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In Re: Thurman

Type Court Judgment Court Chennai Decided Dec 06, 1923
~2 min read
https://sooperkanoon.com/case/803939

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Citation
Court
Chennai
Judge
Decided On
Subject
Criminal

Case Summary

AI-generated summary - not the official court judgment text.

Criminal Procedure, Code (Act V of 1898), Sections 263 (h), 370, 537 - Judgment of Honorary Magistrate--Omission to record reasons--Irregularity, if curable. - - The conviction is 'found guilty' and that is, the accused, was found guilty of assault and also failed to show cause against being bound over under secti...

Key legal issue
Criminal

Parties & Advocates

Appellant / Petitioner

In Re: Thurman

Legal References

Reported In
81Ind.Cas.908

Excerpt

criminal procedure, code (act v of 1898), sections 263 (h), 370, 537 - judgment of honorary magistrate--omission to record reasons--irregularity, if curable. - - the conviction is 'found guilty' and that is, the accused, was found guilty of assault and also failed to show cause against being bound over under section, 106, criminal procedure code. he was found guilty of an assault in the public street and we think there was no prejudice to the accused by the failure of the magistrates to record a finding that accused was guilty of a breach of the peace.1. it is clear that no reasons have been given in the judgment of the magistrates. this is contrary to section 263 (h) of the criminal procedure code. honorary magistrates are constantly being reminded of their obligations in this respect and we again call their attention to the requirements of the code. no statement has been received from the magistrates under section 441, criminal procedure code. honorary-magistrates as presidency magistrates are governed also by section 370 (i) in cases where imprisonment is inflicted. the omission of reasons for the conviction is, no doubt, an irregularity. the only question is whether the irregularity has prejudiced the accused. in re dervish hussain 71 ind. cas. 212 : 46 m. 253 : 17 l.w. 18 : 4 m.l.j. 84; a.i.r. (1923) (m.) 185 : 32 m.l.t. 100 : 24. cr. l.j. 84, the judgment of one of us (wallace, j.), it was held that a conviction passed without reasons when no evidence is recorded is very different from a case where as here evidence is recorded. there is no record of any cross-examination but we are informed that accused was not defended and there was probably no cross-examination at all. the conviction is 'found guilty' and that is, the accused, was found guilty of assault and also failed to show cause against being bound over under section, 106, criminal procedure code. he was found guilty of an assault in the public street and we think there was no prejudice to the accused by the failure of the magistrates to record a finding that accused was guilty of a breach of the peace. they, no doubt, should have done so but the accused had been previously bound over and as soon as his previous security expired, he broke out again. there is thus an irregularity but we hold it is cured as in the former case by section 537, criminal procedure code, and the criminal revision case is dismissed.

Full Judgment

1. It is clear that no reasons have been given in the judgment of the Magistrates. This is contrary to Section 263 (h) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Honorary Magistrates are constantly being reminded of their obligations in this respect and we again call their attention to the requirements of the Code. No statement has been received from the Magistrates under Section 441, Criminal Procedure Code. Honorary-Magistrates as Presidency Magistrates are governed also by Section 370 (i) in cases where imprisonment is inflicted. The omission of reasons for the conviction is, no doubt, an irregularity. The only question is whether the irregularity has prejudiced the accused. In re Dervish Hussain 71 Ind. Cas. 212 : 46 M. 253 : 17 L.W. 18 : 4 M.L.J. 84; A.I.R. (1923) (M.) 185 : 32 M.L.T. 100 : 24. Cr. L.J. 84, the judgment of one of us (Wallace, J.), it was held that a conviction passed without reasons when no evidence is recorded is very different from a case where as here evidence is recorded. There is no record of any cross-examination but we are informed that accused was not defended and there was probably no cross-examination at all. The conviction is 'found guilty' and that is, the accused, was found guilty of assault and also failed to show cause against being bound over under section, 106, Criminal Procedure Code. He was found guilty of an assault in the public street and we think there was no prejudice to the accused by the failure of the Magistrates to record a finding that accused was guilty of a breach of the peace. They, no doubt, should have done so but the accused had been previously bound over and as soon as his previous security expired, he broke out again. There is thus an irregularity but we hold it is cured as in the former case by Section 537, Criminal Procedure Code, and the criminal revision case is dismissed.

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