Emperor vs Ramasawmy Raju

We think the order of acquittal in this case must be set aside.

The accused, a police constable, was charged u/s 44 of Act XXIV of 1859 with ""ceasing to perform the duties of his office without leave."" It

appears that he applied for leave which was refused. He then obtained three days casual leave, and whilst on such, leave again applied for long

leave which was again refused. He did not however return to duty at the expiry of his casual leave but stayed away without leave. Having stayed

away from duty for over one month sanction was granted for his prosecution under the above section, and the Stationary Sub-Magistrate of

Madura Town tried, convicted, and sentenced him to a fine of Rs. 12 or in default one week''s simple imprisonment. On appeal the Sub-Divisional

First-class Magistrate set aside the conviction and acquitted him, holding that the facts proved did not constitute the offence of ""ceasing to perform

the duties of his office without leave"" inasmuch as he was on casual leave and merely overstayed his leave.

We think that is wrong. We are of opinion that, if a police constable is granted casual leave for a limited period and does not at the end of that

period resume his duties as a police constable, he withdraws himself from his duties and ""ceases to perform the duties of his office without leave

within the meaning of the section.

The intention of the section is to render police constables liable to punishment for such neglect or breaches of duty as are not punishable u/s 10

of the Act, such as desertion: Prima facie, a constable absent without leave is guilty of ""ceasing to perform his duty."" The fact that he has been

permitted to be absent on casual leave for a time immediately anterior to his absenting himself from duty can make no difference in his offence. At

the expiry of his casual leave he should, presumably, be on duty, and his own omission to return to duty cannot make his conduct less an offence

than if he had returned to duty and then ceased to perform his duty.

We therefore set aside the acquittal of the First-class Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and restore and confirm the conviction and sentence of the

Stationary Subordinate Magistrate.