LAWS(MAD)-1954-9-5

B N RAMAKRISHNA NAIDU Vs. STATE

Decided On September 14, 1954
B.N.RAMAKRISHNA NAIDU Appellant
V/S
STATE Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These are two connected Revision Cases filed against the convictions and sentences of the learned 4th Presidency Magistrate, George Town, Madras in C. C. Nos. 7937 and 7941 of 1953. The convicted person in C. C. No. 7937 of 1953 is B. N. Ramakrishna Naidu who was accused 2 therein and his Revision Case is No. 343 of 1954 and the convicted person in the other case, is Viswanathan Chetti whose Revision Case is 344 of 1954. E. N. Ramakrishna Naidu has been fined Rs. 100/-and Viswanathan Chetti has been fined Rs. 50/- and the sandalwood billets in both the cases have been ordered to be confiscated to the Government. The convictions were under Section 65, City Police Act.

(2.) The short facts are: There were frequent thefts of sandalwood logs in the Government Forest in Chittoor and the adjoining Tirumalai Devasthanam forest. These thefts were taking place between May 1952 and November 1852. The Tirumalai Tirupathi Devasthanam had complained of these thefts to the Tirumalai Police Station. In other words, the authorities were on the look out for checking these thefts.

(3.) I need not point out that in the City of Madras, which is within 100 miles of the Chittoor District, there is a brisk trade in sandalwood logs for the purpose of being sold as small billets for grinding sandalwood" paste and for being powdereel as sandalwood powder and for the purpose of cremation in the case of rich people.