IN RE: D. PANDURANGAN AND ANR. Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE two appellants were tried and convicted by the Chief Presidency Magistrate for an offence under Section 292, I. P. C. and sentenced each to three months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,000.

(2.) ACCUSED 2 in the case is the keeper of a Press called "Sri Andal Press". This is situated in 175 Lloyds Road, Royapettah. Accused 1 is the printer and publisher of a book called "Kama Leelai". The book contains pictures of various postures of sexual intercourse with an explanatory note on the opposite page. It is clear from Ex. P. 5 filed in the case that accused 1 printed as many as 700 copies of the book. The two ledgers Exs. P. 2 and P. 3 seized by the police show the number of books sold by accused 1. It is clear therefore from these two documents that accused 1 has printed and published these books for the purpose of sale. In fact, this is not seriously disputed, though it is stated that the sale was intended only for adults. Even so these books were undoubtedly printed and published for sale.

(3.) THE word "obscene" is not defined in the Code. The natural and ordinary meaning of the term as given by the dictionaries is this :