MAHALINGAM Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the proceeding in C.C.No.96 of 2023 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Palladam, Tiruppur District.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that 5/1/2023, acting on a tip-off, the defacto complainant, along with his team, proceeded to the area near the Pongalur Bus Stop on the Kovai-Trichy Road. There, the petitioners had unlawfully assembled and were staging a protest against the Government, demanding the release of water for the PAP irrigation scheme. The protest was conducted without obtaining prior permission from the police and allegedly caused public disturbance. Despite repeated warnings to disperse, the petitioners continued their agitation, until around 11.30 a.m. Based on this, the respondent police registered a case in Crime No.6 of 2023, against the petitioners for the offences punishable under Ss. 143, 147 and 341 of IPC. Subsequently, the respondent police filed a final report before the Judicial Magistrate, Palladam, Tiruppur District and the same has been taken cognizance in C.C.No.96 of 2023.

(3.) The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are innocent persons and they have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the respondent police filed a charge sheet in C.C.No.96 of 2023 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Palladam, Tiruppur District for the offences under Ss. 143, 147 and 341 of IPC, as against the petitioners. Hence, he prayed to quash the same.