(1.) Two interesting questions of law have arisen in this suo motu Revision for consideration before this Court, which are as follows :
(2.) The short facts are the following : In a case of murder, the charge-sheet was filed before the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Karaikal against seven accused. The learned Magistrate committed the case to the Principal Sessions Judge, Pondicherry for trial. Thereafter, the learned Principal Sessions Judge made over the case for trial to the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Karaikal. The accused persons appeared before the said Court, which, in turn, framed charges against them for the various offences including of murder and recorded their statement pleading not guilty.
(3.) Then, the case was posted for the examination of witnesses to a later date. At this stage, the accused persons filed a petition before the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Pondicherry, requesting transfer or withdrawal from the Additional Sessions Judge on making some allegations against the Additional Sessions Judge and to post it either before himself or before some other competent Court. This petition for transfer was entertained and stay was granted.