpuhk;. ehkf;fy; epWtdj;jpw;F gUg;g[ tH';f mDkjpf;fg;gl;lJ vd;w bra;jp Kw;wpYk; jtwhdjhFk;/ nkYk; fpup!;o gpiuL fpuhk;. ehkf;fy; fh;ehlf khepyj;jpy; fUg;g[ gl;oayplg;gl;ljh vd;w toguk; mk;khepy kfsph; kw;Wk; FHe;ijfs; eyj;Jiwaplk; nfhug;gl;ljpy; me;epWtdk; Fwpj;J g[fhh; bgwg;gl;ljhy; nyhf; Ma[j;jhtpy; tHf;F gjpt[ bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ vd;Wk;. mt;tHf;F epYitapy; cs;sjhft[k; tprhuiz eilbgWtjhy; me;epWtdk; fUg;g[ gl;layplg;gltpy;iy vd;W bjhptpf;fg;gl;lJ/ vdnt gj;jphpf;ifapy; btspaplg;gl;l bra;jp jtwhdJ vd bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfwpJ/”

7.Section 199(2) of Cr.P.C., provides a special

procedure with regard to the initiation of proceedings for

prosecution for defamation of a public servant. However, to

maintain such a prosecution, the allegations must directly touch

upon acts or conduct of the concerned servant in discharge of his

or her public function. If the defamatory statement is personal in

nature, this special procedure will not apply and it is only the

concerned person who has to file the complaint in his or her

individual capacity. The law on this issue is well settled and the

learned counsel for the petitioners has rightly relied upon the

judgments mentioned supra.

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