MALTI DEVI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE respondent nos. 2 and 3 were prosecuted for offences punishable under sections 323 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on accusation that on 22.5.1987 they plucked 200 mangoes from the tree of appellant Malti Devi and on resistence, assaulted her and also her daughter. After the judicial process was set in motion on filing of a petition of complaint in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Munger, in the eventual trial, the prosecution examined altogether four witnesses including Malti Devi, on whose behest, the prosecution was launched against these respondents and others, and the trial court on consideration of evidences placed on record, while negativing the assertion raised on behalf of the State, acquitted the respondents of the charges levelled against them.

(2.) THE findings recorded by the trial court have been assailed in this appeal by the aggrieved complainant. After this appeal was admitted, notices were also issued to the respondent nos. 2 and 3 to answer the charges. It is sought to be urged on behalf of the appellant that the witnesses examined at trial had lent assurance to the prosecution allegation, details of which have been made in the petition of complaint about the respondents having assaulted Malti Devi and her daughter, pursuant to which they also removed 200 mangoes from the tree. Contentions are raised that though one of the grounds on which the respondents were acquitted of the charges was non -examination of independent witnesses by the State but a petition was filed in the trial court about some of those witnesses having been gained over by the defence and hence, it is urged that there was no occasion for their examination. Learned counsel for the State resisted the contentions raised on behalf of the appellant and urged that the findings recorded by the trial court did not merit interference.