THOTHAN Vs. MURUGAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an appeal filed under Section 417 (3) Cr. PC In the trial court the appellant herein prosecuted the respondents for theft, in that they cut away the crops on the land which was said to be in the possession of the complainant. The lower court found that the complainant's possession has not been established beyond all reasonable doubt, and. therefore, acquitted the accused of the offence of theft. Against that acquittal the complainant preferred under Section 417 (3) Cr. PC this appeal. Leave of the court has been granted and the appeal has been admitted. After admission of this appeal and before its hearing the appellant died. The question is whether the appeal abates under Section 431 Cr. PC

(2.) SECTION 431, Criminal P. C, is as follows: "every appeal under Section 411-A, Sub-section (2), or Section 417, shall finally abate on the death of the accused, and every other appeal under this Chapter (except an appeal from a sentence of fine) shall finally abate on the dead] of the appellant. " This is an appeal under Section 417 Cr. PC Under the terms of S, 431 Cr. PC this can abate only on the death of the accused. The other appeals, i. e. , appeals which are filed Under Sections other than Section 417 Cr. PC abate only on the death of the appellant. The right of appeal which is given to the complainant was introduced by the Amending Act of 1955. Parliament is supposed to have taken notice of Section 431 Cr. PC also when the amendment was passed. But there is this lacuna in the section, namely, as to what is to happen in Case where the accused does not die and the appeal is not by the accused but by the complainant and he dies pending disposal.

(3.) IN terms Section 417 Cr. PC which applies to this case, the appeal can abate only on the death of the accused which is not the case here. The question is therefore not free from doubt. It seems to me that Parliament or the local Legislature should intervene and amend Section 431 Cr. PC so as to over cases of this nature also. The question is as to what is to happen to this appeal now.