EMPEROR Vs. KESHAVLAL VIRCHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE Sessions Judge has clearly committed an error in holding that he has no jurisdiction to hear the appeal, because of the alteration in the sentence, made by the Magistrate, after he had delivered judgments. It is true that a Magistrate has no jurisdiction to alter his judgment and the sentence, after he has once delivered it and signed it. But for the purposes of the learned Sessions Judge s jurisdiction, so far as this appeal was concerned, that was the very mistake which the learned Judge was called upon to correct by way of appeal; and therefore, the appeal was within his jurisdiction to that extent at any rate. I must, therefore, make the rule absolute and remit the appeal to the Sessions Court for disposal according to law. Heaton, J.

(2.) I agree. The sentence which was actually imposed which, unless altered, the jailor will carry out, was the sentence of one month and one day s imprisonment. It is an appealable sentence; and when an appeal is presented that appeal ought to be heard. It may be, and it is said in this case that it is so, that that sentence was illegally imposed. If so, all the more reason for taking it up to the appellate Court and for having it corrected by that Court. Therefore, I think that the Sessions Judge was wrong in declining to hear the appeal, and that he was bound to hear and dispose of it according to law.