RAMASWAMY IN RE Vs. RAMASWAMY IN RE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has, been convicted- by the Addl. First Class-Magistrate, Nellore, under Sec. 19 (f) of the Indian ARMS ACT, 1959. THE case against him was, when his house was searched on 12-10-1954 by, the Police two, live-cartridges were found in a deal-wood box, THE plea, of the accused was that he had no knowledge of the existence of these cartridges in his house and a nephew of his, who was Hying with him and a young boy had picked them up from the neighbouring field and kept them there. THE trial court reached the conclusion that the petitioner was guilty, because it was not prepared to believe that these cartridges were found in the circumstances mentioned by the petitioner. THE petitioner was convicted and sentenced to a fine of Rs. 15/~.

(2.) THE conviction seems to be unsustainable. From the mere fact that the petitioner was the head of the family, it should not be presumed that he was aware of the two live-cartridges being in the house. THEre is no presumption that when some incriminating articles are found in a house in which a number of persons reside, the articles could be said to be in the exclusive ppssessipn of any particular member, nor any presumption that the'possession was that of the head of the family. THE possession contemplated in Sec. 19 (f) of the Indian ARMS ACT, 1959 is conscious possession. To hold it otherwise would result in disastrous consequences. If an incriminating article is brought into the house either by some urchin or left there by some unknown person, the head of the family runs the risk of being prosecuted although he was not aware of such a thing and was not in any way responsible for the act. Though the contrary view was taken in some of the earlier decisions the trend of the current opinion is in favour of the proposition stated above. This point was discussed at some length by Harris C. J. in Crown v. Santasingh . THE opinion expressed there was that, where the evidence does not point to the possession or control of any individual member of a house-hold the managing member of the family is in the same position as any other member and unless the prosecution is able to establish that he was conscious of the existence of the articles in the house, he could not be convicted. THE principle enunciated in the decisions of other High Courts is in agreement with this rule. Vide Mohan Lahri v. King, Sughar Singh v. Rex, Abdul Rahman v. King Emperor, and Nanndranath v. THE State. It follows that the prosecution has to establish that the possession was that of the person who is sought to be made liable and it is not for the person who is charged with the offence to make out a case of want of knowledge on his part. Even if there is any such obligation on the part of the head of the family and the case comes under Sec. 106 of the Evidence Act, in this case the burden has been satisfactorily discharged and the evidence of D. W. 1 a young boy of 13 years makes it abundantly clear that it was he that was responsible for this mischief. It is unlikely that the petitioner would have kept these two live-cartridges in his house when it is not shown that he had any weapon for using these cartridges. THE Sub-Inspector of Police, has admitted that there were 19 licensees of guns and that they would be often shooting birds in the fields adjoining the house of the petitioner. THE probability leans in favour of the version given by D.W.1. In any view of the matter, the conviction of the petitioner cannot be sustained. It is therefore set aside and the fine, if paid, will be refunded. Appeal allowed.