MUHAMMEDU NOOHU MUHAMMEDU BASHIR Vs. K BALAKRISHNAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant in Calendar Case 126 of 1961 has filed this revision petition to quash the order of the District Magistrate of Quilon discharging the accused under S.253(2), Cr. P. C. The complaint was for an offence of defamation under S.500 and 501 of the Penal Code, the allegation being that the accused had defamed him by publishing false imputations against him in the issue of the Malayalam paper 'Kaumudi', dated 24th September 1960. After the sworn statement was taken, the complaint was taken on file and process was issued to the accused. The case then underwent a number of adjournments as the complainant did not appear in court for his examination. Finally the case stood posted for hearing to 16th March 1962, on which date also the complainant absented himself. Witnesses were also not present. Adjournment was asked for but the learned Magistrate came to the conclusion that there was no reasonable cause for the absence of the complainant and discharged the accused under S.253(2) on the ground that the charge levelled against the accused was groundless. It is the legality of this order that is questioned in this revision petition.

(2.) S.252 of the Criminal Procedure Code deals with the procedure in a warrant case instituted otherwise than on a police report, after the accused appears in court. The section enjoins the court to hear the complainant and take all such evidence as may be produced in support of the prosecution. S.253(1) says that if upon taking all the evidence referred to in S.252, and making such examination, if any, of the accused, the Magistrate finds that no case is made out, he can discharge the accused. Then follows sub-s.(2). It reads as follows:

(3.) Decisions say that the Magistrate can discharge the accused at any stage, even before recording any evidence, if he is of opinion that the charge is groundless. Reference rutty be made to the decision in Chamarbaugwalla v. Ramachandra Rao 1957 (II) An. WR 368. The head note reads: