Madras High Court
Pulisanki Reddi And Ors. vs The Queen on 24 February, 1882
Equivalent citations: (1882)ILR 5MAD20
JUDGMENT
Innes and Muttusami Ayyar, JJ.
1. The Second-class Magistrate tried 14 persons together and convicted Nos. 1, 4, 7, 9, and 13 under Section 291, and the remainder under Section 290, Indian Penal Code.
2. The District Magistrate submits that in trying 14 persons accused of distinct offences at the same time, the Magistrate committed an irregularity calculated to prejudice the accused.
3. We are of opinion that the accused persons must undoubtedly have been prejudiced by the several charges having been disposed of in one trial, and direct that the convictions be quashed and the fines levied refunded to the several accused persons.
4. Ordered accordingly.