Madras High Court

Unknown vs Veerasamy on 25 November, 2021

                                                                                      Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021
                                                                                  in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

                                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                                       DATED: 25.11.2021

                                                              Coram

                                          The Honourable Mr. Justice P.N.PRAKASH
                                                             and
                                         The Honourable Mrs. Justice R.HEMALATHA

                                                    Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021
                                                  in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

                     State represented by
                     The Inspector of Police,
                     Velanganni Police Station,
                     Nagapattinam District.
                     (Crime No.331 of 2012)                                         ... Petitioner

                                                               Vs.

                     1.Veerasamy

                     2.Ayyappan

                     3.Rengapashyam                                                 ... Respondents
                                  Petition filed under Section 378(3) Cr.P.C. seeking to grant leave to
                     file an appeal to this Court against the judgment and order of acquittal dated
                     03.04.2018 passed in S.C.No.91 of 2013 on the file of the Sessions Court,
                     Nagapattinam.
                                          For Petitioner       : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj
                                                                 Govt. Advocate (Crl.Side)


                     Page 1 of 12


https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
                                                                                        Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021
                                                                                    in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

                                                            ORDER

[Made by P.N.PRAKASH, J.]

This criminal original petition has been filed by the petitioner/State

seeking to grant leave to appeal to this Court against the judgment and order

of acquittal of the respondents/accused dated 03.04.2018 passed in

S.C.No.91 of 2013 on the file of the Sessions Court, Nagapattinam.

2. Challenging the acquittal of the respondents/accused, the

petitioner/State has filed the present appeal against acquittal with a delay of

622 days, which, this Court, by order dated 25.11.2021 in

Crl.M.P.No.12130 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021, condoned the

same and took up the main appeal for consideration.

3. It is the case of the prosecution that on account of a land

dispute between the deceased Kunju and his neighbours, viz., the

respondents/accused herein, it is alleged that the respondents/accused had

attacked Kunju on 03.10.2012 and caused injuries to him. Kunju was

admitted in the hospital and he appears to have died on 10.10.2021 i.e.

almost a week after the incident.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

4. The learned trial Judge has carefully analyzed the evidences on

record and had returned the following findings in paragraph nos.28, 29 and

30:

“28/ m/rh/1 Kjy; 3 tiuapyhdth;fspd; rhl;rpa';fspd;go 1tJ vjphp tPuhrhkp fl;ilahy; ,we;Jnghd F";Rtpd; jiyapy; moj;jjhft[k;. 2tJ vjphp ma;ag;gd; mhpthshy; F";Rtpd; tyJ Kd;ifapy; btl;oajhft[k;/ 3tJ vjphp bu';fghc&;ak; F";Rit fhyhy; vl;o cijj;J kpjpj;jjhft[k; bjhpatUfpwJ/ 2tJ vjphp mhpthshy; F";Rtpd; tyJ Kd;ifapy; btl;oajhy; xU egh; caph; ,Hf;f ntz;oa mtrpak; ,y;iy/ mnjnghy; 3tJ vjphp fhyhy; vl;o cijj;J fPnH js;spajhy; F";Rtpd; tyJ ifapy; rpuha;g;g[ fha';fs; Vw;gl;lJ vd;W bjhpatUfpwJ/ vdnt 3tJ vjphp jhf;fajhYk; F";R caph; ,He;jpUf;f KoahJ/ 1tJ vjphp tPuhrhkp fl;ilahy; F";Rtpd; jiyapy; moj;jjhy; F";R vd;gth; caph; ,He;Jtpl;lhh; vd;W muRj;jug;gpy; Twg;gLfpwJ/ nkw;go F";R vd;gth; rk;gtk; ele;j 03/10/2012 md;W cldoahf ehfg;gl;odk;

muR kUj;jJtkidf;F bfhz;L brd;W

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

khiy 3/00 kzpf;F rpfpr;irf;fhf nrh;ff ; g;gl;Ls;shh;/ mJ rk;ge;jg;gl;l tpgj;J gjpntL m/rhM/15Mf FwpaPL bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ/ me;j tpgj;J gjpntl;od;go nkw;go F";R vd;gtUf;F tyJ ifapy; xU rpuha;g;g[ fhak; kl;Lnk ,Ue;jjhf Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ/ jiyapy; tPff ; fhankh my;yJ ntW ve;jtpjkhd fha';fnsh ,Ue;jjhf Fwpg;gplg;gltpy;iy/ nehahsp F";R vd;gth; kaf;fkhf ,Ue;ejhf Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ/ ehfg;gl;odk; muR kUj;Jtidapy; Kjy; rpfpr;ir mspf;fg;gl;L gpd;dh; mth; nky;rpfpr;irf;fhf j";rht{h;

                                  kUj;Jtf;fy;Y}hp              kUj;Jtkidf;F              bfhz;L
                                  bry;yg;gl;Ls;shh;/          m';F      tH';fg;gl;l        tpgj;J
                                  gjpntL                   m/rh/M/13Mf                     FwpaPL
                                  bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ/            rk;gtk;      ele;j        03/10/2012
                                  md;W         khiy      06/30    kzpf;F      mth;      j";rht{h;
                                  muR           kUj;Jtf;fy;Y}hp             kUj;Jtkidapy;
                                  nky;rpfpr;irf;fhf                            cs;nehahspahf
                                  nrh;ff
                                       ; g;gl;Ls;shh;/        me;j      tpgj;J     gjpntl;oYk;
                                  F";R      vd;gtUf;F         jiyapy;      fhak;     ,Ue;jjhf
                                  vJt[k;        Fwpg;gplg;gltpy;iy/           rlyf;       Tuha;t[
                                  mwpf;ifapYk;            F";R       vd;gtUila          jiyapy;
                                  btspg;g[wk;            fhak;        ,Ue;jjhf             vJt[k;

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

Fwpg;glg;gltpy;iy/ khwhf. tyJgf;f jiyapy; xU mWit rpfpr;ir bra;ag;gl;l 'C' totpyhd fhak; ,Ue;jjhf kl;Lnk Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ/ 29/ rlyf;Tuha;t[ bra;j kUj;Jth; m/rh/12 uh$;Fkhh; vd;gth; jd;Dila rhl;rpaj;jpy; ,we;Jnghdtiu Kjd;Kjyhf kUj;Jtkidapy; nrh;f;Fk;nghJ jiyapd; btspg;g[wf; fha';fs; vJt[k; ,y;iy vd;why; mJ gw;wp jdf;F bjhpahJ vd;W rhl;rpak; mspj;Js;shh;/ rlyf;Tuha;t[ bra;tjw;F Kd;g[ rk;ge;jg;gl;l kUj;Jt gjpntLfis jhd; ghh;j;jjhft[k;. me;j kUj;Jt Mtz';fspy; ,we;Jnghd eghpd; jiyapd; btsp;g[wj;jpy; fha';fs; vJt[k; ,Ue;jjhf Fwpg;gplg;gltpy;iy vd;Wk; mth; jd;Dila FWf;F tprhuizapy;

                                  bjspthf       rhl;rpak;     mspj;Js;shh;/    ,jpypUe;J
                                  Kjd;Kjyhf               kUj;Jtkidf;F              bfhz;L
                                  tug;gl;lnghJ        F";R           vd;gthpd;        jiyg;
                                  gFjpapy;         vt;tpj        fhaKk;          ,Ue;jjhf
                                  bjhpatpy;iy/         khwhf        mWit           rpfpr;ir
                                  bra;ag;gl;ljw;fhd              fha';fs;            kl;Lnk
                                  ,Ue;jjhf             bjhpatUfpwJ/                kUj;Jt

rhl;rpa';fSk;. kUj;Jt Mtz';fSk; fz;Zw;w rhl;rpfspd; rhl;rpa';fnshL xj;Jg;nghftpy;iy/ m/rh/1 Kjy; 3 j';fSila rhl;rpa';fspy;

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

1tJ vjphp fl;ilahy; F";Rtpd; jiyapy; moj;jjhf rhl;rpak; mspj;Js;sdh;/ Mdhy; ,we;Jnghd F";Rtpd; jiyg;gFjpapy; vt;tpj btspg;g[wf; fha';fSk; ,Ue;jjhf kUj;Jt Mtz';fspy; Fwpg;glg;gltpy;iy/ ,we;Jnghd F";R vd;gth; rk;gtk; ele;J Rkhh; xU thuk; cs;nehahspahf rpfpr;ir bgw;W 10/10/2012 md;Wjhd; rpfpr;ir gydpd;wp ,we;Js;shh;/ ,e;j r{H;epiyapy; cz;ikapy; 1tJ vjphp m/rh/1 Kjy; 3 j';fsJ rhl;rpa';fspy;

                                  Fwpg;gpLtJnghy;               fl;ilahy;          ,we;Jnghd
                                  F";Rit           jhf;fpapUg;ghuh       vd;w       epahakhd
                                  re;njfk; vGfpwJ/
                                         30/     vjphpfs;jug;gpy;                  Twg;gLtJ
                                  vd;dbtd;why;.          nkw;go      F";R     vd;gth;      rhl;rp
                                  ghyr;re;jh;           vd;gth;       Xl;Lduhf          ,Ue;J
                                  Xl;or;brd;w        ouhf;lhpy;     mkh;e;J     bry;Yk;nghJ

jtwp fPnG tpGe;jjpy; mtUf;F tyJ Kd;g[w ifapy; fhak; Vw;gl;ljhf Twg;gLfpwJ/ mnj ouhf;lh; Xl;Leh; ghyr;re;jpud; vd;gth; rk;gtj;ij ghh;j;jjhf muRj;jug;gpy; Twg;gLfpwJ/ Mdhy; me;j ghyr;re;jpud; vd;gtiu ,e;j tHf;fpy; nghyPrhh; rhl;rpahf tprhhpf;ftpy;iy/ mtiu tprhhpj;jhy; xUntis F";R vd;gtUf;F tyJ Kd;ifapy;

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

fhak; ePjpkd;wj;jpw;F ouhf;lh; gl;oaypy; mtiu tprhhpf;f cz;ikapnyna vjphpfSk; muRj;jug;gpy; jhf;fpapUg;ghh;fsh vGfpwJ/ tpGe;J vd;W nkw;go vd;gtiu bjhpe;j vd;gtiu muRj;jug;gpy; vdnt vg;go Vw;gl;lJ vd;w tpguk; ,e;j bjhpa te;jpUf;Fk;/ nkw;go Xl;Leh; ghyr;re;jpud; vd;gth; rhl;rpg; rhl;rpahf Fwpg;glg; gl;oUe;Jk; ,e;j ePjpkd;wj;jpy; rhl;rpahf muRj;jug;gpy; Kd;tutpy;iy/ vdnt. 2tJ vjphp kw;Wk; 3tJ ,we;Jnghd F";R vd;gtiu Twg;gLtJnghy; mhpths; kw;Wk; vd;w epahakhd re;njfk; rhl;rp ghyr;re;fpud; Xl;or; brd;w ouhf;lhpy; F";R mkh;e;J gazk; bra;J jtwp F";R vd;gtUf;F fhak; Vw;gl;lJ vjphpjug;gpy; Twg;gLk; r{H;epiyapy; ouhf;lh; Xl;oeuhd ghyr;re;jpud; muRj;jug;gpy; fz;og;ghf rhl;rpahf tprhhpj;jpUf;fntz;Lk;/ nghyPrhUf;F kl;Lnk fhuzj;jpdhy; nkw;go ghyr;re;jpud; ,e;j tHf;fpy; M$h;gLj;jp rhl;rpahf tprhhpf;ftpy;iy/ cz;ikapy; vjphpfs; jhf;fpajhy;

nkw;go F";R vd;gtUf;F fha';fs;

Vw;gl;oUf;Fkh vd;w re;njfk; vGfpwJ/”

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

5. In this case, it cannot be stated that the findings of the trial

Judge are perverse warranting interference.

6. It is trite that the appellate Court should be slow in interfering

with the judgment and order of acquittal and when two views are possible on

the evidence available on record, the view that favours the accused merits

acceptance.

7. In this context, it may be apposite to refer to the judgment of

the Supreme Court in V. Sejappa vs. State1, wherein, the Supreme Court,

has broadly catalogued the parameters to be borne in mind by the Court

while dealing with an appeal against acquittal. The said parameters laid

down by the Supreme Court are profitably extracted hereunder:

“23. . . . . . Suffice it to say that this Court has consistently held that in dealing with appeals against acquittal, the appellate court must bear in mind the following:

(i) There is presumption of innocence in favour of an accused person and such presumption

1 (2016) 12 SCC 150

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

is strengthened by the order of acquittal passed in his favour by the trial court;

(ii) The accused person is entitled to the benefit of reasonable doubt when it deals with the merit of the appeal against acquittal;

(iii) Though, the powers of the appellate court in considering the appeals against acquittal are as extensive as its powers in appeals against convictions but the appellate court is generally loath in disturbing the finding of fact recorded by the trial court. It is so because the trial court had an advantage of seeing the demeanour of the witnesses. If the trial court takes a reasonable view of the facts of the case, interference by the appellate court with the judgment of acquittal is not justified. Unless the conclusions reached by the trial court are palpably wrong or based on erroneous view of the law or if such conclusions are allowed to stand, they are likely to result in grave injustice, the reluctance on the part of the appellate court in interfering with such conclusions is fully justified; and

(iv) Merely because the appellate court on reappreciation and re-evaluation of the evidence is inclined to take a different view, interference with the judgment of acquittal is not justified if the view taken by the trial court is a possible view. The evenly balanced views of the evidence must not result in the interference by the appellate court in the judgment of the trial court.”

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 in Crl.A.No.SR35956 of 2021

In such view of the matter, this is not a fit case to grant leave to appeal

against acquittal of the respondents/accused and accordingly,

Crl.O.P.No.23073 of 2021 is dismissed. Ex consequenti, Crl.A.No.SR35956

of 2021 stands rejected.

                                                                                 (P.N.P.,J.)    (R.H.,J.)
                                                                                       25.11.2021
                     nsd