YESUPATHAM Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant is the sole accused in S.C. No. 39 of 2012 on the file of learned Principal Sessions Judge, Vellore, Vellore District. He stood charged for the offences under Sections 317 and 302 I.P.C. By judgment dated 02.01.2013, the Trial Court convicted him under both the charges and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year for the offence under Section 317 I.P.C. and to undergo imprisonment for life, to pay a fine of Rs.5000/-, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year for the offence under Section 302 I.P.C. Challenging the said conviction and sentence, the appellant is before this Court with this appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution, in brief, is as follows:

(3.) In this appeal, one Mr. C. Chokkalingam, learned counsel, was on record, as the counsel for the appellant. When this appeal came up for hearing on 29.03.2016, the learned counsel on record withdrew his appearance. Therefore, the matter was directed to be listed on 30.03.2016 by printing the name of the appellant. But, when the appeal came up for hearing on 30.03.2016, the appellant did not appear and there was no representation on his behalf. Therefore, this Court appointed Mr. R. Ganesh Kumar, a learned member of the Bar, as legal aid counsel, to appear, on behalf of the appellant.