EMPEROR Vs. JOTI PRASAD GUPTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The person concerned in this criminal reference is one Joti Prasad Gupta, an advocate of this Court, practising at Meerut. On 13 April 1930, he made a speech on the Barafkhana Ground at Meerut before an audience consisting of about ten thousand persons in which he urged them to break the salt law. He also sold certain packets of contraband salt said to have been manufactured at Ghaziabad. He was prosecuted under Section 9(a), Salt Act (Act 12 of 1888) and under Section 117, I.P.C., before a Magistrate First Class and was convicted of both the offences. He was sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment under the former section and to 18 months rigorous imprisonment under the latter section. The sentences were directed to run consecutively.

(2.) Before the Magistrate Joti Prasad Gupta "took no part in the proceedings." He refused to say anything in his defence and declined to produce any evidence on his behalf.

(3.) He preferred no appeal against his conviction or sentence.