In Re: Pavanur Athamu and Others

This revision case Has been presented very long after the conviction and a preliminary objection is taken that many of the petitioners had the

right of appeal and have not chosen to exercise it within the time allowed by law. We have been asked in their cases to treat the criminal revision

petition as an appeal but considering the length of time which has elapsed since the conviction in October 1921, we are not prepared to do so.

Ordinarily the Court will not permit a criminal revision petition to be heard when the petitioner has had an opportunity of appealing and has not

exercised it. But in the present case where the effect of not allowing the revision case in the case of those who might, have appealed and did not,

would be to sustain a sentence of 8 and 10 years'' imprisonment in their cases, whereas for reasons to be given, we are of opinion that in most of

these cases only the conviction u/s 143, Indian Penal Code, can stand in law under which the sentence was only 6 months rigorous imprisonment,

we think it right to hear the case under our general powers of revision and if necessary to interfere.

The main question for decision is whether an offence u/s 126, Indian Railways Act, or Section 7(c), Martial Law Regulation is an ''offence'' as

that word is used in Section 149, Indian Penal Code. A Bench of this Court has already held [Aydroos v. Emperor 72 Ind. Cas. 360 : 17 L.W. 21

: (1922) M.W.N. 800 : AIR (1923) (M.) 187 : 24 Cri. L, J. 360 that it is not. We have heard a further argument from Mr. Ethiraj for the Public

Prosecutor regarding the correctness of the decision. He urges that as the word ""unlawful assembly"" in Section 141, Indian Penal Code, will cover

an assembly whose common object is to commit an offence u/s 126, Indian Railways Act, (vide Section 40, Indian Penal Code). The same phrase

in Section 149 must import that offence into Section 149 also. But we consider that a criminal Statute has to be rigidly interpreted and that Section

40 in terms clearly implies that in Section 149 the word ""offence"" only covers offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code. With the reasons

for such a provision, we are not concerned.

We, therefore, follow the above ruling. It will apply in these cases to all the petitioners except accused Nos. 2, 8, 9, 12, 35 and 38 against

whom there is specific evidence of acts u/s 126, Indian Railways Act, and Nos. 1, 18, and 25 said to be dead.

In the case of all the petitioners except accused Nos. 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 18, 25, 35 and 38, we cancel the conviction u/s 126, Indian Railways Act

and Section 7(c) of the Martial Law Regulation, namely, in the case of * * * * * * *Accused Nos. 4 to 7, 10, 11, 13 to 17, 19 to 24, 26 to 34,

36, 37, and 39, that u/s 143, Indian Penal Code stands. The petition is dismissed as regards the case of accused Nos. 2, 8, 9, 12, 35, and 38;

these accused will go back to jail to serve out their sentences. The bail-bonds of the others will be cancelled as they have already served the

sentences passed u/s 143, Indian Penal Code.