V.E.Badarudeen vs State Of Kerala on 7 September, 2001
22. As regards the second accused is concerned,
he was not a member of the panchayath at the time when
cognizance was taken and Section 122 of the Panchayath
Raj Act is not applicable to him. Similarly, since he was not
Crl.Appeal Nos.907 & 908 of 2001
27
in office, Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act is
also not applicable. Since he was not a person removable
from service and since offence against him was conspiracy
and misappropriation of public fund, no sanction is required
under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as has
been held in the decision reported in Shambhoo Nath
Misra v. State of U.P. and Others [1997 Crl.L.J.2491
(SC)] and Raghunath Anant Govilkar v. State of
Maharashtra and Others [2008 (11) SCC 289] and
N.Bhargavan Pillai (died) L.Rs. and another v. State of
Kerala (AIR 2004 SC 2317). Further want of sanction or
defect in sanction is not a ground for acquittal in the
appeal, unless prejudice has been established by the
accused.