GOVILAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a reference by the District Magistrate of South Arcot under the following circumstances. The police at Chidambaram filed a charge-sheet against the respondent herein, stating that he has committed an offence under S. 279, IPC read with Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The allegations are that the accused who was the driver of the lorry MSY. 2590 drove the lorry on 16-3-1957 in a rash and negligent manner so as to cause danger to human life at about O53 hours in the Chidambaram Bhengiri Road near 1 mile and 4 furlongs from Chidambaram and thereby dashed against a double-bullock cart and caused damage to the cart driven by one Nathar, P. W. 1. It is stated that this act fell under Section 279, IPC and Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act. There is no doubt that the police were wrong in adding Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act to this Section 279, I. P. O. Section 279, I. P. C. , is as follows:

(2.) AFTER filing the charge-sheet, the lower Court appears to have acted under S. 130 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act. under Section 130 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, a court taking congnizance of an offence under this Act may, unless the offence is an offence specified in Part A of the Fifth Schedule, Btate upon the summons to t served on the accused person that he (a) may appear by pleader and not in person, or (b) may by a specified date prior to the hearing of the Charge plead guilty to the charge by registered letter and remit to the court such sum not exceeding Rs. 25 as the court may specify. Apparently, the summons has specified a sum of Rs. 25, and in pursuance of the option in the summons, the accused pleaded guilty, and thereupon was convicted and sentenced to a fine of Rs. 25.

(3.) NEITHER the Magistrate nor the police appear to have looked into the sections of the Indian Penal Code or the Motor Vehicles Act, the one before filing the charge-sheet and the other before sending out a summons. It is obvious that Section 130 (1) cannot apply to the facts of this case, as it can apply only in two circumstances: (1) it must be an offence committed under the Motor Vehicles Act; and (2) such offence not mentioned in Part A. This offence, being one under Section 279. IPC, cannot be said to be under the Act, and therefore Section 130 (1) will not apply. The issue of summons itself was therefore contrary to the provisions of the section and must be held as illegal. The plea of guilty, therefore, following such summons is equally vitiated by this illegality. The whole course of trial being illegal, the conviction of the accused has to be set aside, and it is hereby set aside