IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM Crl MC No. 2749 of 2007() 1. MOHAMMED YASIN,S/O.ABOOBACKER, ... Petitioner Vs 1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ... Respondent 2. KARUPPAYIL SIVADASAN,S/O. BALAKRISHNAN, For Petitioner :SRI.K.K.MOHAMED RAVUF For Respondent :SRI.P.M.AMMU The Hon'ble MR. Justice R.BASANT Dated :07/09/2007 O R D E R R. BASANT, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crl.M.C.Nos. 2749 & 2752 of 2007 - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 7th day of September, 2007 O R D E R
The petitioners in these Crl.M.Cs. are accused 2 and 3 in a
prosecution for offences punishable under Sections 283 and 323
I.P.C. Altogether there were three accused persons. The first accused
faced trial. He was found guilty and convicted under Section 323
I.P.C. He was acquitted under Section 283 I.P.C. The case against
the petitioners were split up and re-filed. The petitioners have
subsequently appeared before the learned Magistrate, it is submitted.
According to the petitioners, they are employed abroad. They want to
see the end of these prosecutions against them. They want to plead
guilty under Section 283 I.P.C. The defacto complainant has
compounded the offence punishable under Section 323 I.P.C. But the
petitioners are not able to get their plea of guilty recorded and
composition accepted in as much as there is no incumbent occupying
the Chair of the Magistrate. The learned Munsiff of Tirur is holding
charge of the Magistrate also, it is submitted.
Crl.M.C.Nos. 2749 & 2752 of 2007
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2. The learned counsel for the petitioners, after discussions at the
Bar, submits that the petitioners shall be satisfied if this court directs the
learned Munsiff holding charge of the Court of the Magistrate to consider
the plea of guilty of the petitioners under Section 283 I.P.C. and the request
for composition of the offence under Section 323 I.P.C.
3. I consider the said request to be absolutely reasonable.
Notwithstanding the fact that the learned Munsiff may be saddled with the
responsibility of both courts, I am satisfied that the learned Munsiff holding
charge as Magistrate must forthwith consider the prayer of the petitioners to
permit them to plead guilty for offence under Section 283 and to pray for
composition of the offence under Section 323 I.P.C.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners
have to leave for their place of employment abroad and in these
circumstances such plea of guilty under Section 283 and the prayer for
composition under Section 323 I.P.C. may be permitted to be made through
their counsel. I need only observe that if proper steps are taken and proper
applications are made, the learned Munsiff must consider such request
without insisting on the personal presence of the petitioners.
Crl.M.C.Nos. 2749 & 2752 of 2007
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5. With the above observations, these Crl.M.Cs. are allowed to the
above extent.
(R. BASANT)
Judge
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