R LAKSHMIPATHI Vs. S RAMALINGAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr. R. Lakshmipathi and Mr. R. Raghavan, the petitioners herein, the Publisher and Printer of "DINAMALAR" Tamil daily, are the accused in C. C. No. 192 of 1994 on the file of Judicial Magistrate-II, Coimbatore, which was taken on file under Section 228-A, I.P.C. for having printed and published in their newspaper dated 4-7-1994, disclosing the identity of the victim in the rape case which occurred on 27-6-1994.

(2.) Mr. Ramalingam, the complainant, the respondent herein, filed the above said private complaint against the petitioners being publisher and printer and two others, the Editor and Manager of "Dinamalar" Tamil daily. After recording sworn statement, the learned Judicial Magistrate took cognizance for the offence under Section 228-A, I.P.C. in respect of the petitioners, namely, A-1 and A-3 alone. On the process being issued, the petitioners received the same and approached this Court challenging the issue of process, in this Revision.

(3.) Mr. Panchapagesan, the counsel appearing for the petitioners, while challenging the order issuing the process on the petitioners, would mainly press into service the following contentions :-