Deenadayulu Naidu and Others vs Ratna Padayachi

Wallace, J.—The main point argued in this Revision Case is whether the inclusion in Section 4(o) of the Criminal Procedure Code in the

definition of an offence of an ""act in respect of which a complaint may be made u/s 20 of the Cattle Trespass Act"" renders it unnecessary for a

Magistrate who is generally empowered under the Criminal Procedure Code to receive complaints of offences to be specially authorized by the

District Magistrate to receive complaints under that section of the Cattle Trespass Act. Section 29 of the Criminal Procedure Code is relied on. So

far as sub Section (1) is concerned, it is argued that the offence can only be tried by the Court mentioned in Section 20 of the Cattle Trespass Act,

that is, by the Magistrate authorized to receive and try charges without a reference by the District Magistrate. So far as Sub-section (2) is

concerned, it is argued that, as the offence is not punishable with imprisonment or fine as such, it has no place in the 8th column of the Second

Schedule and, therefore, that that Schedule does not apply. I am inclined to agree with the second contention although there are cases which have

held that the compensation which may be awarded u/s 22 is of the nature of a fine. But I think the first contention does not carry the petitioner so

far as he wishes to go. Granted that the only Court which can try the case is a Magistrate authorized in the language of Section 20 of the Cattle

Trespass Act, that language appears to me to mean a Magistrate authorized to receive and try complaints generally and not merely complaints

under that section. I am not clear why the vague word ""charges"" is used, but, had the intention of the Legislature been to confine the authorization

to charges under that section, I think it would have said so. It is true that, if ''charges'' means generally complaints of offences, it was not necessary

to amend the definition of ''offence'' under the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898, because a Magistrate authorized to try offences generally would

u/s 20 have authority to try a complaint under that section. But the amendment was probably due to certain rulings which lay down that an act in

respect of which a complaint could be laid u/s 20 was not an offence: see Pitchi v. Ankappa 6 M. 102 : Weir 315 : 3 Ind. Dec. 468 and

Kottalanada v. Muthaya 9 M. 374 : 2 Weir 345 : 3 Ind. Dec. 656. I hold then that Section 20 means that any Magistrate authorized under the

Criminal Procedure Code by the District Magistrate to take cognizance of offence is thereby authorized to take cognizance of an offence under this

section. This is the view held in Emperor v. Vishvanath Vishnu Joshi 54 Ind. Cas. 495 : 44 B. 42 : 21 Bom. L.R. 1048 : 21 Cr. L.J. 95 and

derives support from that in Budhan Mahto v. Issur Singh 34 C. 926 : 6 Cri. L.J. 363 although the point now taken based on the wording of the

section was not specifically raised. There therefore is no lack of jurisdiction and this objection fails.

It has been further urged that a joinder of charges for offences u/s 20 of the Cattle Trespass Act and Section 501 of the Indian Penal Code was

illegal. No objection was taken to this joinder until now. The insult complained of was so near in point of time and place that it may reasonably be

held to have formed part of the same transaction. I am not prepared to hold the joinder illegal.

I, therefore, dismiss this petition.