MUTHU ALIAS DURAI PANDI ALIAS MUTHULINGAM Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is at the instance of the four accused, three of whom have been convicted with the aid of Section 34, I.P.C., while the fourth accused – Masanam, has been convicted for an offence punishable under Section 302, I.P.C., simplicitor.

(2.) This is a classic example of how our caste system has permeated into the day-to-day life, giving rise to the dastardly crimes.

(3.) Meignanapuram is a small hamlet. The members of both the communities, viz., Thevar community and Scheduled Caste community, live there. While all the accused persons belong to the Thevar community, the deceased Sekar belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. The incident was conceived on 17.5.1992 when Sekar has called one Narayanan by his name. Taking that to be a great insult, there was a panchayat held, and there was also a compromise effected at. This was done on 18.5.1992. However, it seems that the accused persons did not brook this insult of being called by name by a Scheduled Caste member. Therefore, the incident seems to have happened on 20th of May, 1992.