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1966 DIGILAW 231 (MAD)

Untitled judgment

1966-08-10

K.S.VENKATARAMAN

body1966
Order:- In this case the charge was filed by the Police against three accused. One of them pleaded guilty even at the outset as soon as the charge was framed. He was duly convicted. Another S. R. Subramanyam initially pleaded not guilty. But after some of the prosecution witnesses were examined he filed a written memorandum admitting the offence and pleading guilty. He was Convicted on his plea on 25th June, 1966, and was released under section 4(1) (a) of the Central Probation of Offenders Act. Thereafter he was cited as a prosecution witness against the remaining accused Kothandapani. Kothandapani filed an application before the Additional First Class Magistrate to set aside the conviction of S. R. Subramanyam on 25th June, 1966, and objecting to his examination as a witness. It would appear that it was brought to the notice of the Magistrate that according to the judgments of this Court in C. A. Nos. 231 and 383 of 1966 it was not open to the Magistrate to have accepted the plea of ‘guilty ‘of S. R. Subramanyam after he had initially pleaded not guilty. In that Judgment Sadasivam, J., has referred to a judgment of mine wherein I had taken the same view. The learned Magistrate observed that it was not wrong for him to have accepted the plea of guilty of Subramanyam and that Kothandapani could not plead any prejudice on that account. However he accepted the other objection and ruled that Subramanyam would not be allowed to be examined as a prosecution witnesses. Kothandapani has preferred this petition against the above order. Sri S. M. Ali Mohammed contends that in view of the decision of this Court referred to above, it was not open to the Magistrate to accept the plea of guilty of S. R. Subramanyam. This is correct but I do not see how the petitioner (Kothandapani) can plead prejudice on that account or can ask this Court to set aside the conviction of Subramanyam. Since the learned Magistrate has ruled that Subramanyam will not be examined as a prosecution witness, the petitioner cannot have any possible grievance. Accordingly the petition is dismissed. R. M. --------- Petition dismissed.