THADUVAI PULLIAH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) There can be no doubt whatever that the petitioner had acted in a most insolent and improper manner by defying the authority of the Village Panchayat Court and using insulting words in its presence. The Panchayat Court thought that the petitioner was guilty of contempt of Court and misbehaviour and so fined him Rs. 5. Though the provision of law under which it purported to act is not mentioned in the Judgment, it would appear that it purported to act under section 228 of the Indian Penal Code which runs as under :-

(2.) But under the Madras Village Courts Act (I of 1889), Panchayat Courts have only very limited powers in civil and criminal matters. Criminal jurisdiction is conferred by section 76 of the said Act which provides :

(3.) It seems to me that this is a matter which requires the immediate attention of the State Government because Panchayat Courts will suffer in prestige and become the butt of ridicule if contempts committed in their presence cannot be punished by them.