SELATHU Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE 17 petitioners were charged by the First Class Bench Magistrates, Uthamapalayam, under S. G06, Penal Code, that on the night of 3rd June 1947 they threatened P. Ws. 1 to 6 with harm and social boycott if they continued to work (as agricultural labourers) for their masters.

(2.) THE consistent testimony as to what happened on the night of 3rd June 1947 is only with regard to the social boycott. It is true that the various witnesses add some other threat, but in that respect one witness does not corroborate another. The Magistrates seem also to have taken into account the various threats and obstructions on the following morning which were not the -subject of the charge.

(3.) TWO questions only arise : 1) Whether the threat of social boycott is an offence punishable under Section 606, Penal Code, and (2) whether it has been proved that all the 17 petitioners were guilty of the offence with which they were charged.