M. KRISHNAMURTHY Vs. THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The circumstances under which this Division Bench came to be constituted for deciding the issues arising in this reference require to be recapitulated, for which, it may be necessary to briefly state the factual matrix.

(2.) Heard Mr. C.R. Malarvannan, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. G. Karthikeyan, learned counsel who assisted the Court and Mr. C. Emalias, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State.

(3.) Maintenance of public order and tranquillity had always received the utmost attention of the colonial powers even during the administration of India by the East India Company. This is evident from the preface to the A.D. 1802 Regulation XXXII (Madras Regulations), which reads as under: