Mani & Anr vs State & Anr

Batch of appeals arising from the judgments of the trial Court in Spl.CC Nos.4 to 12 of 2001 on the file of District and Sessions/Special Court,",,,

Udhagamandalam, Nilgiris District bears a common root tracing to the complaint of Thiru.Narayanasamy, District Education Officer(DEO). The",,,

accused persons Thiru.Mani (A-1) and Thiru.K.BelliKalan (A-2), who are now appellants before this Court are public servants employed in",,,

Education Department as Additional Assistant Elementary Education Officer (in short ""AAEEO"") and Record Clerk respectively at Kothagiri",,,

Assitant Education Office. The charges against them are criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, forgery, falsification of accounts, creation of",,,

false documents and abuse of official position for illegal pecuniary advantage. As far as Spl.C.C.Nos.5 to 7 of 2001 are concerned, Thiru.Mani",,,

(AAEEO) and Thiru. K.BelliKalan,(Record clerk) are accused.",,,

The criminal law has been set into motion based on the complaint lodged by Thiru.R.Narayanasamy, then Director of Elementary Education on",,,

17.09.1997 detailing out several instances of falsification of accounts, financial irregularities including misappropriation and forgery. Though the",,,

complaint named only Thiru.Mathappan (AEEO) and Thiru.Thathan (AEEO) as suspects of crime, in the course of the investigation, apart from",,,

these two named accused, others, who were working in the Kothagiri Assistant Elementary Education Office, also found involved in the crime. The",,,

investigation has led to file 9 separate final reports against the persons invloved in respective act of forgery, misappropriation, creation of false",,,

documents and falsification of accounts.,,,

The present appeals Crl.A.Nos.775 and 793 of 2003 arises from the judgement in Spl.C.C.No.5 of 2001 wherein Thiru Mani (A-1) appellant,,,

in Crl.A.No.775 of 2003 found guilty of offences under Sections 409 r/w 109 of Indian Penal Code and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and (d)(i) of,,,

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sentenced to undergo R.I for a period of 5 years and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000/-, in default to undergo",,,

S.I. for 6 months each and period of sentence to run concurrently along with the sentence imposed in Spl.C.C.Nos. 6 and 7 of 2001.,,,

The Appellant in Crl.A.No.793 of 2003, Thiru. K.Bellikalan [A-2], found guilty of offences under Section 409 Indian Penal Code and Section",,,

13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) & (d)(i) of Prevention of Corruption Act,1988 and sentenced to undergo R.I for a period of 5 years and to pay a fine of",,,

Rs.2,000/-, in default to undergo S.I. for 6 months each and period of sentence to run concurrently along with the sentence imposed in",,,

Spl.C.C.Nos.6 and 7 of 2001.,,,

Case of the Prosecution in brief:,,,

Between 03.07.1995 and 24.07.1997, [A-1] Thiru.Mani was the Additional Elementary Education Officer at Kothagiri and [A-2]Thiru.BelliKalan",,,

was the Record Clerk in that office. While A-2[Thiru.Bellikalan] was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the pay bills of the teaching staff,,,

and deducting the recoverable like, LIC premium and RD, remit the same in to the LIC office and Post Office. Whereas, A-2 [Thiru.Bellikalan]",,,

collected Rs.1,63,156/- from the salaries of the staff but he remitted only Rs.1,17,142/-. Thus, misappropriated a sum of Rs.46.014/-. A-",,,

1[Thiru.Mani] being the AEEO is the Superior Officer had abetted A-2[Thiru.Bellikalan] to commit misappropriation. Both A-1[Thiru.Mani] and,,,

A-2[Thiru.Bellikalan] being public servants, had misconducted themselves by abusing their official position to get pecuniary advantage causing",,,

wrongful loss to the State.,,,

To substantiate the charges, the prosecution has examined 15 witnesses and marked 73 exhibits. Most of the witnesses and exhibits are",,,

common to other Spl.C.C.Nos.6 and 7 of 2001. The trial Court has found the prosecution proved and held the accused guilty of charges and,,,

sentenced them as stated supra. Aggrieved by the judgement of sentence, these two appeals are preferred.",,,

The learned counsel appearing for the first accused/ appellant in Crl.A.No.775/2003 would submit that, the prosecution has not made out any",,,

offence against this appellant. The First Information Report does not mention his name, none of the prosecution witnesses directly implicates the",,,

appellant. Even according to the prosecution witnesses, it was the second accused, who as record clerk, in custody of records and maintenance of",,,

account. Failure on his part to remit the money collected from the staff for the purpose of paying LIC premium and RD instalments in the post,,,

office, this appellant cannot be vicariously liable. The evidence of PW-1[Mr.Narayanasamy] cannot be relied upon since it is purely based on the",,,

report of Tmt.Umarani, who was not examined as prosecution witness. In the absence of mens rea, for omission and commission of the",,,

subordinate, this appellant, who was the head of the office as Assistant Elementary Education Officer, cannot be criminally held liable. In support",,,

of his submission, the judgment of the Supreme Court in Robert John D''Souza and others -vs- Stephen V.Gomes and another reported in 2015",,,

(9) SCC 96 and the judgment rendered in Radha Pisharassiar Amma -vs- State of Kerala reported in 2007 ( 13) SCC 410 are relied.,,,

On behalf of the second accused/ appellant in Crl.A.No.793/2003, the learned counsel would submit that, the trial Court has miserable failed to",,,

note that to allege the criminal breach of trust by public servant, the twin requirement namely, entrustment and dishonest misappropriation or",,,

conversion for his own use. In this case, the prosecution has not proved entrustment. The evidence of PW-3 [Mr.K.Sivalingam], PW-4",,,

[Mr.D.Santharaj] and PW-5 [Mr.Madhan] does not prove entrustment. In the absence of documentary proof for entrustment, oral evidence of",,,

interested witnesses are unreliable.,,,

Further, both the appellants would state that , the alleged money misappropriated had been admittedly paid back to the concerned staff and",,,

there is no loss to them. The repayment is admitted by PW-6 [Mr.Lingan]. In the light of the above fact and in the light of the Hon''ble Supreme,,,

Court judgment in Bankupalli Chinna Babu -vs- State by its P P., AP reported in 2002 (9) SCC 352, the sentenced imposed on the",,,

accused/appellants requires reconsideration.,,,

Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent would submit that, PW-3 [Mr.R.Sivalingam], PW-4",,,

[Mr.D.Santharaj] and PW-5[Mr.Madhan] are the prosecution witnesses who have spoken about the deduction of LIC premium from the salary of,,,

the teaching staff working under them and handing over the same to A-2. The non-remittance of the money in the LIC and Post Office is spoken,,,

by PW-6[Mr.Lingan], PW-7[Mr.Rangabhojan] and PW-8[Mr.K.M.Ballie]. Further, PW-6[Mr.Lingan] has also spoken about the subsequent",,,

conduct of A-2 who has repaid part of the money swindled. A-1 as AEEO has to periodically verify the register regarding remittance and,,,

acquittance. He is the officer responsible for the supervising the proper maintenance of registers and records. He had connived with A-2 and,,,

abetted him to misappropriate the money. Therefore, the appellants being public servants had misconducted themselves by abusing their official",,,

positions had obtained pecuniary advantage. Since the entrustment and dishonest misappropriation is well established through prosecution,,,

witnesses and exhibits, the trial Court judgment has to be confirmed.",,,

The point for consideration is whether the prosecution witnesses has proved beyond doubt that they entrusted LIC premium and RD,,,

installment to A-2 and he dishonestly misappropriated and whether A-1 abetted A-2 in his act of misappropriation ?,,,

Ex.P-1 is the report of Tmt.Umarani, DEEO, Nilgiris District, dated 29.09.1997. In her report, she has given extensive details about the",,,

irregularites found during the inspection of records maintained in Kothagiri Assistant Elementary Education Office. The report reveals several,,,

financial irregularities inviting departmental action and criminal prosecution against the appellants herein and others, who are subsequently",,,

prosecuted. PW-1 [Mr. Narayanasamy] to who the report was forwarded by Tmt. Umarani has deposed that on receipt of the report he perused,,,

it and being satisfied that the irregularities found in the report requires investigation by police, he forwarded the complaint Ex.P-2 to the Director,",,,

Crime Branch, Chennai. Pursuant to the said complaint, First Information Report Ex.P-72 has been registered on 22.10.1997.",,,

On completion of investigation, three cases against these appellants were filed and taken cognizance by the Court. As far as Spl.C.C.5 of",,,

2003 is concerned, it is in respect of entrust of LIC premium and RD installments to A-2 , which is not remitted by him in the LIC and Post office.",,,

A-1 who has to verify the records omitted to do so in order to assist A-2 to commit misappropriation.,,,

Though the learned counsels would plead that there is no entrustment to A-2 and no dishonest intention or mens rea on the part of A-1, the",,,

deposition of PW-3[Mr.K.Sivalingam], PW-4[Mr.D.Santharaj] and PW-5[Mr.Madhan] would prove the factum of entrustment of money to A-2.",,,

According to PW-3[Thiru.K.Sivalingam], he as the Head Master of Panchayat Union Middle School, Horasholai, was the Pay Master for 9",,,

Middle Schools. He used to disburse the salary to the staff after deducting LIC premium, RD amount , DCP amount etc., to the Head Masters of",,,

the school concerned. The LIC premium and RD amount he deducted for the month of June, July and August 1996 and was entrusted the money",,,

to A-2. Ex.P-5 is the pay book maintained by him during the relevant period. For the month of June, he had deducted Rs.39,041/- towards LIC",,,

premium and RD, for the month of July he had deducted Rs.36,299/- and for the month of August, he has deducted Rs.46,280/-. These amounts",,,

were handed over to A-2. Later, when it was brought to the knowledge the premium and RD were not properly remitted by A-2 and others to",,,

whom the money was entrusted, action was taken and Mr.Lingan[PW-6] was entrusted with the responsibility of receiving the contribution and",,,

remit.,,,

PW-4, D.Santharaj Assistant Teacher of Kallikodu Panchayat Union Middle School had deposed that he as pay master for 11 schools for the",,,

month of June 1996 collected a sum of Rs 18,941/- towards the DCP, LIC and RD contributions from the staff and handed over to A-2. The",,,

register for remittance for the year 1996 is marked as Ex P-10 and the note prepared by him for the month of June, 1996 is identified as Ex P-11.",,,

In the cross examination he has deposed that the money collected for remittance into LIC and Post office for RD will be entrusted to the person,,,

nominated by the Senior officers. For the month of June 1996, A-2 was nominated to receive the contributions.",,,

PW-5, the Head Master of Kerkempai Panchayat Union Elementary School has deposed that he was the pay master for 9 schools. For the",,,

month of June and July 1996, he deducted Rs.9,271/- towards LIC premium for the staff, Rs.5,080/- towards RD and Rs.16,420/- towards TCP",,,

and handed over to A-2 for remittance. For the month of July, 1996 he deducted Rs.14,302/- from the salary of the staff for remittance and gave",,,

it to A-2. He admits that he did not get the signature of A-2 while entrusting the money to him.,,,

Thiru.Lingan, who was examined as PW-6, had corroborated the evidence of PW-3 to PW-5. He, in his deposition, has stated that after he",,,

took responsibility of remitting the LIC premium and RD at Post office, he approached A-2 to recover the money held by him. A-2 promised to",,,

pay it in installment. Accordingly, on 8.11.1996 A-2 paid Rs.38,530/-, and on 04.12.1996 he paid Rs.28,779/-. As against Rs.96,168/- A-2",,,

repaid only Rs.67,389/- and a sum of Rs.28,779/- remained unpaid in the total sum collected for LIC premium, Ex.P-22 and Ex.P-23",,,

corroborates his evidence. Likewise, PW-7 [Mr.Rangabhojan] has deposed that, A-1 and A-2 had repaid a sum of Rs.16,830/- towards RD",,,

amount collected from PW-3, PW- 4 and PW-5.",,,

The prosecution witnesses had deposed about the procedure in disbursement of salary and how the deductions used to be remitted in the,,,

respective accounts. The admitted fact that the Assistant Elementary Education Office is in charge of remittance of monthly deductions. It is not,,,

denied by accused person that the person who is the rank of Junior Assistant or Record clerk was given this responsibility. The analysis of the,,,

evidence given by PW-3 to PW-7, discloses the procedure followed by the AEE office at Kothagiri, the persons, who were incharge of collecting",,,

the amount and to do the onward remittance during the relevant period and the omission by A-2 to remit the money he collected and subsequent,,,

repayment after his deeds came to light. Certain lacuna in the prosecution evidence pointed out does not nullify the clinching evidence of the,,,

prosecution, overwhelming to hold A-2 guilty.",,,

As far as A-1 is concerned, Ex P-73 which is the order issued by the Education Department vide G.O Ms.No 1228, Education Science",,,

Technology Department, dated 30.12.1994 holds the key to his grounds of appeal. The said government order had classified the officers, their",,,

duties and responsibilities. As far as Assistant Educational Officers are concerned, their duties and responsibilities are:-",,,

Works of the Assitant Educational Officer/Additional Assitant Educational Officer for their respective jurisdiction:,,,

a. In Respect of Panchayat and Municipal Schools:-,,,

Service matters of the teachers and maintenance of service Registeres.,,,

Regularisation and declaration of probation of all teachers and Headmasters of Primary Schools.,,,

Opening of Service Registeres, Sanction of increments. Award of Selection/Special Grade to teachers and headmasters.",,,

Sanction of all kinds of leave and reposting order for leave beyond 30 days, limited to the existing regulations.",,,

Name of

the

Accuse d",Conviction under Section,Sentence imposed by the trial Court,Modified sentence

A1,"Under Sections 409 r/w 109 IPC

and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) &(d)(i) of

PC Act","To undergo RI for 5 years each with a fine of

Rs.2000/- each, in default to undergo SI for 6

months each","To undergo RI for 1 year each. Fine

amount imposed by the trial Court remains

unaltered.

A2,"Under Sections 409 IPC and 13(2)

r/w 13(1)(c) & (d)(i) of PC Act","To undergo RI for 5 years each with a fine of

Rs.2000/- each, in default to undergo SI for 6

months each","To undergo RI for 1 year each. Fine

amount imposed by the trial Court remains

unaltered.