G VENUGOPAL Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These Criminal Revision Cases arise out of the common Judgment of the learned Sessions Judge, Anantapur dated 21st October, 1991, passed in Criminal Appeal Nos.18 to 24 of 1991, on his file, confirming the conviction of the petitioners-accused for an offence under Rule 70(2) of the Andhra Pradesh (AgriculturalProduce &Live Stock) Markets Rules, 1969 and Bye-Laws Nos.44(5) and 45 of the Bye-Laws of the Agricultural Market Committee (Goory) Guntakal and the sentence of fine of Rs.500/- in default to suffer S.I. for one month imposed against each of the petitioners by the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Guntakal in S.T.C. Nos.28 and 30 to 35 of 1990, on his file, dt.19-12-1990.

(2.) As common questions of law and fact are involved in all the revisions and in the lower appeallate court also all the appeals were disposed of by a common judgment common judgment is being passed in all the criminal revision cases.

(3.) The brief facts of the cases are as follows:- The petitioners-accused were granted licences by the Agricultural Market Committee, Guntakal, respondent No.2 in all the Crl.R.Cs.,and they were being renewed, everyyear. The licencees are bound by the terms and .conditions of the licences granted to them. As per the terms and conditions of the licences, the petitioners have to maintain all the accounts relating to the sales made by them on each day and submit monthly returns of daily transactions to the Secretary of Market Committee, Guntakal before 25th of every succeeding month. But the accused failed to submit their monthly returns regarding the purchases, sales and storage of agricultural produce for the period from April 1979 till the date of filing of the complaints in the lower court. Notices dated 19-4-1985 were also served on each of the accused calling upon them to submit the monthly purchase returns. As the accused have not complied with the notices by submitting the returns, after obtaining necessary sanction, complaints were filed against the accused.