dT10TLuck.T712.TTheTdecisionTinTLohia'sTcaseTalsoT[1960]T2TS.C.R.

T821TgovernsTtheTpresentTcaseTalsoTsectionT124ATpunish
esTsuchTspeechesTalsoTasThaveTnoTtendencyTtoTdisturbTpublicTorderTandTcontravenesTArt.T19(1)
(a).TItTisTnotTsavedTbyTArt.T19(2)TasTplacingTofTrestrictionTonTsuchTspeechesTisTnotTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorder.TItTisTno
tTopenTtoTtheTCourtTtoTrewriteTtheTsectionTbyTremovingTfromTitsTpurviewTsuchTspeechesTasThaveTnoTtendencyTtoTdisturbTpu
blicTorderTandTtoTconfineTitTtoTsuchTspeechesTasThaveTaTtendencyTtoTdisturbTpublicTorder.TTheTwholeTsectionTmustTfail;TitTc
annotTbeTdissected.

C.TB.TAgarwalaTinTreply:-
InTEnglishTlawTisTaTnecessaryTingredientTofTseditiousTintentionTitTmustThaveTaTtendencyTtoTcauseTtumultTorTdiTR.Tv.TAlred,T
22TCox.TC.TC.T1,TR.Tv.TBurdott,T101,T803;TR.Tv.TO'Brien,T6TSt.TTr.T(N.TS.)T571.TTheTCouncilThasTonlyTsaidTthatTactualTin
citeTviolenceTwasTnotTaTnecessaryTingredientTofTItThasTnotTgoneTfurtherTandThasTnotTlaidTtendencyTtoTdisturbTpublicTorderT
wasTnotTaTingredientTofTs.T124A.TEvenTthoughTpublicTisTnotTanTingredientTofTtheToffeenceTunderTthereTisTaTtendencyTtoTdis
turbTpublicTspeechesTorTwritingsTwhichTbringTorTatteTbringTintoThateredTorTcontemptTorTexciteTorTatTtoTexciteTdissatisfaction
TtowardsTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlaw.

1962.TJanuaryT20.TTheTJudgmentTofTtheTcourtTwasTdeliveredTbyTSINHA,TC.TJ.-
InTtheseTappealsTtheTmainTquestionTinTcontroversyTisTwhetherTss.T124ATandT505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeThaveTbecomeTvoi
dTinTviewTofTtheTprovisionsTofTArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitution.TTheTconstitutionalityTofTtheTprovisionsTofTs.T124A,TwhichTwasTmainlyTcanvassedTbeforeTus,TisTcomm
onTtoTallTtheTappeals,TtheTfactsTofTwhichTmayTshortlyTbeTstatedTseparately.

InTCriminalTAppealT169TofT1957,TtheTappellantTisToneTKedarTnathTSingh,TwhoTwasTprosecutedTbeforeTaTMagistrate,T1stTClas
s,TatTBegusarai,TinTtheTdistrictTofTMonghyr,TinTBihar.THeTframedTtheTfollowingTchargesTagainstTtheTaccusedTperson,TwhichTar
eTsetToutTinTextensoTinTorderTtoTbringToutTtheTgravamenTofTtheTchargeTagainstThim.

"First.-
ThatTyouTonT26thTdayTofTMay,T1953TatTvillageTBarauni,TP.TS.TTaghraT(Monghyr)TbyTspeakingTtheTwords,TtoTwit,T(a)TTo-
dayTtheTdogsTofTtheTC.TI.TDTareTloiteringTroundTBarauni.TManyTofficialTdogsTareTsittingTevenTinTthisTmeeting.TTheTpeopleT
ofTIndiaTdroveToutTtheTBritishersTfromTthisTcountryTandTelectedTtheseTCongressTgoondasTtoTtheTgaddiTandTseatedTthemTonTit.
TTo-
dayTtheseTCongressTgoondasTareTsittingTonTtheTgaddiTdueTtoTmistakeTofTtheTpeople.TWhenTweTdroveToutTtheTBritishers,TweT
shallTstrikeTandTturnToutTtheseTCongressTgoondasTasTwell.TTheseTofficialTdogsTwillTalsoTbeTliquidatedTalongTwithTtheseTCong
ressTgoondas.TTheseTCongressTgoondasTareTbankingTuponTtheTAmericanTdollarsTandTimposingTvariousTkindsTofTtaxesTonTtheT
peopleTto-day.TTheTbloodTofTourTbrothers-
TmazdoorsTandTKishanasTisTbeingTsucked.TTheTcapitalistsTandTtheTzamindarsTofTthisTcountryThelpTtheseTCongressTgoondas.TT
heseTzamindarsTandTcapitalistsTwillTalsoThaveTtoTbeTbroughtTbeforeTtheTpeoplesTcourtTalongTwithTtheseTCongressTgoondas.
(b)TOnTtheTstrengthTofTtheTorganisationTandTunityTofTKisansTandTmazdoorsTtheTForwardTCommunistsTPartyTwillTexposeTtheT
blackTdeedsTofTtheTCongressTgoondas,TwhoTareTjustTlikeTtheTBritishers.TOnlyTtheTcolourTofTtheTbodyThasTchanged.TTheyThav
eTto-
dayTestablishedTaTruleTofTlathisTandTbulletsTinTtheTcountry.TTheTBritishersThadTtoTgoTawayTfromTthisTland.TTheyThadTaeropl
anes,Tguns,TbombsTandTotherTweaponsTwithTthem.
(c)TTheTForwardTCommunistTPartyTdoesTnotTbelieveTinTtheTdoctrineTofTvoteTitself.TTheTpartyThadTalwaysTbeenTbelievingTinT
revolutionTandTdoesTsoTevenTatTpresent.TWeTbelieveTinTthatTrevolution,TwhichTwillTcomeTandTinTtheTflamesTofTwhichTtheTca
pitalists,TzamindarsTandTtheTCongressTleadersTofTIndia,TwhoThaveTmadeTitTtheirTprofessionTtoTlootTtheTcountry,TwillTbeTreduc
edTtoTashesTandTonTtheirTashesTwillTbeTestablishedTaTGovernmentTofTtheTpoorTandTtheTdowntroddenTpeopleTofTIndia.
(d)TItTwillTbeTaTmistakeTtoTexpectTanythingTfromTtheTCongressTrelers.TTheyT(CongressTrulers)ThaveTsetTupTV.TBhaveTinTthe
TmidstTofTtheTpeopleTbyTcausingThimTwearTaTlangotiTinTorderTtoTdivertTtheTpeople'sTattentionTfromTtheirTmistakes.TTo-
dayTVinovaTisTplayingTaTdramaTonTtheTstageTofTIndianTpolitics.TConfusionTisTbeingTcreatedTamongTtheTpeople.TITwantTtoTtel
lTVinovaTandTadviceThisTagents,T"youTshouldTunderstandTitTtheTpeopleTcannotTbeTdeceivedTbyTthisTillusionTandTfraudTofTVin
ova".TITshallTvinovaTnotTtoTbecomeTaTpuppetTinTtheTofTtheTCongressTmen.TTheseTpersons,TunderstandTtheTYojna-
ofTVinova,TrealiseTthatTVinovaTisTanTagentTtoTtheTCongressTGovernment.
(e)TITtellTyouTthatTthisTCongressTGovernmentTwillTdoTnoTgoodTtoTyou.
(f)TITwantTtoTtellTtheTlastTwordTevenTtoTtheTCongressTTyrants,T"youTplayTwithTtheTpeopleTandTruinTthemTbyTentanglingTthe
mTinTtheTmeshTofTbribery,Tblack-marketingTandTcorruption.TTo-
dayTtheTchildrenTofTtheTpoorTareThankeringTforTfoodTandTyouTCongressTmenTareTassumingTtheTattitudeTofTNawabsTsittingTon
TtheTchairs..."
BroughtTorTattemptedTtoTbringTintoThatredTorTcontemptTorTexcitedTorTattemptedTtoTexciteTdisaffectionTtowardsTtheTGovernmen
tTestablishedTbyTlawTinTtheTIndianTUnionTandTtherebyTcommittedTanToffenceTpunishableTunderTsectionT124ATofTtheTIndianTP
enalTCodeTandTwithinTmyTcognizance.
Secondly.-
ThatTyouTonTtheT26thTdayTofTMay,T1953TatTvillageTBarauni,TP.TS.TTegraT(Monghyr)TmadeTtheTstatement,TtoTwit,T(a)TTo-
TdayTtheTdogsTofTtheTC.TI.TD.TareTloiteringTroundTBarauni.TManyTofficialTdogsTareTsittingTevenTinTthisTmeeting.TTheTpeople
TofTIndiaTdroveToutTtheTBritishersTfromTthisTcountry,TAndTelectedTtheseTCongressTGoondasTtoTtheTgaddiTandTseatedTthemTon
Tit.TTo-
dayTtheseTCongressTGoondasTareTsittingTonTtheTgaddiTdueTtoTtheTmistakeTofTtheTpeople.TWhenTweThaveTdrivenToutTtheTBriti
shers,TweTshallTstrikeTandTturnToutTtheseTCongressTGoondas.TTheseTCongressTGoondasTareTbankingTuponTtheTAmericanTdollar
sTandTimposingTvariousTkindsTofTtaxesTonTtheTpeopleTto-
day.TTheTbloodTofTourTbrothersTMazdoorsTandTKisansTisTbeingTsucked.TTheTcapitalistsTandTtheTzamindarsTofTthisTcountryThel
pTtheseTCongressTGoondas.TTheseTzamindarsTandTcapitalistsTwillTalsoThaveTtoTbeTbroughtTbeforeTtheTpeople'sTCourtTalongTwi
thTtheseTCongressTGoondas.
(b)TOnTtheTstrengthTofTorganisationTandTunityTofTkisansTandTmazdoorsTtheTForwardTCommunistTPartyTwillTexposeTtheTblack-
deedsTofTtheTCongressTGoondas,TwhoTareTjustTlikeTtheTBritishers.TOnlyTtheTcolourTofTtheTbodyThasTchanged.TTheyThave,Tto-
day,TestablishedTaTruleTofTlathisTandTbulletsTinTtheTcountry.TTheTBritishersThadTtoTgoTawayTfromTthisTland.TTheyThadTaeropl
anes,Tguns,Tbombs,TandTotherTreasonsTwithTthem.
(c)TTheTForwardTCommunistTpartyTdoesTnotTbelieveTinTtheTdoctrineTofTvotesTitself.TTheTpartyThadTalwaysTbeenTbelievingTin
TrevolutionTandTdoesTsoTevenTatTpresent.TWeTbelieveTinTthatTrevolution,TwhichTwillTcomeTandTinTtheTflamesTofTwhichTtheTc
apitalists,TzamindarsTandTtheTCongressTleadersTofTIndia,TwhoThaveTmadeTitTtheirTprofessionTtoTlootTtheTcountry,TwillTbeTredu
cedTtoTashes,TandTonTtheirTashesTwillTbeTestablishedTaTGovernmentTofTtheTpoorTandTtheTdowntroddenTpeopleTofTIndia.
(d)TItTwillTbeTaTmistakeTtoTexpectTanythingTfromTtheTCongressTrulers.TTheyT(CongressTrulers)ThaveTsetTupTV.TBhaveTinTthe
TmidstTofTtheTpeopleTbyTcausingThimTwearTaTlangotiTinTorderTtoTdivertTtheTattentionTofTtheTpeopleTfromTtheirTmistakes.TTo-
dayTVinobaTisTplayingTaTdramaTonTtheTstageTofTIndianTpolitics.TConfusionTisTbeingTcreatedTamongTtheTpeople.TITwantTtoTtel
lTVinovaTandTadviseThisTagents,T"YouTshouldTunderstandTitTthatTtheTpeopleTcannotTbeTdeceivedTbyTthisTYojna,TillusionTandTf
raudTofTVinova.TITshallTadviceTVinovaTnotTtoTbecomeTaTpuppetTinTtheThandsTofTtheTCongressTmen.TThoseTpersonsTwhoTund
erstandTtheTYojnaTofTVinova,TrealiseTthatTVinovaTisTanTagentTofTCongressTGovernment.
(e)TITtellTyouTthatTnoTgoodTwillTbeTdoneTtoTyouTbyTthisTCongressTGovernment.
(f)TITwantTtoTtellTtheTlastTwordTevenTtoTCongressTtyrantsT"youTplayTwithTtheTpeopleTandTruinTthemTbyTentanglingTthemTinT
theTmeshTofTbribery,Tblack-marketingTandTcorruption.TTo-
dayTtheTchildrenTofTtheTpoorTareThankeringTforTfoodTandTyouT(CongressTmen)TareTassumingTtheTattitudeTofTNawabsTsittingTo
nTtheTchairs".......
WithTintentTtoTcauseTorTwhichTwasTlikelyTtoTcauseTfearTorTalarmTtoTtheTpublicTwherebyTanyTpersonsTmightTbeTinduceTtoTco
mmitTanToffenceTagainstTtheTStateTofTBiharTandTagainstTtheTpublicTtranquility,TandTtherebyTcommittedTanToffenceTpunishableT
underTsectionT505(b)TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTandTwithinTmyTcognizance.

AfterTrecordingTaTsubstantialTvolumeTofToralTevidence,TtheTlearnedTTrialTMagistrateTconvictedTtheTaccusedTpersonTbothTunderT
ss.T124ATandT505(b)TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,TandTsentencedThimTtoTunderTgoTrigorousTimprisonmentTforToneTyear.TNoTse
parateTsentenceTwasTpassedTinTrespectTofTtheTconvictionTunderTtheTlatterTsection.

TheTconvictedTpersonsTpreferredTanTappealTtoTtheTHighTCourtTofTJudicatureTatTPatna,TwhichTwasTheardTbyTtheTlateTMr.TJusti
ceTNaquiTImam,TsittingTsingly.TByTthisTjudgmentTandTorderTdatedTAprilT9,T1956,TheTupheldTtheTconvictionsTandTtheTsentence
TandTdismissedTtheTappeal.TInTtheTcourseTofThisTjudgment,TtheTlearnedTJudgeTobservedTthatTtheTJudgeTobservedTofTtheTcharg
eTagainstTtheTappellantTwasTnothingTbutTaTvilificationTofTtheTGovernment;TthatTitTwasTfullTofTincitementsTtoTrevolutionTandTt
hatTtheTspeechTtakenTasTaTwholeTwasTcertainlyTseditionus.TItTisTnotTaTspeechTcritisingTanyTofTisTmeasures.THeTheldTthatTthe
ToffencesTbothTunderTss.T124AT505(b)TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeThadTbeenTmadeTout.

TheTconvictedTpersonTmovedTthisTCourtTandTobtainedTspecialTleaveTtoTappeal.TItTwillTbeTnoticedTthatTtheTconstitutionalityTof
TtheTprovisionsTofTtheTsectionsTunderTwhichTtheTappellantTwasTconvictedThadTnotTbeenTconvassedTbeforeTtheTHighTCourt.TBu
tTinTtheTpetitionTforTspecialTleave,TtoTthisTCourt,TtheTgroundTwasTtakenTthatTss.T124ATandT505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeT"
areTinconsistentTwithTArt.T19(1)T(a)TofTtheTConstitution".TTheTappealTwasTheardTinTthisTCourt,TinTtheTfirstTinstance,TbyTaTDi
visionTBenchTonTMayT5,T1959.TTheTBench,TfindingTthatTtheTlearnedTcounselTvcoTtheTappellantThadTraisedTtheTconstitutionalTi
ssueTasTtoTtheTvalidityTofTss.T124ATandT505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,TdirectedTthatTtheTappealTbeTplacedTforThearingTbyTa
TConstitutionTBench.TTheTcaseTwasTthenTplacedTbeforeTaTConstitutionTBench,TonTNovemberT4,T1960,TwhenTthatTBenchTdirect
edTnoticeTtoTissueTtoTtheTAttorneyTGeneralTofTIndiaTunderTr.T1,TO.41TofTtheTSupremeTCourtTRules.TTheTmatterTwasTonceTa
gainTplacedTbeforeTaTconstitutionTBenchTonTFebruaryT9,T1961,TwhenTitTwasTadjournedTforTtwoTmonthsTinTorderTtoTenableTth
eTStateTGovernmentsTconcernedTwithTthisTappeal,TasTalsoTwithTtheTconnectedTCriminalTAppealsTNos.T124-
126TofT1958T(inTwhichTtheTGovernmentTofTUttarTPradeshTisTtheTappellant)TtoTmakeTupTtheirTmindsTinTrespectTofTtheTproseo
cuions,TasTalsoTinTviewTofTtheTreportTthatTtheTLawTCommissionTwasTconsideringTtheTquestionTofTamendingTtheTlawTofTsediti
onTinTviewTofTtheTnewTset-
up.TAsTtheTStatesTconcernedThaveTinstructedTtheirTcounselTtoTpressTtheTappeals,TtheTmatterThasTfinallyTcomeTbeforeTus.

InTCriminalTAppealsT124-
126TofT1958TtheTStateTofTUttarTPradeshTisTtheTappellant,TthoughTtheTrespondentsTareTdifferent.TInTCriminalTappealT124TofT1
958,TtheTaccusedTpersonTisToneTMohd,TIshaqTIhahi.THeTwasTprosecutedTforThavingTdeliveredTaTspeechTatTAligarhTasTChairma
nTofTtheTReceptionTCommitteeTofTtheTAllTIndiaTMuslimTConventionTonTOctoberT30,T1953.THisTspeechTonTthatToccasion,Twas
TthoughtTtoTbeTseditious.TAfterTtheTnecessaryTsanction,TtheTMagistrateTheldTanTenquiry,TandTfindingTaTprimaTfacieTcaseTmade
ToutTagainstTtheTaccused,TcommittedThimTtoTtheTCourtTofTSession.TTheTlearnedTSessionsTJudge,TbyThisTJudgmentTdatedTJanua
ryT8,T1955,TacquittedThimTofTtheTchargeTunderTs.T153A,TbutTconvictedThimTofTtheTotherTchargeTunderTs.T124A,TofTtheTIndia
nTPenalTCode,TandTsentencedThimTtoTrigorousTimprisonmentTforToneTyear.TTheTconvictedTpersonTpreferredTanTappealTtoTtheT
HighTCourt.TInTtheTHighTCourtTtheTconstitutionalityTofTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTwasTchallenged.

InTCriminalTAppealTNo.T125TofT1958,TtheTfactsTareTthatTonTMayT29,T1954,TaTmeetingTofTtheTBolshovikTPartyTwasTorganise
dTinTvillageTHanumanganj,TinTtheTDistrictTofTBasti,TinTUttarTPradesh.TOnTthatToccasion,TtheTrespondentTRamaTNandTwasTfou
ndTtoThaveTdeliveredTanTobjectionableTspeechTinTsoTfarTasTheTadvocatedTtheTuseTofTviolenceTforToverthrowingTtheTGovernme
ntTestablishedTbyTlaw.TAfterTtheTsanctionTofTtheTGovernmentTtoTtheTprosecutionThadTbeenTobtained,TtheTlearnedTMagistrateTh
eldTanTenquiryTandTultimatelyTcommittedThimTtoTtakeThisTtrialTbeforeTtheTCourtTofTSessions.TInTdueTcourse,TtheTlearnedTSes
sionsTJudgeTconvictedTtheTaccusedTpersonTunderTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTandTsentencedThimTtoTrigorousTimprison
mentTforTthreeTyears.THeTheldTthatTtheTaccusedTpersonThadTcommittedTtheToffenceTbyTincitingTtheTaudienceTtoTanTopenTviole
ntTrebellionTagainstTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlaw,TbyTtheTuseTofTarms.TAgainstTtheTaforesaidTorderTofTconvictionTandT
sentence,TtheTaccusedTpersonTpreferredTanTappealTtoTtheTHighTCourtTofTAllahabad.

InTCriminalTAppealT126TofT1958,TtheTrespondentTisToneTParasnathTTripathi.THeTisTallegedTtoThaveTdeliveredTaTspeechTinTvill
ageTMansapur,TP.S.TAkbarpur,TinTtheTdistrictTofTFaizabad,TonTSeptemberT26,T1955,TinTwhichTheTisTsaidTtoThaveTexhortedTthe
TaudienceTtoTorganiseTaTvolunteerTarmyTandTresistTtheTGovernmentTandTitsTservantsTbyTviolentTmeans.THeTisTalsoTsaidTtoTha
veTexcitedTtheTaudienceTwithTintentTtoTcreateTfeelingsTofThatredTandTenmityTagainstTtheTGovernment.TWhenTheTwasTplacedTo
nTtrialTforTanToffenceTunderTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,TtheTaccusedTpersonTappliedTforTaTwritTofTHabeasTCorpusTi
nTtheTHighTCourtTofTJudicatureTat.TAllahabadTonTtheTgroundTthatThisTdetentionTwasTillegalTinasmuchTasTtheTprovisionsTs.T12
4ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTwereTvoidTasTbeingTinTcontraventionTofThisTfundamentalTrightsTofTfreeTspeechTandTexpressionT
underTArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitution.TThisTmatter,TalongTwithTtheTappealsTwhichThaveTgivenTriseTtoTappealsTNos.T124TandT125,TasTaforesa
id,TwereTultimatelyTplacedTbeforeTaTFullTBench,TconsistingTofTDesai,TGurtuTandTBeg,TJJ.TTheTlearnedTjudges,TinTseparateTbut
TconcurringTjudgments,TtookTtheTviewTthatTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTwasTultraTviresArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitution.TInTthatTviewTofTtheTmatter,TtheyTacquittedTtheTaccussedTpersons,TconvictedTatTaforesaidTinTtheTtwoTa
ppealsTNos.T124TandT125,TandTgrantedTtheTwritTpetitionTofTtheTaccusedTinTcriminalTAppealTNo.T126.TInTallTtheseTcasesTtheT
HighTCourtTgrantedTtheTnecessaryTcertificateTthatTtheTcaseTinvolvedTimportantTquestionsTofTlawTrelatingTtoTtheTinterpretationTo
fTtheTConstitution.TThatTisThowTtheseTappealsTareTbeforeTbyTonTaTcertificateTofTfitnessTgrantedTbyTtheTHighTCourt.

ShriTC.TB.TAgarwala,TwhoTappearedTonTbehalfTofTtheTStateTofTUttarTPradeshTinTsupportTofTtheTappealsTagainstTtheTordersTof
TacquittalTpassedTbyTtheTHighTCourt,TcontendedTthatTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTHighTCourtT(bowTreportedTinTRamTNandanTv.TStat
eT(1)TinTwhichTitTwasTlaidTdownTbyTtheTFullTBenchTthatTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTwasTultraTArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitutionTand,Ttherefore,TvoidTforTtheTreasonTthatTitTwasTnotTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorderTandTthatTtheTrestri
ctionsTimposedTthereTbyTwereTnotTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression,TwasTerroneous.THeTfurthe
rTcontendedTthatTtheTsectionTimpugnedTcameTwithinTtheTsavingTcl.T(2)TofTArt.T19,TandTthatTtheTreasonsTgivenTbyTtheTHighT
CourtTtoTtheTcontraryTwereTerroneous.THeTreliedTuponTtheTobservationsTofTtheTFederalTCourtTinTNiharenduTDuttTMajumdarTv.
TTheTKingTEmperorT(1).THeTalsoTreliedTonTStephen'sTCommentariesTonTtheTLawsTofTEngland,TVolumeTIV,T21stTEdition,Tpag
eT141,TandTtheTStatementTofTtheTLawTinTHalsbury'sTLawsTofTEngland,T3rdTEdition,TvolumeT10,TpageT569,TandTtheTcasesTref
erredTtoTinTthoseTvolumes.TMr.TGopalTBehari,TappearingTonTbehalfTofTtheTrespondentsTinTtheTAllahabadTcasesThasTentirelyTre
liedTuponTtheTfullTBenchTdecisionTofTtheTAllahabadTHighTCourtTinThisTfavour.TShriTSharmaTappearingTonTbehalfTofTtheTappe
llantTinTtheTappealTfromTtheTPatnaTHighTCourtThasTsimilarlyTreliedTuponTtheTdecisionTaforesaidTofTtheTAllahabadTHighTCourt
.

BeforeTdealingTwithTtheTcontentionsTraisedTonTbehalfTofTtheTparties,TitTisTconvenientTtoTsetToutTtheThistoryTofTtheTlaw,TtheT
amendmentsTitThasTundergoneTandTtheTinterpretationsTplacedTuponTtheTprovisionsTofTs.T124ATbyTtheTCourtsTinTIndia,TandTby
TtheirTLordshipsTofTtheTjudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncil.TTheTsectionTcorrespondingTtoTs.T124ATwasToriginallyTs.T11
3TofTMacaulay'sTDraftTPenalTCodeTofT1837-
39,TbutTtheTsectionTwasTomittedTfromTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTasTitTwasTenactedTinT1860.TTheTreasonTforTtheTomissionTfrom
TtheTCodeTisTenactedTisTnotTclear,TbutTperhapsTtheTlegislativeTbodyTdidTnotTfeelTsureTaboveTitsTauthorityTtoTenactTsuchTaTpr
ovisionTinTtheTCode.TBeTthatTasTitTmay,Ts.T124ATwasTnotTplacedTonTtheTStatuteTBookTuntilT1870,TbyTActTXXVIITofT1870.
TThereTwasTaTconsiderableTamountTofTdiscussionTatTtheTtimeTtheTamendmentTwasTintroducedTbyTSirTJames,TStephen,TbutTwh
atTheTsaidTwhileTintroducingTtheTbillTinTtheTlegislatureTmayTnotTbeTrelevantTforTourTpresentTpurposes.TTheTsectionTasTthenTe
nactedTranTasTfollows:

"124A.TExcitingTDisaffection-
WhoeverTbyTwords,TeitherTspokenTorTintendedTtoTbeTread,TorTbyTsigns,TorTbyTvisibleTrepresentation,TorTotherwise,Texcites,Tor
TattemptsTtoTexcite,TfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTtoTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTinTBritishTIndia,TshallTbeTpunishedTwithTt
ransportationTforTlifeTorTforTanyTterm,TtoTwhich,TfineTmayTbeTadded,TorTwithTimprisonmentTforTaTtermTwhichTmayTextendTt
oTthreeTyears,TtoTwhichTfineTmayTbeTadded,TorTwithTfine.
Explanation-
SuchTaTdisapprobationTofTtheTmeasuresTofTtheTGovernmentTasTisTcompatibleTwithTaTdispositionTtoTrenderTobedienceTtoTtheTla
wfulTauthorityTofTtheTGovernmentTandTtoTsupportTtheTlawfulTauthorityTofTtheTGovernmentTagainstTunlawfulTattemptsTtoTsubve
rtTorTresistTthatTauthority,TisTnotTdisaffection.TTherefore,TtheTmakingTofTcommentsTonTtheTmeasuresTofTtheTGovernment,Twith
TtheTintentionTofTexcitingTonlyTthisTspeciesTofTdisapprobation,TisTnotTanToffenceTwithinTthisTclause."

TheTfirstTcaseTinTIndianTthatTaroseTunderTtheTsectionTisTwhatTisTknownTasTtheTBangobasiTcaseT(Queen-
EmpressTv.TJagendraTChunderTBoseT(1))TwhichTwasTtriedTbyTaTJuryTbeforeTSirTComerTPetheram,TCTJ.TwhileTchargingTtheTju
ry,TtheTlearnedTChiefTJusticeTexplainedTtheTlawTtoTtheTjuryTinTtheseTterms:

"DisaffectionTmeansTaTfeelingTcontraryTtoTaffection,TinTotherTwords,TdislikeTorThatred.TDisapprobationTmeansTsimplyTdisapprov
al.TItTisTquiteTpossibleTtoTdisapproveTofTaTmen'sTsentimentsTorTactionTandTyetTtoTlikeThim.TTheTmeaningTofTtheTtwoTwordsT
isTsoTdistinctTthatTITfeelTitThardlyTnecessaryTtoTtellTyouTthatTtheTcontentionTofTMr.TJacksonTcannotTbeTsustained.TIfTaTperson
TusesTeitherTspokenTorTwrittenTwordsTcalculatedTtoTcreateTinTtheTmindsTofTtheTpersonsTtoTwhomTtheyTareTaddressedTaTdispo
sitionTnotTtoTobeyTtheTlawfulTauthorityTofTtheTGovernment,TorTtoTsubvertTorTresistTthatTauthority,TifTandTwhenToccasionTshou
ldTarise,TandTifTheTdoesTsoTwithTtheTintentionTofTcreatingTsuchTaTdispositionTinThisTbearersTorTreaders,TheTwillTbeTguiltyTof
TtheToffenceTofTattemptingTtoTexciteTdisaffectionTwithinTtheTmeaningTofTtheTsectionTthoughTnoTdisturbanceTisTbroughtTaboutT
byThisTwordsTorTanyTfeelingTofTdisaffection,TinTfact,TproducedTbyTthem.TItTisTsufficientTforTtheTpurposesTofTtheTsectionTthat
TtheTwordsTusedTareTcalculatedTtoTexciteTfeelingsTofTillTwillTagainstTtheTGovernmentTandTtoTholdTitTupTtoTtheThatredTandTc
ontemptTofTtheTpeople,TandTthatTtheyTwereTusedTwithTtheTintentionTtoTcreateTsuchTfeeling."

TheTnextTcaseTisTtheTcelebratedTcaseTofTQueen-
EmpressTv.TBalqanqaddharTTilakT(1)TwhichTcameTbeforeTtheTBobayTHighTCourt.TTheTcaseTwasTtriedTbyTaTjuryTbeforeTStrach
ey,TJ.TTheTlearnedTjudge,TinTtheTcourseTofThisTchargeTtoTtheTjury,TexplainTtheTlawTtoTthemTinTtheseTterms:

"TheToffenceTasTdefinedTbyTtheTfirstTclauseTisTexcitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteTfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTtoTtheTGovernment.T
WhatTareT"feelingsTofTdisaffection"T?
TITagreeTwithTSirTComerTPetheramTinTtheTBangobasiTcaseTthatTdisaffectionTmeansTsimplyTtheTabsenceTofTaffection.TItTmeans
Thatred,TenmityTdislike,Thostility,TcontemptTandTeveryTfromTofTill-willTtoTtheTGovernment.T"Disloyalty"
isTperhapsTtheTbestTgeneralTterm,TcomprehendingTeveryTpossibleTformTofTbadTfeelingTtoTtheTGovernment.TThatTisTwhatTtheTla
wTmeansTbyTtheTdisaffectionTwhichTaTmanTmustTnotTexciteTorTattemptTtoTexcite;TheTmustTnotTmakeTorTtryTtoTmakeTothersT
feelTenmityTofTanyTkindTtowardsTtheTGovernment.TYouTwillTobserveTthatTtheTamountTorTintensityTofTtheTdisaffectionTisTabsol
utelyTimmaterialTexceptTperhapsTinTdealingTwithTtheTquestionTofTpunishment:TifTaTmanTexcitesTorTattemptsTtoTexciteTfeelings
TofTdisaffection,TgreatTorTsmall,TheTisTguiltyTunderTtheTsection.TInTtheTnextTplace,TitTisTabsolutelyTimmaterialTwhetherTanyTf
eelingsTofTdisaffectionThaveTbeenTexcitedTorTnotTbyTtheTpublicationTinTquestion.TItTisTtrueTthatTthereTisTbeforeTyouTaTcharge
TagainstTeachTprisonerTthatTheThasTactuallyTexcitedTfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTtoTtheTGovernment.TIfTyouTareTsatisfiedTthatTheTh
asTdoneTso,TyouTwill,TofTcourse,TfindThimTguilty.TButTifTyouTshouldTholdTthatTchargeTisTnotTmadeTout,TandTthatTnoToneTis
TprovedTtoThaveTbeenTexcitedTtoTentertainTfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTtoTtheTGovernmentTbyTreadingTtheseTarticles,TstillTthatTalo
neTwouldTnotTjustifyTyouTinTacquittingTtheTprisoners.TForTeachTofTthemTisTchargedTnotTonlyTwithTexcitingTfeelingsTofTdisaffe
ction,TbutTalsoTwithTattemptingTtoTexciteTsuchTfeelings.TYouTwillTobserveTthatTsectionTplacesTonTabsolutelyTtheTsameTfooting
TtheTsuccessfulTexcitingTofTfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTandTtheTunsuccessfulTattemptTtoTexciteTthem,TsoTthat,TifTyouTfindTthatTeit
herTofTtheTprisonersThasTtriedTtoTexciteTsuchTfeelingTinTothers,TyouTmustTconvictThimTevenTifTthereTisTnothingTtoTshowTthat
TheTsucceeded.TAgain,TitTisTimportantTthatTyouTshouldTfullyTrealiseTanotherTpoint.TTheToffenceTconsistsTinTexcitingTorTattemp
tingTtoTexciteTinTothersTcertainTbadTfeelingTtowardsTtheTGovernment.TItTisTnotTtheTexcitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteTmutinyTo
rTrebellion,TorTanyTsortTofTactualTdisturbance,TgreatTorTsmall.TWhetherTanyTdisturbanceTorToutbreakTwasTcausedTbyTthereTarti
cles,TisTabsolutelyTimmaterial.TIfTtheTaccusedTintendedTbyTtheTarticlesTtoTexciteTrebellionTorTdisturbance,ThisTactTwouldTdoubtl
essTfallTwithinTsectionT124A,TandTwouldTprobablyTfallTwithinTotherTsectionsTofTtheTPenalTCode.TButTevenTifTheTneitherTexcit
edTnorTintendedTtoTexciteTanyTrebellionTorToutbreakTorTforcibleTresistanceTtoTtheTauthorityTofTtheTGovernment,TstillTifTheTtrie
dTtoTexciteTfeelingsTofTenmityTtoTtheTGovernment,TthatTisTsufficientTtoTmakeThimTguiltyTunderTtheTsection.TITamTawareTthat
TsomeTdistinguishedTpersonsThaveTthoughtTthatTthereTcanTbeTnoToffenceTagainstTtheTsectionTunlessTtheTaccusedTeitherTcounsel
sTorTsuggestsTrebellionTorTforcibleTresistanceTtoTtheTGovernment.TInTmyTopinion,TthatTviewTisTabsolutelyTopposedTtoTtheTexp
ressTwordsTofTtheTsectionTitself,TwhichTasTplainlyTasTpossibleTmakesTtheTexcitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteTcertainTfeelings,Tan
dTnotTtheTinducingTorTattemptingTtoTinduceTtoTanyTcourseTofTactionTsuchTasTrebellionTorTforcibleTresistance,TtheTtestTofTguilt
.TITcanTonlyTaccountTforTsuchTaTviewTbyTattributingTitTtoTaTcompleteTmisreadingTofTtheTexplanationTattachedTtoTtheTsection,
TandTtoTaTmisapplicationTofTtheTexplanationTbeyondTitsTtrueTscope."

TheTlongTquotationThasTbecomeTnecessaryTinTviewTofTwhatTfollowedTlater,Tnamely,TthatTthisTstatementTofTtheTlawTbyTtheTlea
rnedTjudgeTcameTinTforTaTgreatTdealTofTcommentTandTjudicialTnotice.TWeThaveTomittedTtheTchargeTtoTtheTjuryTrelatingTtoTt
heTexplanationTtoTs.T124ATbecauseTthatTexplanationThasTnowTyieldedTplaceTtoTthreeTseparateTexplanationsTinTviewTofTjudicial
TopinionsTexpressedTlater.TTheTjury,TbyTaTmajorityTofTsixTtoTthree,TfoundTShriTBalgangadharTTilakTguilty.TSubsequently,The,T
onTconviction,TappliedTunderTcl.T41TofTtheTLettersTPatentTforTleaveTtoTappealTtoTtheTPrivyTCouncil.TTheTapplicationTwasThea
rdTbyTaTFullTBenchTconsistingTofTFarran,TC.TJ.,TCandyTandTStrachey,TJJ.TItTwasTcontendedTbeforeTtheTHighTCourtTatTtheTle
aveTstage,TinterTalia,TthatTtheTsanctionTgivenTbyTtheTGovernmentTwasTnotTsufficientTinTlawTinTthatTitThadTnotTsetToutTtheTp
articularsTofTtheToffendingTarticles,Tand,Tsecondly,TthatTtheTjudgeTmisdirectedTtheTjuryTasTtoTtheTmeaningTofTtheTwordT"disaff
ection"TinsofarTasTheTsaidTthatTitTmightTbeTequivalentTtoT"absenceTofTaffection".TWithTregardTtoTtheTsecondTpoint,TwhichTisT
onlyTrelevantTpointTbeforeTus;TtheTFullTBenchTexpressedTitselfTtoTtheTfollowingTeffect:

"TheTotherTgroundTuponTwhichTMr.TRussellThasTaskedTasTtoTcertifyTthatTthisTisTaTfitTcaseTtoTbeTsentTtoTHerTMajestyTinTC
ouncil,TisTthatTthereThasTbeenTaTmisdirection,TandTheTbasedThisTargumentTonToneTmajorTandTtwoTminorTgrounds.TTheTmajor
TgroundTwasTthatTtheTsectionTcannotTbeTsaidTtoThaveTbeenTcontravenedTunlessTthereTisTaTdirectTincitementTtoTstirTupTdisorde
rTorTrebellion.TThatTappearsTtoTusTtoTbeTgoingTmuchTbeyondTtheTwordsTofTtheTsection,TandTweTneedTnotTsayTmoreTuponTth
atTground.TTheTfirstTofTtheTminorTpointsTisTthatTMr.TJusticeTStracheyTinTsummingTupTtheTcaseTtoTtheTjuryTstatedTthatTdisaff
ectionTmeantTtheTabsenceTofTaffection".TButTalthoughTifTthatTphraseThadTstoodTaloneTitTmightThaveTmisledTtheTjury,TyetTtake
nTinTconnectionTwithTtheTcontextTweTthinkTitTisTimpossibleTthatTtheTjuryTcouldThaveTbeenTmisledTbyTit.TThatTexpressionTwa
sTusedTinTconnectionTwithTtheTlawTasTledTdownTbyTSirTComerTPetheram,TinTCalcuttaTinTtheTBangobashiTcase.TThereTtheTCh
iefTJusticeTinsteadTofTusingTtheTwordsT"absenceTofTaffection"TusedTtheTwordsT"contraryTtoTaffection".TIfTtheTwordsT"contraryT
toTaffection"ThadTbeenTusedTinsteadTofT"absenceTofTaffection"TinTthisTcaseTthereTcanTbeTnoTdoubtTthatTtheTsummingTupTwou
ldThaveTbeenTabsolutelyTcorrectTinTthisTparticular.TButTtakenTinTconnectionTwithTtheTcontextTitTisTclearTthatTbyTtheTwordsT"a
bsenceTofTaffection"TtheTlearnedTJudgeTdidTnotTmeanTtheTnegationTofTaffectionTbutTsomeTactiveTsentimentTonTtheTotherTside.
TThereforeTonTthatTpointTweTconsiderTthatTweTcannotTcertifyTthatTthisTisTaTfitTcaseTforTappeal."TInTthisTconnectionTitTmustT
beTrememberedTthatTitTisTnotTallegedTthatTthereThasTbeenTaTmiscarriageTofTJustice."

AfterTmakingTthoseTobservations,TtheTFullTBenchTrefusedTtheTapplicationTforTleave.TtheTcaseTwasTthenTtakenTtoTHerTMajestyT
inTcouncil,TbyTwayTofTapplicationTforTspecialTleaveTtoTappealTtoTtheTJudicialTCommittee.TBeforeTtheirTLordshipsTofTtheTPrivy
TCouncil,TAsquith,TQ.TC.,TassistedTbyTcounselTofTgreatTexperienceTandTeminenceTlikeTMayne,TW.TC.TBonnerjeeTandTothers,Tc
ontendedTthatTthereTwasTaTmisdirectionTasTtoTtheTmeaningTofTsectionT124ATofTtheTPenalTCodeTinTthatTtheToffenceThadTbeen
TdefinedTinTtermsTtoTwideTtoTtheTeffectTthatT"disaffection"TmeantTsimplyT"absenceTofTaffection"TandTthatTitTcomprehendedTev
eryTpossibleTformTofTbadTfeelingTtoTtheTGovernment.TInTthisTconnectionTreferenceTwasTmadeTtoTtheTobservationsTofTPetheram
,TC.J.TinTQueen-
EmpressTv.TJogenderTBose(1).TItTwasTalsoTcontendedTthatTtheTappellant'sTcommentsThadTnotTexceededTwhatTinTEnglandTwould
TbeTconsideredTwithinTtheTfunctionsTofTaTPublicTjournalist,TandTthatTtheTmisdirectionTcomplainedTofTwasTofTtheTgreatestTimp
ortanceTnotTmerelyTtoTtheTaffectedTpersonTbutTtoTtheTwholeTofTtheTIndianTPressTandTalsoTtoTallTherTMajesty'sTsubjects;TandT
thatTitTinjuriouslyTaffectedTtheTlibertyTofTtheTpressTandTtheTrightTtoTfreeTspeechTinTpublicTmeetings.TButTinTspiteTofTtheTstro
ngTappealTmadeTonTbehalfTofTtheTpetitionerTforTspecialTleave,TtheTLordTChancellor,TdeliveringTtheTopinionTofTtheTJudicialTCo
mmittee,TwhileTdismissingTtheTapplication,TobservedTthatTtakingTaTviewTofTtheTwholeTofTtheTsummingTupTtheyTdidTnotTseeTa
nyTreasonTtoTdissentTfromTit,TandTthatTkeepingTinTviewTtheTrulesTwhichTTheirTLordshipsTobservedTinTtheTmatterTofTgranting
TleaveTtoTappealTinTcriminalTcases,TtheyTdidTnotTthinkTthatTtheTcaseTraisedTquestionsTwhichTdeserveTfurtherTconsiderationTby
TtheTPrivyTCouncil.T(videTGangadharTTilakTv.TQueenTEmpress)T(1).

BeforeTnoticingTtheTfurtherTchangesTinTtheTStatute,TitTisTnecessaryTtoTreferTtoTtheTFullTBenchTdecisionTofTtheTAllahabadTHig
hTCourtTinTQueenTEmpressTv.TAmbaTPrasadT(2).TInTthatTcase,TEdge,TC.J.,TwhoTdeliveredTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTCourt,TmadeT
copiousTquotationsTfromTtheTjudgmentsTofTtheTCalcuttaTandTtheTBombayTHighTCourtsTinTtheTcasesTaboveTreferredTto.TWhileT
generallyTadoptingTtheTreasonsTforTtheTdecisionsTinTtheTaforesaidTtwoTcases,TtheTlearnedTChiefTJusticeTobservedTthatTaTmanT
mayTbeTguiltyTofTtheToffenceTdefinedTinTs.T124ATofTattemptingTtoTexciteTfeelingsTofTdisaffectionTagainstTtheTGovernmentTest
ablishedTbyTlawTinTBritishTIndia,TalthoughTinTaTparticularTarticleTorTspeechTheTmayTinsistTuponTtheTdesirabilityTorTexpedienc
yTofTobeyingTandTsupportingTtheTGovernment.THeTalsoTmadeTreferenceTtoTtheTdecisionTofTtheTBombayTHighTCourtTinTtheTS
ataraT(3)Tcase.TInTthatTcaseTaTFullTBench,TconsistingTofTFarran,TC.J.,TandTParsonsTandTRanade,TJJ,ThadTlaidTitTdownTthatTth
eTwordT"disaffection"TinTtheTsectionTisTusedTinTaTspecialTsenseTasTmeaningTpoliticalTalienationTorTdiscontentTorTdisloyaltyTto
TtheTGovernmentTorTexistingTauthority.TTheyTalsoTheldTthatTtheTmeaningTofTwordT"disaffection"TinTtheTmainTportionTofTtheTs
ectionTwasTnotTvariedTbyTtheTexplanation.TPersons,TJ.,TheldTthatTtheTwordT"disaffection"TcouldTnotTbeTconstruedTasTmeaningT'
absenceTofTorTcontraryTofTaffectionTorTlove'.TRanadeTJ.,TinterpretedTtheTwordT"disaffection"TnotTasTmeaningTmereTabsenceTor
TnegationTofTloveTorTgoodTwillTbutTaTpositiveTfeelingTofTaversion,TwhichTisTakinTtoTillTwill,TaTdefiniteTinsubordinationTofTa
uthorityTorTseekingTtoTalienateTtheTpeopleTandTweakenTtheTbondTofTallegiance,TaTfeelingTwhichTtendsTtoTbringTtheTGovernme
ntTintoThatredTandTdiscontent,TbyTimputingTbaseTandTcorruptTmotivesTtoTit.TTheTlearnedTChiefTJusticeTofTtheTAllahabadTHigh
TCourtTobservedTthatTifTthoseTremarksTwereTmeantTtoTbeTinTanyTsenseTdifferentTfromTtheTconstructionTplacedTuponTtheTsecti
onTbyTStrachey,TJ.,TwhichTwasTapproved,TasTaforesaid,TbyTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncil,TtheTlaterTobservation
sTofTtheTBombayTHighTCourtTcouldTnotTbeTtreatedTasTauthoritative.TAsTtheTaccusedTinTtheTAllahabadTcaseThadTpleadedTguilt
yTandTtheTappealTwasTmoreTorTlessTonTtheTquestionTofTsentence,TitTwasTnotTnecessaryTforTtheirTLordshipsTtoTexamineTinTde
tailTtheTimplicationsTofTtheTsection,TthoughTtheyTexpressedTtheirTgeneralTagreementTwithTtheTviewTofTtheTCalcuttaTandTtheTB
ombayTHighTCourtsTinTtheTfirstTtwoTcases,TreferredTtoTabove.

TheTsectionTwasTamendedTbyTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTAmendmentTActT(IVTofT1898).TAsTaTresultTofTtheTamendment,TtheTsin
gleTexplanationTtoTtheTsectionTwasTreplacedTbyTthreeTseparateTexplanationsTasTtheyTstandTnow.TTheTsection,TasTitTnowTstands
TinTitsTpresentTform,TisTtheTresultTofTtheTseveralTA.O.S.TofT1937,T1948TandT1950,TasTaTresultTofTtheTconstitutionalTchanges,
TbyTtheTGovernmentTofTIndiaTAct,T1935,TbyTtheTIndependenceTActTofT1947TandTbyTtheTIndianTConstitutionTofT1950.TSection
T124A,TasTitThasTemergedTafterTsuccessiveTamendmentsTbyTwayTofTadaptationsTasTaforesaid,TreadsTasTfollows:
"WhoeverTbyTwords,TeitherTspokenTorTwritten,TorTbyTsignsTorTbyTvisibleTrepresentation,TorTotherwise,TbringsTorTattemptsTtoT
bringTintoThatredTtoTcontempt,TorTexcitesTorTattemptsTtoTexciteTdisaffectionTtowardsTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTinTIn
diaTshallTbeTpunishedTwithTtransportationTforTlifeTorTanyTshorterTtermTtoTwhichTfineTmayTbeTaddedTorTwithTimprisonmentTw
hichTmayTextendTtoTthreeTyears,TtoTwhichTfineTmayTbeTadded,TorTwithTfine.
ExplanationT1.TTheTexpressionT"disaffection"TincludesTdisloyaltyTandTallTfeelingsTofTenmity.
ExplanationT2.TCommentsTexpressingTdisapprobationTofTtheTmeasuresTofTtheTGovernmentTwithTaTviewTtoTobtainTtheirTalteratio
nTbyTlawfulTmeans,TwithoutTexitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteThatred,TcontemptTorTdisaffectionTdoTnotTconstituteTanToffenceTund
erTthisTsection.
ExplanationT3.TCommentsTexpressingTdisapprobationTofTtheTadministrativeTofTotherTactionTofTtheTGovernmentTwithoutTexciting
TorTattemptingTtoTexciteThatred,TcontemptTorTdisaffection,TdoTnotTconstituteTanToffenceTunderTthisTsection."

ThisToffence,TwhichTisTgenerallyTknownTasTtheToffenceTofTSedition,ToccursTinTchapterTIVTofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,Theaded
T'OfToffencesTagainstTtheTState'.TThisTspeciesTofToffenceTagainstTtheTStateTwasTnotTanTinventionTofTtheTBritish.TGovernmentT
inTIndia,TbutThasTbeenTknownTinTEnglandTforTcenturies.TEveryTState,TwhateverTitsTformTofTGovernment,ThasTtoTbeTarmedTwi
thTtheTpowerTtoTpunishTthoseTwho,TbyTtheirTconduct,TjeopardiseTtheTsafetyTandTstabilityTofTtheTState,TorTdisseminateTsuchTfe
elingsTofTdisloyaltyTasThaveTtheTtendencyTtoTleadTtoTtheTdisruptionTofTtheTStateTorTtoTpublicTdisorder.TInTEngland,TtheTcrim
eThasTthusTbeenTdescribedTbyTStephenTinThisTCommentariesTonTtheTLawsTofTEngland,T21stTEdition,TvolumeTIV,TatTpagesT14
1-T142,TinTtheseTwords.

"SectionTIX.TSeditionTandTIncitingTtoTDisaffection-
WeTareTnowTconcernedTwithTconductTwhich,TonTtheToneThand,TfallTshortTofTtreason,TandTonTtheTotherTdoesTnotTinvolveTthe
TuseTofTforceTorTviolence.TTheTlawThasThereTtoTreconcileTtheTrightTofTprivateTcriticismTwithTtheTnecessityTofTsecuringTtheTs
afetyTandTstabilityTofTtheTState.TSeditionTmayTbeTdefinedTasTconductTwhichThas,TeitherTasTitsTobjectTorTasTitsTnaturalTconseq
uence,TtheTunlawfulTdisplayTofTdissatisfactionTwithTtheTGovernmentTorTwithTtheTexistingTorderTofTsociety.
TheTseditiousTconductTmayTbeTbyTwords,TbyTdeed,TorTbyTwriting.TFiveTspecificTheadsTofTseditionTmayTbeTenumeratedTaccord
ingTtoTtheTobjectTofTtheTaccused.TThisTmayTbeTeither
1.TtoTexciteTdisaffectionTagainstTtheTKing,TGovernment,TorTConstitution,TorTagainstTParliamentTorTtheTadministrationTofTjustice;
2.TtoTpromote,TbyTunlawfulTmeans,TanyTalterationTinTChurchTorTState;
3.TtoTinciteTaTdisturbanceTofTtheTpeace;

4.TtoTraiseTdiscontentTamongTtheTKing'sTsubjects;

5.TtoTexciteTclassThatred.
ItTmustTbeTobservedTthatTcriticismTonTpoliticalTmattersTisTnotTofTitselfTseditious.TTheTtestTisTtheTmannerTinTwhichTitTisTmad
e.TCandidTandThonestTdiscussionTisTpermitted.TTheTlawTonlyTinterferesTwhenTtheTdiscussionTpassesTtheTboundsTofTfairTcriticis
m.TMoreTespeciallyTwillTthisTbeTtheTcaseTwhenTtheTnaturalTconsequenceTofTtheTprisoner'sTconductTisTtoTpromoteTpublicTdisor
der."

ThisTstatementTofTtheTlawTisTderivedTmainlyTfromTtheTaddressTtoTtheTJuryTbyTFitzerald,TJ.,TinTtheTcaseTofTRegTv.TAlexande
rTMartinTSullivanT(1).TInTtheTcourseTofThisTaddressTtoTtheTJuryTtheTlearnedTJudgeTobservedTasTfollows:

"SeditionTisTaTcrimeTagainstTsociety,TnearlyTalliedTtoTthatTofTtreason,TandTitTfrequentlyTprecedesTtreasonTbyTshortTinterval.TSe
ditionTinTitselfTisTaTcomprehensiveTterm,TandTitTembracesTallTthoseTpractices,TwhetherTbyTword,TdeedTorTwriting,TwhichTareT
calculatedTtoTdisturbTtheTtranquilityTofTtheTState,TandTleadTignorantTpersonsTtoTendeavourTtoTsubvertTtheTGovernmentTandTthe
TlawsTofTtheTempire.TTheTobjectsTofTseditionTgenerallyTareTtoTinduceTdiscontentTandTinsurrectionTandTstirTupToppositionTtoTt
heTGovernment,TandTbringTtheTadministrationTofTjusticeTintoTcontempt;TandTtheTveryTtendencyTofTseditionTisTtoTinciteTtheTpe
opleTtoTinsurrectionTandTrebellion.TSeditionThasTbeenTdescribed,TasTdisloyaltyTinTactionTandTtheTlawTconsidersTasTseditionTall
TthoseTpracticesTwhichThaveTforTtheirTobjectTtoTexciteTdiscontentTorTdissatisfaction,TtoTcreateTpublicTdisturbance,TorTtoTleadTt
oTcivilTwar;TtoTbringTintoThatredTorTcontemptTtheTSovereignTorTtheTGovernment,TtheTlawsTorTconstitutionTofTtheTrealm,TandT
generallyTallTendeavoursTtoTpromoteTpublicTdisorder."

ThatTtheTlawThasTnotTchangedTduringTtheTcourseTofTtheTcenturiesTisTalsoTapparentTfromTtheTfollowingTstatementTofTtheTlawT
byTColeridge,TJ.,TinTtheTcourseTofThisTsummingTupTtoTtheTJuryTinTtheTcaseTofTRex.Tv.TAldredT(2):

"NothingTisTclearerTthanTtheTlawTonTthisThead-
namely,TthatTwhoeverTbyTlanguage,TeitherTwrittenTorTspokenTincitesTorTencouragesTotherTtoTuseTphysicalTforceTorTviolenceTin
TsomeTpublicTmatterTconnectedTwithTtheTState,TisTguiltyTofTpublishingTaTseditiousTlibel.TTheTwordT"sedition"TinTitsTordinaryT
naturalTsignificationTdenotesTaTtumult,TanTinsurrection,TaTpopularTcommotion,TorTanTuproar;TitTimpliesTviolenceTorTlawlessness
TinTsomeTform...."
InTthatTcase,TtheTlearnedTJudgeTwasTchargingTtheTJuryTinTrespectTofTtheTindictmentTwhichTcontainedTtheTchargeTofTseditiousT
libelTbyTaTpublicationTbyTtheTdefendant.

WhileTdealingTwithTaTcaseTarisingTunderTRuleT34(6)T(e)TofTtheTDefenceTofTIndiaTRulesTunderTtheTDefenceTofTIndiaTActT(X
XXVTofT1939)TSirTMauriceTGwyer,TC.J.,TspeakingTforTtheTFederalTCourt,TmadeTtheTfollowingTobservationsTinTtheTcaseTofTNi
harenduTDuttTMajumdarTv.TTheTKingTEmperorT(1);TandThasTpointedToutTthatTtheTlanguageTofTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalT
Code,TwhichTwasTinTpariTmateriaTwithTthatTofTtheTRuleTinTquestion,ThadTbeenTadoptedTfromTtheTEnglishTLaw,TandTreferredT
withTapprovalTtoTtheTobservationsTofTFitzerald,TJ.,TinTtheTcaseTquotedTabove;TandTmadeTtheTfollowingTobservationsTwhichTare
TquiteTapposite:

"...generallyTspeaking,TweTthinkTthatTtheTpassageTaccuratelyTstatesTtheTlawTasTitTisTtoTbeTgatheredTfromTanTexaminationTofTa
TgreatTnumberTofTjudicialTpronouncements.TTheTfirstTandTmostTfundamentalTdutyTofTeveryTGovernmentTisTtheTpreservationTof
Torder,TsinceTorderTisTtheTconditionTprecedentTtoTallTcivilisationTandTtheTadvanceTofThumanThappiness.TThisTdutyThasTnoTdou
btTbeenTsometimesTperformedTinTsuchTaTwayTasTtoTmakeTtheTremedyTworseTthanTtheTdisease;TbutTitTdoesTnotTceaseTtoTbeT
aTmatterTofTobligationTbecauseTsomeTonTwhomTtheTdutyTrestsThaveTperformedTitTill.TItTisTtoTthisTaspectTofTtheTfunctionsTof
TgovernmentTthatTinTourTopinionTtheToffenceTofTseditionTstandsTrelated.TItTisTtheTanswerTofTtheTStateTtoTthoseTwho,TforTthe
TpurposeTofTattackingTorTsubvertingTit,TseekT(toTborrowTfromTtheTpassageTcitedTabove)TtoTdisturbTitsTtranquillity,TtoTcreateTp
ublicTdisturbanceTandTtoTpromoteTdisorder,TorTwhoTinciteTothersTtoTdoTso.TWords,TdeedsTorTwritingsTconstituteTsedition,TifTth
eyThaveTthisTintentionTorTthisTtendency;TandTitTisTeasyTtoTseeTwhyTtheyTmayTalsoTconstituteTsedition,TifTtheyTseek,TasTtheTp
hraseTis,TtoTbringTGovernmentTintoTcontempt.TThisTisTnotTmadeTanToffenceTinTorderTtoTministerTtoTtheTwoundedTvanityTofT
Government,TbutTbecauseTwhereTGovernmentTandTtheTlawTceaseTtoTbeTobeyedTbecauseTnoTrespectTisTfeltTanyTlongerTforTthe
m,TonlyTanarchyTcanTfollow.TPublicTdisorder,TorTtheTreasonableTanticipationTorTlikelihoodTofTpublicTdisorder,TisTthusTtheTgist
TofTtheToffence.TTheTactsTorTwordsTcomplainedTofTmustTeitherTinciteTtoTdisorderTorTmustTbeTsuchTasTtoTsatisfyTreasonableT
menTthatTisTtheirTintentionTorTtendency."

ThisTstatementTofTtheTlawTwasTnotTapprovedTbyTtheirTLordshipsTofTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncilTinTtheTcase
TofTKing-
EmperorTv.TSadashivTNarayanTBhaleraoT(1).TTheTPrivyTCouncil,TafterTquotingTtheTobservationsTofTtheTlearnedTchiefTJusticeTin
TNiharendu'sTcaseT(2),TwhileTdisapprovingTofTtheTdecisionTofTtheTFederalTCourt,TobservedTthatTthereTwasTnoTstatutoryTdefiniti
onTofT"Sedition"TinTEngland,TandTtheTmeaningTandTcontentTofTtheTcrimeThadTtoTbeTgatheredTfromTanyTdecisions.

ButTthoseTwereTnotTrelevantTconsiderationsTwhenToneThadTtoTconstrueTtheTstatutoryTdefinitionTofT'Sedition'TasTinTtheTCode.TT
heTPrivyTCouncilTheldTthatTtheTlanguageTofTs.T124A,TorTofTtheTRuleTaforesaid,TunderTtheTGovernmentTofTIndiaTAct,TdidTnot
TjustifyTtheTstatementTofTtheTlawTasTmadeTbyTtheTlearnedTChiefTJusticeTinTNiharendu'sTcase(1)TtheyTalsoTheldTthatTtheTexpre
ssionT"exciteTdisaffection"TdidTnotTincludeT"exciteTdisorder",TandTthat,Ttherefore,TtheTdecisionTofTtheTFederalTCourtTinTNiharen
du'sTcase(1)TproceededTonTaTwrongTconstructionTofTs.T124ATofTtheTPenalTCode,TandTofTsub-paraT(e),Tsub-
ruleT(6)TofTRuleT34TofTtheTDefenceTofTIndiaTRules;TTheirTLordshipsTapprovedTofTtheTdictaTinTtheTcaseTofTBalTGangadharTT
ilakT(2),TandTinTtheTcaseTofTAnnieTBasantTv.TAdvocateTGeneralTofTMadrasT(3),TwhichTwasTaTcaseTunderTs.T4TofTtheTIndian
TPressTAct.T(ITofT1910),TwhichTwasTcloselyTsimilarTinTlanguageTtoTs.T124ATofTtheTPenalTCode.

TheTPrivyTCouncilTalsoTreferredTtoTtheirTpreviousTdecisionTinTWallaceTJohnsonTv.TTheTKinq(4)TwhichTwasTaTcaseTunderTsub
Ts.T8TofTs.T326TofTtheTCriminalTCodeTofTtheTGoldTCoast,TwhichTdefinedT"seditiousTintention"TinTtermsTsimilarTtoTtheTwords
TofTs.124ATofTtheTPenalTCode.TInTthatTcase,TtheirTLordshipsThadTlaidTdownTthatTincitementTtoTviolenceTwasTnotTnecessaryTi
ngredientTofTtheTCrimeTofTseditionTasTdefinedTinTthatTlaw.

Thus,TthereTisTaTdirectTconflictTbetweenTtheTdecisionTofTtheTFederalTCourtTinTNiharendu'sTcaseT(1)TandTofTtheTPrivyTCounsil
TinTaTnumberTofTcasesTfromTIndianTandTtheTGoldTCoast,TreferredTtoTabove.TItTisTalsoTclearTthatTeitherTviewTcanTbeTtakenT
andTcanTbeTsupportedTonTgoodTreasons.TTheTFederalTCourtTdecisionTtakesTintoTconsideration,TasTindicatedTabove,TtheTpre-
exitingTCommonTLawTofTEnglandTinTrespectTofTsedition.TItTdoesTnotTappearTfromTtheTreportTofTtheTFederalTCourtTdecisionTt
hatTtheTrulingsTaforesaidTofTtheTPrivyTCouncilThadTbeenTbroughtTtoTtheTnoticeTofTtheirTLordshipsTofTtheTFederalTCourt.

SoTfarTasTthisTCourtTisTconcerned,TtheTquestionTdirectlyTarisingTforTdeterminationTinTthisTbatchTofTcasesThasTnotTformedTthe
TsubjectTmatterTofTdecisionTpreviously.TButTcertainTobservationsTmadeTbyTthisTCourtTinTsomeTcases,TtoTbeTpresentlyTnoticed,T
withTreferenceTtoTtheTinterrelationTbetweenTfreedomTofTspeechTandTseditiousTwritingTorTspeakingThaveTbeenTmadeTinTtheTvery
TfirstTyearTofTtheTcomingTintoTforceTofTtheTConstitution.TTwoTcasesTinvolvingTconsiderationTofTtheTfundamentalTrightTofTfree
domTofTspeechTandTexpressionTandTcertainTlawsTenactedTbyTsomeTofTtheTStatesTimposingTrestrictionsTonTthatTrightTcameTupT
forTconsiderationTbeforeTthisTCourt.TThoseTcases,TreportedTinTRomeshTThapparTv.TTheTStateTofTMadras(1)TandTBrijTBhushanT
v.TTheTStateTofTDelhi(2)TwereTheardTbyTKaniaTC.J.,TPazlTAli,TPatanjaliTShastri,TMehrTChandTMahajan,TMukherjeaTandTDas,T
JJ,TandTjudgmentsTwereTdeliveredTonTtheTsameTdayT(MayT26,T1950).TInTRomeshTThappar'sTcaseT(1),TtheTmajorityTofTtheTCo
urtTdeclaredTs.T9(1-
A)TofTtheTMadrasTMaintenanceTofTPublicTOrderTActT(Mad.TXXXIIITofT1949),TwhichThadTauthorisedTimpositionTofTrestrictions
TonTtheTfundamentalTrightTofTfreedomTofTspeech,TtoTbeTinTexcessTofTcl.T(2)TofTArt.T19TofTtheTConstitutionTauthorisingTsuch
Trestrictions,Tand,Ttherefore,TvoidTandTunconstitutional.TInTBrijTBhushan'sTcaseT(2),TtheTsameTmajorityTstruckTdownTs.T7(1)
(c)TofTtheTEastTPunjabTPublicTSafetyTAct,T1949,TasTextendedTtoTtheTProvinceTofTDelhi,TauthorisingTtheTimpositionTofTrestricti
onsTonTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTforTpreventingTorTcombatingTanyTactivityTprejudicialTtoTtheTpublicTsafetyTorTth
eTmaintenanceTofTpublicTorder.TTheTCourtTheldTthoseTprovisionsTtoTbeTinTexcessTofTtheTpowersTconferredTonTtheTLegislature
TbyTcl.T(2)TofTArt.T19TofTtheTConstitution.TMr.TJusticeTPatanjaliTSastri,TspeakingTforTtheTmajorityTofTtheTCourtTinTRomeshT
Thappar'sTcaseT(1)TmadeTtheTfollowingTobservationsTwithTreferenceTtoTtheTdecisionsTofTtheTFederalTCourtTandTtheTJudicialTCo
mmitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncilTasTtoTwhatTtheTlawTofTSeditionTinTIndiaTwas:

"ItTisTalsoTworthyTofTnoteTthatTtheTwordT"sedition"TwhichToccurredTinTarticleT13(2)TofTtheTDraftTConstitutionTpreparedTbyTth
eTDraftingTCommitteeTwasTdeletedTbeforeTtheTarticleTwasTfinallyTpassedTasTarticleT19(2).TInTthisTconnectionTitTmayTbeTrecall
edTthatTtheTFederalTCourtThad,TinTdefiningTseditionTinTNiharenduTDuttTMajumdarTv.TTheTKingTEmperorT(2)TheldTthatT"theTa
ctsTorTwordsTcomplainedTofTmustTeitherTinciteTtoTdisorderTorTmustTbeTsuchTasTtoTsatisfyTreasonableTmenTthatTthatTisTtheirTi
ntentionTorTtendency",TbutTtheTPrivyTCouncilToverruledTthatTdecisionTandTemphaticallyTreaffirmedTtheTviewTexpressedTinTTilak
'sTcaseTtoTtheTeffectTthatT"theToffenceTconsistedTinTexcitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteTinTothersTcertainTbadTfeelingsTtowardsTth
eTGovernmentTandTnotTinTexcitingTorTattemptingTtoTexciteTmutinyTorTrebellion,TorTanyTsortTofTactualTdisturbance,TgreatTorTs
mall"T-
KingTEmperorTv.TSadashivTNarayanTBhalerao.TDeletionTofTtheTwordT"sedition"TfromTtheTdraftTarticleT13(2),Ttherefore,TshowsT
thatTcriticismTofTGovernmentTexcitingTdisaffectionTorTbadTfeelingsTtowardTitTisTnotTtoTbeTregardedTasTaTjustifyingTgroundTfor
TrestrictingTtheTfreedomTofTexpressionTandTofTtheTpress,TunlessTitTisTsuchTasTtoTundermineTtheTsecurityTofTorTtendTtoToverth
rowTtheTState.TItTisTalsoTsignificantTthatTtheTcorrespondingTIrishTformulaTofT"underminingTtheTpublicTorderTorTtheTauthorityTo
fTtheTState"T(articleT40(6)
(i)TofTtheTConstitutionTofTFire,T1937)TdidTnotTapparentlyTfindTfavourTwithTtheTframersTofTtheTIndianTConstitution.TThus,Tvery
TnarrowTandTstringentTlimitsThaveTbeenTsetTtoTpermissibleTlegislativeTabridgementTofTtheTrightTofTfreeTspeechTandTexpression,
TandTthisTwasTdoubtlessTdueTtoTtheTrealisationTthatTfreedomTofTspeechTandTofTtheTpressTlayTatTtheTfoundationTofTallTdomocr
aticTorganisations,TforTwithoutTfreeTpoliticalTdiscussionTnoTpublicTeducation,TsoTessentialTforTtheTproperTfunctioningTofTtheTpro
cessesTofTpopularTgovernment,TisTpossible,TfreedomTofTsuchTamplitudeTmightTinvolveTrisksTofTabuse.TButTtheTframersTofTtheT
ConstitutionTmayTwellThaveTreflected,TwithTMadisonTwhoTwasT"theTleadingTspiritTinTtheTpreparationTofTtheTFirstTAmendmentT
ofTtheTFederalTConstitution"TthatT"itTisTbetterTtoTleaveTaTfewTofTitsTnaxiousTbranchesTtoTtheirTluxuriantTgrowth,Tthan,TbyTpru
nning,TthemTawayTtoTinjureTtheTvigourTofTthoseTyieldingTtheTproperTfruits"T:T(quotedTinTNearTv.TMinnesotta).

ThoseTobservationsTwereTmadeTtoTbringToutTtheTdifferenceTbetweenTtheT"securityTofTtheTState"TandT"publicTorder".TAsTtheTla
tterTexpressionTdidTnotTfindTaTplaceTinTArt.T19(2)TofTtheTConstitution,TasTitTstoodToriginally,TtheTsectionTwasTstruckTdownTa
sTunconstitutional.TFazlTAli,TJ.,TdissentedTfromTtheTviewsTthusTexpressedTbyTtheTmajorityTandTreiteratedThisTobservationsTinTB
rijTBhushan'sTcaseT(1)TInTtheTcourseTofThisTdissentingTjudgment,TheTobservedTasTfollows:

"ItTappearsTtoTmeTthatTinTtheTultimateTanalysisTtheTrealTquestionTtoTbeTdecidedTinTthisTcaseTisTwhetherT"disordersTinvolvingT
menaceTtoTtheTpeaceTandTtranquillityTofTtheTProvince"TandTaffectingT"PublicTsafety"TwillTbeTaTmatterTwhichTunderminesTtheT
securityTofTtheTStateTorTnot.TIThaveTborrowedTtheTwordsTquotedTwithinTinvertedTcommasTfromTtheTpreambleTofTtheTActTwhi
chTshowsTitsTscopeTandTnecessityTandTtheTquestionTraisedTbeforeTusTattackingTtheTvalidityTofTtheTActTmustTbeTformulatedTin
TtheTmannerTIThaveTsuggested.TIfTtheTanswerTtoTtheTquestionTisTinTtheTaffirmative,TasTITthinkTitTmustTbe,TthenTtheTimpugne
dTlawTwhichTprohibitsTentryTintoTtheTStateTofTMadrasTofT"anyTdocumentTorTclassTofTdocuments"TforTsecuringTpublicTsafetyT
andTmaintenanceTofTpublicTorderTshouldTsatisfyTtheTrequirementsTlaidTdownTinTarticleT19(2)TofTtheTConstitution.TFromTtheTtre
ndTofTtheTargumentsTaddressedTtoTus,TitTwouldTappearTthatTifTaTdocumentTisTseditious,TitsTentryTcouldTbeTvalidlyTprohibited,
TbecauseTseditionTisTaTmatterTwhichTunderminesTtheTSecurityTofTtheTState;TbutTifTonTtheTotherThand,TtheTdocumentTisTcalcul
atedTtoTdisturbTpublicTtranquillityTandTaffectTpublicTsafety,TitsTentryTcannotTbeTprohibited,TbecauseTpublicTdisorderTandTdisturb
anceTofTpublicTtranquillityTareTnotTmattersTwhichTundermineTtheTsecurityTofTtheTState.TSpeakingTforTmyself,TITcannotTunderst
andTthisTargument.TInTBrijTBhushanTv.TTheTState.TIThaveTquotedTgoodTauthorityTtoTshowTthatTseditionTowesTitsTgravityTtoTit
sTtendencyTtoTcreateTdisordersTandTauthorityTonTCriminalTLawTlikeTSirTJamesTStephenThasTclassedTseditionTasTanToffenceTag
ainstTpublicTtranquillity."

InTBrijTBhushanTcaseT(1),TFazlTAli,TJ.,TwhoTwasTagainTtheTdissentingTjudge,TgaveThisTreasonsTtoTgreaterTdetail.THeTreferredT
toTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTFederalTCourtTinTNiharenduTDuttTMajumdar'sTcaseTandTtoTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTPrivyTCouncilTtoTthe
TcontraryTinTKingTEmperorTv.TSadaTShivTNarayanT(1).TAfterThavingTpointedToutTtheTdivergencyTofTopinionTbetweenTtheTFed
eralTCourtTofTIndiaTandTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncil,TtheTlearnedTJudgeTmadeTtheTfollowingTobservationsTin
TorderTtoTexplaimTwhyTtheTtermT"sedition"TwasTnotTspecificallyTmentionedTinTArt.T19(2)TofTtheTConstitution:

"TheTframersTofTtheTConstitutionTmustThaveTthereforeTfoundTthemselvesTfaceTtoTfaceTwithTtheTdilemmaTasTtoTwhetherTtheTw
ordT"sedition"TshouldTbeTusedTinTarticleT19(2)TandTifTitTwasTtoTbeTusedTinTwhatTsenseTitTwasTtoTbeTused.TOnTtheToneThan
d,TtheyTmustThaveThadTbeforeTtheirTmindTtheTveryTwidelyTacceptedTviewTsupportedTbyTnumerousTauthoritiesTthatTseditionTwa
sTessentiallyTanToffenceTagainstTpublicTtranquillityTandTwasTconnectedTinTsomeTwayTorTotherTwithTpublicTdisorder;Tand,TonTt
heTotherThand,TthereTwasTtheTpronouncementTofTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTthatTseditionTasTdefinedTinTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTdi
dTnotTnecessarilyTimplyTanyTintentionTorTtendencyTtoTinciteTdisorder.TInTtheseTcircumstances,TitTisTnotTsurprisingTthatTtheyTde
cidedTnotTtoTuseTtheTwordT"sedition"TinTclauseT(2)TbutTusedTtheTmoreTgeneralTwordsTwhichTcoverTseditionTandTeverythingTel
seTwhichTmakesTseditionTsuchTaTseriousToffence.TThatTseditionTdoesTundermineTtheTsecurityTofTtheTStateTisTaTmatterTwhichT
cannotTadmitTofTmuchTdoubt.TThatTitTunderminesTtheTsecurityTofTtheTstateTusuallyTthroughTtheTmediumTofTpublicTdisorderTis
TalsoTaTmatterTonTwhichTeminentTJudgesTandTjuristsTareTagreed.TTherefore,TitTisTdifficultTtoTholdTthatTpublicTdisorderTorTdist
urbanceTofTpublicTtranquillityTareTnotTmattersTwhichTundermineTtheTsecurityTofTtheTState."

AsTaTresultTofTtheirTdifferencesTinTtheTinterpretationTofTArt.19(2)TofTtheTConstitution,TtheTParliamentTamendedTcl.
(2)TofTArt.T19,TinTtheTformTinTwhichTitTstandsTatTpresent,TbyTtheTConstitutionT(FirstTAmendment)TAct,T1951,TbyTs.T3TofTth
eTAct,TwhichTsubstitutedTtheToriginalTcl.T(2)TbyTtheTnewTcl.T(2).TThisTamendmentTwasTmadeTwithTretrospectiveTeffect,TthusTi
ndicatingTthatTitTacceptedTtheTstatementTofTtheTlawTasTcontainedTinTtheTdissentingTjudgmentTofTFazlTAli,TJ.,TinTsoTfarTasThe
ThadTpointedToutTthatTtheTconceptTofT"securityTofTtheTstate"TwasTveryTmuchTalliedTtoTtheTconceptTofT"publicTorder"TandTtha
tTrestrictionsTonTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTcouldTvalidlyTbeTimposedTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorder.

AgainTtheTquestionTofTtheTlimitsTofTlegislativeTpowersTwithTreferenceTtoTtheTprovisionsTofTArts.T19T(1)
(a)TandT19(2)TofTtheTConstitutionTcameTupTforTdecisionTbyTaTConstitutionTBenchTofTthisTCourtTinTRamjiTLalTModiTv.TTheT
StateTofTU.P.T(1).TInTthatTcase,TtheTvalidityTofTs.T295ATofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTwasTchallengedTonTtheTgroundTthatTitTim
posedTrestrictionsTonTtheTfundamentalTrightTofTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTbeyondTtheTlimitsTprescribedTbyTcl.
(2)TofTArt.T19TofTtheTConstitution.TInTthisTconnection,TtheTCourtTobservedTasTfollows:

"theTquestionTforTourTconsiderationTisTwhetherTtheTimpugnedTsectionTcanTbeTproperlyTsaidTtoTbeTaTlawTimposingTreasonableT
restrictionsTonTtheTexerciseTofTtheTfundamentalTrightsTtoTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTinTtheTinterestsTofTpublicTorder.TI
tTwillTbeTnoticedTthatTlanguageTemployedTinTtheTamendedTclauseTisT"inTtheTinterestsTof"TandTnotT"forTtheTmaintenanceTof".T
AsToneTofTusTpointedToutTinTDebiTSaronTv.TTheTStateTofTBihar,TtheTexpressionT"inTtheTinterestsTof"TmakesTtheTambitTofTth
eTprotectionTveryTwide.TATlawTmayTnotThaveTbeenTdesignedTtoTdirectlyTmaintainTpublicTorderTandTyetTitTmayThaveTbeenTen
actedTinTtheTinterestsTofTpublicTorder."

ThoughTtheTobservationsTquotedTaboveTdoTnotTdirectlyTbearTuponTtheTpresentTcontroversy,TtheyTthrowTaTgoodTdealTofTlightTu
ponTtheTambitTofTtheTpowerTofTtheTlegislatureTtoTimposeTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTtheTexerciseTofTtheTfundamentalTrightTof
TfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression.

InTthisTcase,TweTareTdirectlyTconcernedTwithTtheTquestionThowTforTtheToffence,TasTdefinedTinTs.T124ATofTtheTIndianTPenalT
Code,TisTconsistentTwithTtheTfundamentalTrightTguaranteedTbyTArt.T19T(1)

(a)TofTtheTConstitution,TwhichTisTinTtheseTterms:

"19.T(1)TAllTcitizensTshallThaveTtheTright.

TT(a) toTTTTfreedom ofTTTTspeechTTTand

expression..."

ThisTguaranteedTrightTisTsubjectTtoTtheTrightTofTtheTlegislatureTtoTimposeTreasonableTrestrictions,TtheTambitTofTwhichTisTindic
atedTbyTcl.T(2),Twhich,TinTitsTamendedTform,TreadsTasTfollows:

"(2)TNothingTinTsub-
clauseT(a)TofTclauseT(1)TshallTaffectTtheToperationTofTanyTexistingTlawTorTpreventTtheTStateTfromTmakingTanyTlaw,TinTsoTfar
TasTsuchTlawTimposesTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTtheTexerciseTofTtheTrightTconferredTbyTtheTsaidTsub-
clauseTinTtheTinterestsTofTtheTsecurityTofTtheTState,TfriendlyTrelationsTwithTforeignTStates,TpublicTorder,TdecencyTorTmorality,T
orTinTrelationTtoTcontemptTofTcourt,TdefamationTorTincitementTtoTanToffence."

ItThasTnotTbeenTquestionedTbeforeTusTthatTtheTfundamentalTrightTguaranteedTbyTArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTisTnotTanTabsoluteTright.TItTisTcommonTgroundTthatTtheTrightTisTsubjectTtoTsuc
hTreasonableTrestrictionsTasTwouldTcomeTwithinTtheTpurviewTofTcl.T(2),TwhichTcomprisesT(a)TsecurityTofTtheTState,T(b)Tfriendl
yTrelationsTwithTforeignTStates,T(c)TpublicTorder,

(d)TdecencyTorTmorality,Tetc.TWithTreferenceTtoTtheTconstitutionalityTofTs.T124ATorTs.T505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,TasTtoT
howTfarTtheyTareTconsistentTwithTtheTrequirementsTofTcl.T(2)TofTArt.T19TwithTparticularTreferenceTtoTsecurityTofTtheTStateTan
dTpublicTorder,TtheTsection,TitTmustTbeTnoted,TpenalisesTanyTspokenTorTwrittenTwordsTorTsignsTorTvisibleTrepresentations,Tetc.,
TwhichThaveTtheTeffectTofTbringing,TorTwhichTattemptTtoTbringTintoThatredTorTcontemptTorTexcitesTorTattemptsTtoTexciteTdisa
ffectionTtowardsTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlaw"ThasTtoTbeTdistinguishedTfromTtheTperson'sTforTtheTtimeTbeingTengagedTi
nTcarryingTonTtheTadministration.T"GovernmentTestablishedTbyTlaw"TisTtheTvisibleTsymbolTofTtheTState.TTheTveryTexistenceTof
TtheTStateTwillTbeTinTjeopardyTifTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTisTsubverted.THenceTtheTcontinuedTexistenceTofTtheTGo
vernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTisTanTessentialTconditionTofTtheTstabilityTofTtheTState.TThatTisTwhyT'sedition',TasTtheToffenceTin
Ts.T124AThasTbeenTcharacterised,TcomesTunderTChapterTVITrelatingTtoToffencesTagainstTtheTState.THenceTanyTactsTwithinTthe
TmeaningTofTs.T124AwhichThaveTtheTeffectTofTsubvertingTtheTGovernmentTbyTbringingTthatTGovernmentTintoTcontemptTorThat
red,TorTcreatingTdisaffectionTagainstTit,TwouldTbeTwithinTtheTpenalTstatuteTbecauseTtheTfeelingTofTdisloyaltyTtoTtheTGovernmen
tTestablishedTbyTlawTorTenmityTtoTitTimportsTtheTideaTofTtendencyTtoTpublicTdisorderTbyTtheTuseTofTactualTviolenceTorTincit
ementTtoTviolence.TInTotherTwords,TanyTwrittenTorTspokenTwords,Tetc.,TwhichThaveTimplicitTinTthemTtheTideaTofTsubvertingT
GovernmentTbyTviolentTmeans,TwhichTareTcompendiouslyTincludedTinTtheTtermT'revolution',ThaveTbeenTmadeTpenalTbyTtheTsect
ionTinTquestion.TButTtheTsectionThasTtakenTcareTtoTindicateTclearlyTthatTstrongTwordsTusedTtoTexpressTdisapprobationTofTtheT
measuresTofTGovernmentTwithTaTviewTtoTtheirTimprovementTorTalterationTbyTlawfulTmeansTwouldTnotTcomeTwithinTtheTsectio
n.TSimilarly,Tcomments,ThoweverTstronglyTworded,TexpressingTdisapprobationTofTactionsTofTtheTGovernment,TwithoutTexcitingTt
hoseTfeelingsTwhichTgenerateTtheTinclinationTtoTcauseTpublicTdisorderTbyTactsTofTviolence,TwouldTnotTbeTpenal.TInTotherTwor
ds,TdisloyaltyTtoTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTisTnotTtheTsameTthingTasTcommentingTinTstrongTtermsTuponTtheTmeasuresTo
rTactsTofTGovernment,TorTitsTagencies,TsoTasTtoTameliorateTtheTconditionTofTtheTpeopleTorTtoTsecureTtheTcancellationTorTalter
ationTofTthoseTactsTorTmeasuresTbyTlawfulTmeans,TthatTisTtoTsay,TwithoutTexcitingTthoseTfeelingsTofTenmityTandTdisloyaltyTw
hichTimplyTexcitementTtoTpublicTdisorderTorTtheTuseTofTviolence.

ItThasTnotTbeenTcontendedTbeforeTusTthatTifTaTspeechTorTaTwritingTexcitesTpeopleTtoTviolenceTorThaveTtheTtendencyTtoTcreat
eTpublicTdisorder,TitTwouldTnotTcomeTwithinTtheTdefinitionTofT'sedition'.TWhatThasTbeenTcontendedTisTthatTaTpersonTwhoTma
kesTaTveryTstrongTspeechTorTusesTveryTvigorousTwordsTinTaTwritingTdirectedTtoTaTveryTstrongTcriticismTofTmeasuresTofTGov
ernmentTorTactsTofTpublicTofficials,TmightTalsoTcomeTwithinTtheTambitTofTtheTpenalTsection.TBut,TinTourTopinion,TsuchTwords
TwrittenTorTspokenTwouldTbeToutsideTtheTscopeTofTtheTsection.TInTthisTconnection,TitTisTpertinentTtoTobserveTthatTtheTsecurit
yTofTtheTState,TwhichTdependsTuponTtheTmaintenanceTofTlawTandTorderTisTtheTveryTbasicTconsiderationTuponTwhichTlegislatio
n,TwithTaTviewTtoTpunishingToffencesTagainstTtheTState,TisTundertaken.TSuchTaTlegislationThas,TonTtheToneThand,TfullyTtoTpro
tectTandTguaranteeTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression,TwhichTisTtheTsineTquoTnonTofTaTdemocraticTformTofTGovernmentT
thatTourTConstitutionThasTestablished.TThisTCourt,TasTtheTcustodianTandTguarantorTofTtheTfundamentalTrightsTofTtheTcitizens,Th
asTtheTdutyTcastTuponTitTofTstrikingTdownTanyTlawTwhichTundulyTrestrictsTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTwithTwhich
TweTareTconcernedTinTthisTcase.TButTtheTfreedomThasTtoTbeTguardedTagainTbecomingTaTlicenceTforTvilificationTandTcondemn
ationTofTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlaw,TinTwordsTwhichTinciteTviolenceTorThaveTtheTtendencyTtoTcreateTpublicTdisorder.
TATcitizenThasTaTrightTtoTsayTorTwriteTwhateverTheTlikesTaboutTtheTGovernment,TorTitsTmeasures,TbyTwayTofTcriticismTorTc
omment,TsoTlongTasTheTdoesTnotTinciteTpeopleTtoTviolenceTagainstTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTorTwithTtheTintention
TofTcreatingTpublicTdisorder.TTheTCourt,Thas,Ttherefore,TtheTdutyTcastTuponTitTofTdrawingTaTclearTlineTofTdemarcationTbetwee
nTtheTambitTofTaTcitizen'sTfundamentalTrightTguaranteedTunderTArt.T19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitutionTandTtheTpowerTofTtheTlegislatureTtoTimposeTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTthatTguaranteedTrightTinTtheTint
erestTof,TinterTalia,TsecurityTofTtheTStateTandTpublicTorder.TWeThave,Ttherefore,TtoTdetermineThowTfarTtheTss.T124ATandT505
TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTcouldTbeTsaidTtoTbeTwithinTtheTjustifiableTlimitsTofTlegislation.TIfTitTisTheld,TinTconsonanceTwith
TtheTviewsTexpressedTbyTtheTFederalTCourtTinTtheTcaseTofTNiharenduTDuttTmajumdarTv.TTheTKingTEmperor(1)TthatTtheTgistT
ofTtheToffenceTofT'sedition'TisTincitementTtoTviolenceTorTtheTtendencyTorTtheTintentionTtoTcreateTpublicTdisorderTbyTwordsTsp
okenTorTwritten,TwhichThaveTtheTtendencyTorTtheTeffectTofTbringingTtheTGovernmentTestablishedTbyTlawTintoThatredTorTconte
mptTorTcreatingTdisaffectionTinTtheTsenseTofTdisloyaltyTtoTtheTStateTinTotherTwordsTbringingTtheTlawTintoTlineTwithTtheTlawT
ofTseditionTinTEngland,TasTwasTtheTintentionTofTtheTlegislatorsTwhenTtheyTintroducedTs.T124ATintoTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeTin
T1870TasTaforesaid,TtheTlawTwillTbeTwithinTtheTpermissibleTlimitsTlaidTdownTinTcl.T(2)TofTArt.T19ofTtheTConstitution,TifTonT
theTotherThandTweTgiveTaTliteralTmeaningTtoTtheTwordsTofTtheTsection,TdivorcedTfromTallTtheTantecedentTbackgroundTinTwhic
hTtheTlawTofTseditionThasTgrown,TasTlaidTdownTinTtheTseveralTdecisionsTofTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncil,Tit
TwillTbeTtrueTtoTsayTthatTtheTsectionTisTnotTonlyTwithinTbutTalsoTveryTmuchTbeyondTtheTlimitsTlaidTdownTinTcl.T(2)Taforesa
id.

InTviewTofTtheTconflictingTdecisionsTofTtheTFederalTCourtTandTofTtheTPrivyTCouncil,TreferredTtoTabove,TweThaveTtoTdetermin
eTwhetherTandThowTfarTtheTprovisionsTofTss.T124ATandT505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCodeThaveTtoTbeTstruckTdownTasTunconstit
utional.TIfTweTacceptTtheTinterpretationTofTtheTFederalTCourtTasTtoTtheTgistTofTcriminalityTinTanTallegedTcrimeTofTsedition,Tn
amely,TincitementTtoTdisorderTorTtendencyTorTlikelihoodTofTpublicTdisorderTorTreasonableTapprehensionTthereof,TtheTsectionTma
yTlieTwithinTtheTambitTofTpermissibleTlegislativeTrestrictionsTonTtheTfundamentalTrightTofTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression.T
ThereTcanTbeTnoTdoubtTthatTapartTfromTtheTprovisionsTofT(2)TofTArt.T19,Tss.T124ATandT505TareTclearlyTviolativeTofTArt.T19
(1)(a)TofTtheTConstitution.TButTthenTweThaveTtoTseeThowTfarTtheTsavingTclause,Tnamely,Tcl.
(2)TofTArt.T19TprotectsTtheTsectionsTaforesaid.TNow,TasTalreadyTpointedTout,TinTtermsTofTtheTamendedTcl.T(2),TquotedTabove,
TtheTexpressionT"inTtheTinterestTof...publicTorder"TareTwordsTofTgreatTamplitudeTandTareTmuchTmoreTcomprehensiveTthanTtheT
expressionT"forTtheTmaintenanceTof",TasTobservedTbyTthisTCourtTinTtheTcaseTofTVirendraTv.TTheTStateTofTPunjabT(1).TAnyTla
wTwhichTisTenactedTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorderTmayTbeTsavedTfromTtheTviceTofTconstitutionalTinvalidity.TIf,TonTtheTother
Thand,TweTwereTtoTholdTthatTevenTwithoutTanyTtendencyTtoTdisorderTorTintentionTtoTcreateTdisturbanceTofTlawTandTorder,Tby
TtheTuseTofTwordsTwrittenTorTspokenTwhichTmerelyTcreateTdisaffectionTorTfeelingsTofTenmityTagainstTtheTGovernment,TtheToff
enceTofTseditionTisTcomplete,TthenTsuchTanTinterpretationTofTtheTsectionsTwouldTmakeTthemTunconstitutionalTinTviewTofTArt.T
19(1)
(a)TreadTwithTcl.T(2).TItTisTwellTsettledTthatTifTcertainTprovisionsTofTlawTconstruedTinToneTwayTwouldTmakeTthemTconsistent
TwithTtheTConstitution,TandTanotherTinterpretationTwouldTrenderTthemTunconstitutional,TtheTCourtTwouldTleanTinTfavourTofTthe
TformerTconstruction.TTheTprovisionsTofTtheTsectionsTreadTasTaTwhole,TalongTwithTtheTexplanations,TmakeTitTreasonablyTclear
TthatTtheTsectionsTaimTatTrenderingTpenalTonlyTsuchTactivitiesTasTwouldTbeTintended,TorThaveTaTtendency,TtoTcreateTdisorder
TorTdisturbanceTofTpublicTpeaceTbyTresortTtoTviolence.TAsTalreadyTpointedTout,TtheTexplanationsTappendedTtoTtheTmainTbody
TofTtheTsectionTmakeTitTclearTthatTcriticismTofTpublicTmeasuresTorTcommentTonTGovernmentTaction,ThoweverTstronglyTworded
,TwouldTbeTwithinTreasonableTlimitsTandTwouldTbeTconsistentTwithTtheTfundamentalTrightTofTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressio
n.TItTisTonlyTwhenTtheTwords,TwrittenTorTspoken,Tetc.TwhichThaveTtheTperniciousTtendencyTorTintentionTofTcreatingTpublicTdi
sorderTorTdisturbanceTofTlawTandTorderTthatTtheTlawTstepsTinTtoTpreventTsuchTactivitiesTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorder.TSoTc
onstrued,TtheTsection,TinTourTopinion,TstrikesTtheTcorrectTbalanceTbetweenTindividualTfundamentalTrightsTandTtheTinterestTofTpu
blicTorder.TItTisTalsoTwellTsettledTthatTinTinterpretingTanTenactmentTtheTCourtTshouldThaveTregardTnotTmerelyTtoTtheTliteralT
meaningTofTtheTwordsTused,TbutTalsoTtakeTintoTconsiderationTtheTantecedentThistoryTofTtheTlegislation,TitsTpurposeTandTtheTm
ischiefTitTseeksTtoTsuppressT(videT(1)).TTheTBengalTImmunityTCompanyTLimitedTv.TTheTStateTofTBiharT(1)TandT(2)TR.M.D.T
ChamarbaugwallaTv.TTheTUnionTofTIndiaT(2).TViewedTinTthatTlight,TweThaveTnoThesitationTinTsoTconstruingTtheTprovisionsTof
TtheTsectionsTimpugnedTinTtheseTcasesTasTtoTlimitTtheirTapplicationTtoTactsTinvolvingTintentionTorTtendencyTtoTcreateTdisorder,
TorTdisturbanceTofTlawTandTorder,TorTincitementTtoTviolence.

WeTmayTalsoTconsiderTtheTlegalTposition,TasTitTshouldTemerge,TassumingTthatTtheTmainTs.T124ATiscapableTofTbeingTconstrued
TinTtheTliteralTsenseTinTwhichTtheTJudicialTCommitteeTofTtheTPrivyTCouncilThasTconstruedTitTinTtheTcasesTreferredTtoTabove.
TOnTthatTassumption,TitTisTnotTopenTtoTthisTCourtTtoTconstrueTtheTsectionTisTsuchTaTwayTasTtoTavoidTtheTallegedTunconstitu
tionalityTbyTlimitingTtheTapplicationTofTtheTsectionTinTtheTwayTinTwhichTtheTFederalTCourtTintendedTtoTapplyTitT?
TInTourTopinion,TthereTareTdecisionsTofTthisTCourtTwhichTamplyTjustifyTourTtakingTthatTviewTofTtheTlegalTposition.TThisTCou
rt,TinTtheTcaseTofTR.M.D.TChamarbaugwallaTv.TTheTUnionTofTIndiaT(1)ThasTexaminedTinTdetailTtheTseveralTdecisionsTofTthis
TCourt,TasTalsoTofTtheTCourtsTinTAmericaTandTAustralia.TAfterTexaminingTthoseTdecisions,TthisTCourtTcameTtoTtheTconclusion
TthatTifTtheTimpugnedTprovisionsTofTaTlawTcomeTwithinTtheTconstitutionalTpowersTofTtheTlegislatureTbyTadoptingToneTviewTo
fTtheTwordsTofTtheTimpugnedTsectionTorTAct,TtheTCourtTwillTtakeTthatTviewTofTtheTmatterTandTlimitTitsTapplicationTaccordin
gly,TinTpreferenceTtoTtheTviewTwhichTwouldTmakeTitTunconstitutionalTonTanotherTviewTofTtheTinterpretationTofTtheTwordsTinT
question.TInTthatTcase,TtheTCourtThadTtoTchooseTbetweenTaTdefinitionTofTtheTexpressionT'PrizeTCompetitions"TasTlimitedTtoTth
oseTcompetitionsTwhichTwereTofTaTgamblingTcharacterTandTthoseTwhichTwereTnot.TTheTCourtTchoseTtheTformerTinterpretationT
whichTmadeTtheTrestTofTtheTprovisionsTofTtheTAct,PrizeTCompetitionsTActT(XLIITofT1955),TwithTparticularTreferenceTtoTss.T4
TandT5TofTtheTActTandTRulesT11TandT12TframedTthereunder,Tvalid.TTheTCourtTheldTthatTtheTpenaltyTattachedTonlyTtoTthoseT
competitionsTwhichTinvolvedTtheTelementTofTgamblingTandTthoseTcompetitionsTinTwhichTsuccessTdependedTtoTaTsubstantialTdeg
reeTonTskillTwereTheldTtoTbeToutTofTtheTpurviewTofTtheTAct.TTheTratioTdecidendiTinTthatTcase,TinTourTopinion,TappliedTtoTt
heTcaseTinThandTinTsoTfarTasTweTproposeTtoTlimitTitsToperationTonlyTtoTsuchTactivitiesTasTcomeTwithinTtheTambitTofTtheTob
servationsTofTtheTFederalTCourt,TthatTisTtoTsay,TactivitiesTinvolvingTincitementTtoTviolenceTorTintentionTorTtendencyTtoTcreateT
publicTdisorderTorTcauseTdisturbanceTofTpublicTpeace.

WeTdoTnotTthinkTitTnecessaryTtoTdiscussTorTtoTreferTinTdetailTtoTtheTauthoritiesTcitedTandTdiscussedTinTtheTreportedTcaseTR.
M.D.TChamarbaugwallaTv.TTheTUnionTofTIndiaT(1)TatTpagesT940TtoT952.TWeTmayTaddTthatTtheTprovisionsTofTtheTimpugnedT
sections,TimposeTrestrictionsTonTtheTfundamentalTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression,TbutTthoseTrestrictionsTcannotTbutTbeTsaidT
toTbeTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTorderTandTwithinTtheTambitTofTpermissibleTlegislativeTinterferenceTwithTthatTfundamentalTright.

ItTisTonlyTnecessaryTtoTaddTaTfewTobservationsTwithTrespectTtoTtheTconstitutionalityTofTs.T505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode.TWi
thTreferenceTtoTeachTofTtheTthreeTclausesTofTtheTsection,TitTwillTbeTfoundTthatTtheTgravamenTofTtheToffenceTisTmaking,Tpubl
ishingTorTcirculatingTanyTstatement,TrumourTorTreportT(a)TwithTintentTtoTcauseTorTwhichTisTlikelyTtoTcauseTanyTmemberTofTt
heTArmy,TNavyTorTAirTForceTtoTmutinyTorTotherwiseTdisregardTorTfailTinThisTdutyTasTsuch;TorT(b)TtoTcauseTfearTorTalarmTt
oTtheTpublicTorTaTsectionTofTtheTpublicTwhichTmayTinduceTtheTcommissionTofTanToffenceTagainstTtheTStateTorTagainstTpublic
Ttranquillity;TorT(c)TtoTinciteTorTwhichTisTlikelyTtoTinciteToneTclassTorTcommunityTofTpersonsTtoTcommitTanToffenceTagainstT
anyTotherTclassTorTcommunity.TItTisTmanifestTthatTeachToneTofTtheTconstituentTelementsTofTtheToffenceTunderTs.T505ThasTref
erenceTto,TandTaTdirectTeffectTon,TtheTsecurityTofTtheTStateTorTpublicTorder.THence,TtheseTprovisionsTwouldTnotTexceedTtheTb
oundsTofTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTtheTrightTofTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression.TItTisTclear,Ttherefore,TthatTcl.T(2)TofTArt.
T19TclearlyTsaveTtheTsectionTfromTtheTviceTofTunconstitutionality.

ItThasTnotTbeenTcontendedTbeforeTusTonTbehalfTofTtheTappellantTinTC.A.T169TofT1957TorTonTbehalfTofTtheTrespondentsTinTt
heTotherTappealsT(No.T124-
T126TofT1958)TthatTtheTwordsTusedTbyTthemTdidTnotTcomeTwithinTtheTpurviewTofTtheTdefinitionTofTseditionTasTinterpretedTb
yTus.TNoTargumentsTwereTadvancedTbeforeTusTtoTshowTthatTevenTonTtheTinterpretationTgivenTbyTusTtheirTcasesTdidTnotTcom
eTwithinTtheTmischiefTofTtheToneTorTtheTotherTsection,TasTtheTcaseTmayTbe.TItTfollows,Ttherefore,TthatTtheTCriminalTAppealT
169TofT1957ThasTtoTbeTdismissed.TCriminalTAppealsT124-
126TofT1958TwillTbeTremandedTtoTtheTHighTCourtTtoTpassTsuchTorderTasTitTthinksTfitTandTproperTinTtheTlightTofTtheTinterpr
etationTgivenTbyTus.

AppealTNo.T169TofT1957Tdismissed.

AppealsTNos.T124TtoT126TofT1958Tallowed.
SupremeTCourtTofTIndia
S.TKhushbooTvsTKanniammalT&TAnrTonT28TApril,T2010
Author:T.TB.S.TChauhan
Bench:TK.G.TBalakrishnan,TDeepakTVerma,TB.S.TChauhan

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTREPORTABLE
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTINTTHETSUPREMETCOURTTOFTINDIA

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTCRIMINALTAPPELLATETJURISDICTION

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTCRIMINALTAPPEALTNO.T913TofT2010
TTTTTTT[ArisingToutTofTSLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4010TofT2008]

S.TKhushbooTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT...TAppellant
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTVersus
KanniammalT&TAnr.TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT...TRespondents

WITHTCriminalTAppealT914/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6127TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT915/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6257TofT200
8TCriminalTAppealT916/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6258TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT917/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6259TofT2008TCri
minalTAppealT918/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T7049TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT919/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6264TofT2008TCriminal
TAppealT920/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T6277TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT921/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T7052TofT2008TCriminalTApp
ealT922/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T7053TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT923/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T7050TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT9
24/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T7051TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT925/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4761TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT926/20
10T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4772TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT927/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4767TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT928/2010T
@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4763TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT929/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4765TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT930/2010T@SL
PT(Crl.)TNo.T4762TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT931/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4764TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT932/2010T@SLPT(Cr
l.)TNo.T4770TofT2008TCriminalTAppealT933/2010T@SLPT(Crl.)TNo.T4769TofT2008TTJTUTDTGTMTETNTTTDr.TB.S.TCHAUH
AN,TJ

1.TLeaveTgrantedTinTallTtheTcases.

2.TTheTappellantTisTaTwellTknownTactressTwhoThasTapproachedTthisTCourtTtoTseekTquashingTofTcriminalTproceedingsTpendingT
againstTher.TAsTmanyTasT23TCriminalTComplaintsTwereTfiledTagainstTher,TmostlyTinTtheTStateTofTTamilTNadu,TforTtheToffenc
esTcontemplatedTunderTSectionsT499,T500TandT505TofTtheTIndianTPenalTCode,T1860T[hereinafterT`IPC']TandTSectionsT4TandT6
TofTtheTIndecentTRepresentationTofTWomenT(Prohibition)TAct,T1986T[hereinafterT`ActT1986'].TTheTtriggerTforTtheTsameTwereTs
omeTremarksTmadeTbyTtheTappellantTinTanTinterviewTtoTaTleadingTnewsTmagazineTandTlaterTonTtheTsameTissueTwasTreported
TinTaTdistortedTmannerTinTanotherTperiodical.TFacedTwithTtheTpredicamentTofTcontestingTtheTcriminalTproceedingsTinstitutedTag
ainstTherTinTseveralTlocations,TtheTappellantThadTapproachedTtheTHighTCourtTofTMadras,TprayingTforTtheTquashingTofTtheseTpr
oceedingsTthroughTtheTexerciseTofTitsTinherentTpowerTunderTSectionT482TofTtheTCodeTofTCriminalTProcedure,T1973T[hereinafte
rT`Cr.PC.'].TTheTHighTCourtTrejectedTherTpleaTvideTimpugnedTjudgmentTandTorderTdatedT30.4.2008.TAtTtheTsameTtime,TinTord
erTtoTpreventTtheTinconvenienceTofTlitigatingTtheTsameTsubject-
matterTinTmultipleTlocationsTdirectedTthatTallTtheTcasesTinstitutedTagainstTtheTappellantTbeTconsolidatedTandTtriedTtogetherTbyTt
heTChiefTMetropolitanTMagistrate,TEgmoreT(Chennai).TAggrievedTbyTtheTaforesaidTjudgment,TtheTappellantTapproachedTthisTCou
rtTbyTwayTofTaTbatchTofTSpecialTLeaveTPetitions.

3.TBeforeTaddressingTtheTlegalTaspectsTofTtheTcaseTbeforeTus,TitTwouldTbeTusefulTtoTexamineTtheTrelevantTfacts.TInTSeptembe
rT2005,T`IndiaTToday'TaTfortnightlyTnewsTmagazineThadTconductedTaTsurveyTonTtheTsubjectTofTtheTsexualThabitsTofTpeopleTre
sidingTinTtheTbiggerTcitiesTofTIndia.TOneTofTtheTissuesTdiscussedTasTpartTofTthisTsurveyTwasTtheTincreasingTincidenceTofTpre-
maritalTsex.TAsTaTpartTofTthisTexercise,TtheTmagazineThadTgatheredTandTpublishedTtheTviewsTexpressedTbyTseveralTindividuals
TfromTdifferentTsegmentsTofTsociety,TincludingTthoseTofTtheTappellant.TTheTappellantTexpressedTherTpersonalTopinionTwhereinT
sheThadTnotedTtheTincreasingTincidenceTofTpre-maritalTsex,TespeciallyTinTtheTcontextTofTlive-
inTrelationshipsTandTcalledTforTtheTsocietalTacceptanceTofTtheTsame.THowever,TappellantThadTalsoTqualifiedTherTremarksTbyTob
servingTthatTgirlsTshouldTtakeTadequateTprecautionsTtoTpreventTunwantedTpregnanciesTandTtheTtransmissionTofTvenerealTdiseases
.TThisTcanTbeTreadilyTinferredTfromTtheTstatementTwhichTwasTpublished,TaTroughTtranslationTofTwhichTisTreproducedTbelow:
"AccordingTtoTme,TsexTisTnotTonlyTconcernedTwithTtheTbody;TbutTalsoTconcernedTwithTtheTconscious.TITcouldTnotTunderstand
TmattersTsuchTasTchangingTboyfriendsTeveryTweek.TWhenTaTgirlTisTcommittedTtoTherTboyfriend,TsheTcanTtellTherTparentsTand
TgoToutTwithThim.TWhenTtheirTdaughterTisThavingTaTseriousTrelationship,TtheTparentsTshouldTallowTtheTsame.TOurTsocietyTsh
ouldTcomeToutTofTtheTthinkingTthatTatTtheTtimeTofTtheTmarriage,TtheTgirlsTshouldTbeTwithTvirginity.
NoneTofTtheTeducatedTmen,TwillTexpectTthatTtheTgirlTwhomTtheyTareTmarryingTshouldTbeTwithTvirginity.TButTwhenThavingTse
xualTrelationshipTtheTgirlsTshouldTprotectTthemselvesTfromTconceivingTandTgettingTvenerealTdiseases."
TheseTremarksTwereTpublishedTalongsideTaTsurvey,TtheTrelevantTextractsTofTwhichTareTstatedTbelow:
"WillTyouTmarryTaTpersonTwhoThadTrelationshipTwithTothers?

18%T-TYes,T71%T-TNoTIsTitTnecessaryTtoTbeTaTvirginTtillTtheTtimeTofTmarriage?

65%T-TYes,T26%T-
TNoTTheTremainingTpercentageTofTpeopleTsaid:TDoTnotTknow/CannotTsayT82%TwomenThadTgivenTanTopinionTthatTaTgirlTsho
uldTbeTaTvirginTatTtheTtimeTofTmarriage."

4.TSubsequently,T`DhinaTThanthi',TaTTamilTdailyTcarriedTaTnewsTitemTonT24.9.2005TwhichTfirstTquotedTtheTappellant'sTstateme
ntTpublishedTinT`IndiaTToday'TandTthenTopinedTthatTTitThadTcreatedTaTsensationTallToverTtheTStateTofTTamilTNadu.TThisTnew
sTitemTalsoTreportedTaTconversationTbetweenTtheTappellantTandTaTcorrespondentTfromT`DhinaTThanthi',TwhereinTtheTappellantT
hadTpurportedlyTdefendedTherTviewsTinTtheTfollowingTmannerT(roughTtranslationTreproducedTbelow):

"TheTpersonsTwhoTareTprotestingTagainstTmyTinterview,TareTtalkingTaboutTwhichTculture?
TIsTthereTanyoneTwhoTdoesTnotTknowTaboutTsexTinTTamilTNadu?TIsTthereTanyoneTwhoTdoesTnotTknowTaboutTAIDS?
THowTmanyTmenTandTwomenTdoTnotThaveTsexTbeforeTmarriage?
WhyTareTpeopleTsayingTthatTafterTtheTmarriageTtheThusbandTandTwifeTshouldTbeThonestTandTfaithfulTtoTeachTother?
TOneTshouldThaveTconfidenceTinTtheTother,TonlyTtoTavoidTtheTmistakesTfromTbeingTcommitted.TIfTtheThusband,TwithoutTtheTk
nowledgeTofTtheTwife,TorTtheTwife,TwithoutTtheTknowledgeTofTtheThusband,ThaveTsexTwithTotherTpersons,TifTaTdiseaseTisTcau
sedTthroughTthat,TtheTsameTwillTaffectTbothTtheTpersons.TItTwillTalsoTaffectTtheTchildren.TOnlyTbecauseTofTthis,TtheyTareTsayi
ngTlikeTthat."

However,TsoonTafterTtheTpublicationTofTtheTaboveTmentionedTnewsTitem,TtheTappellantThadTsentTaTlegalTnoticeTdatedT2.10.200
5TtoTtheTEditorTofT`DhinaTThanthi',TcategoricallyTdenyingTthatTsheThadTmadeTtheTstatementTquotedTabove.TInTfact,TtheTappell
antThadTaskedTtheTpublisherTtoTwithdrawTtheTnews-
itemTcarriedTonT24.9.2005TandTtoTpublishTherTobjectionsTprominentlyTwithinTthreeTdaysTofTreceiptTofTtheTnotice,TfailingTwhic
hTtheTappellantTwouldTbeTconstrainedTtoTtakeTappropriateTlegalTactionTagainstTtheTnewspaper.

5.TAsToutlinedTabove,TtheTpublicationTofTtheseTstatementsTinT`IndiaTToday'TandT`DhinaTThanthi'TdrewTcriticismTfromTsomeTqu
artersTandTseveralTpersonsTandTorganisationsTfiledTcriminalTcomplaintsTagainstTtheTappellant.TForTinstance,TtheTcomplainantTinT
theTappealTarisingToutTofTSLPT(Crl)TNo.T4010TofT2008ThasTstatedTthatTsheTisTaTmarriedTwomanTwhoTisTtheTTreasurerTofTa
TDistrict-
levelTunitTofTtheTPattaliTMakalTKatchiT[hereinafterT`PMK'],TaTpoliticalTparty,TandTisTalsoTinvolvedTinTsocialTservice.TSheThad
TquotedTsomeTpartsTofTtheTstatementsTpublishedTinT`IndiaTToday'TandT`DhinaTThanthi'TtoTallegeTthatTtheTappellant'sTinterview
ThadTbroughtTgreatTshameTonTherTsinceTitThadTsuggestedTthatTwomenTofTherTprofileThadTengagedTinTpremaritalTsex.TTheTco
mplainantTfurtherTallegedTthatTtheTappellant'sTremarksThadTcausedTmentalTharassmentTtoTaTlargeTsectionTofTwomen,TandTinTpa
rticularTwomenTfromTTamilTNaduTwereTbeingTlookedTdownTuponTwithTdisrespectTandTcontempt.

6.TInTtheTappealTarisingToutTofTSLPT(Crl.)T4764TofT2008,TtheTcomplainantTisTaTmaleTadvocateTwhoTisTaTDistrictTSecretaryTo
fTtheTPMKTforTSalemTDistrict.TInThisTcomplaint,TthereTisTnoTdirectTreferenceTtoTtheTnews-
itemTpublishedTinT`DhinaTThanthi'TonT24.9.2005.TInsteadTtheTcomplainantThasTstatedTthatTheTfoundTsecond-
handTaccountsTofTtheTsameTtoTbeTquiteTshockingTsinceTtheTappellantThadTquestionedTtheTneedTforTwomenTtoTmaintainTtheirT
virginityTorTchastity.TItTwasTallegedTthatTtheseTremarksTwereTanTabuseTagainstTtheTdignityTofTtheTTamilTwomenTandTthatTthe
yThadTgrosslyTaffectedTandTruinedTtheTcultureTandTmoralityTofTtheTpeopleTofTtheTState.TItTwasTfurtherTsubmittedTthatTtheseTs
tatementsTcouldTpersuadeTpeopleTtoTinvolveTthemselvesTinTunnaturalTcrimesTandTthatTtheTappellant'sTactsTamountedTtoTcommis
sionTofToffencesTpunishableTunderTSectionsT499,T500,T504,T505(1)
(b)TandT509TIPCTreadTwithTSectionT3TandT4TofTActT1986.TSimilarly,TinTtheTappealTarisingToutTofTSLPT(Crl.)T6127TofT2008,
TtheTcomplainantTisTaTladyTadvocateTwhoThasTbeenTpracticingTinTtheTTrichyTDistrictTCourtsTforTmoreTthanT10Tyears.TSheTha
sTquotedTsomeTportionsTfromTtheTstatementsTpublishedTinT`IndiaTToday'TandT`DhinaTThanthi'TtoTsubmitTthatTtheTappellant'sTac
tsTwereTpunishableTunderTSectionsT292,T500,T504,T505(1)(b)TandT(c),T505(2)TandT509TIPCreadTwithTSectionT6TofTActT1986.

7.TLikewise,TinTtheTappealTarisingToutTofTSLPT(Crl.)T6259TofT2008,TtheTcomplainantThasTstatedTthatTsheTisTaTmarriedTwoma
nTbelongingTtoTaTreputedTfamilyTandTthatTsheTisTservingTasTtheTPresidentTofTtheTDistrictTMagalirTAssociationTofTtheTPMKT(i
nTThiruvarur)TandTrenderingTsocialTservice.TInTherTcomplaint,TsomeTpartsTofTtheTappellant'sTstatementsThaveTbeenTquotedTtoTa
llegeTthatTsheThadTsufferedTgreatTmentalTagonyTandTshameTsinceTitTwasTsuggestedTthatTallTwomenTinTTamilTNaduThadTlostTt
heirTvirginityTbeforeTmarriage.TInTthisTrespect,TtheTcomplainantThasTallegedTthatTtheTappellantThadTcommittedToffencesTpunisha
bleTunderTSectionsT499,T500,T504,T505(1)
(b)TandT509TIPCTreadTwithTSectionT6TofTActT1986.TItTisTnoteworthyTthatTinTmostTofTtheTotherTcasesTfiledTinTvariousTdistric
tsTofTTamilTNadu,TtheTcomplainantsTareTfunctionariesTofTtheTPMKTandTsimilarTallegationsThaveTbeenTlevelledTagainstTtheTapp
ellant.TOddlyTenough,ToneTofTtheTcomplaintsThadTevenTbeenTfiledTinTIndore,TMadhyaTPradesh.

8.TAsTmentionedTearlier,TtheTappellantTapproachedTtheTHighTCourtTofTMadrasTtoTseekTquashingTofTallTtheTcriminalTproceedin
gsTinstitutedTagainstTherTinTthisTconnection.TInTitsTjudgmentTdatedT30.4.2008,TtheTHighTCourtTrefusedTtoTquashTtheTproceedin
gsTbyTexercisingTitsTinherentTpowersTunderTSectionT482Cr.PC,TonTtheTpremiseTthatTtheTrelevantTconsiderationsTinTthisTcaseTw
ereTquestionsTofTfactTwhichTwereTbestTleftTtoTbeTdeterminedTbyTaTtrialTjudge.TTheTHighTCourtTnotedTthatTtwoTbasicTquestio
nsTwereTinvolvedTinTtheTcase.TFirstly,TwhetherTtheTappellantTcouldTclaimTanyTofTtheTrecognisedTdefencesTagainstTtheTallegatio
nsTofThavingTcommittedTdefamation,TasTcontemplatedTbyTSectionT499TIPC.TSecondly,TwhetherTtheTcomplainantsTcouldTatTallTb
eTdescribedTasT`aggrievedTpersons'TwithinTtheTmeaningTofSectionT199TCr.PCTsinceTthatTwasTlinkedTtoTtheTquestionTofTwhethe
rTtheTcomplaintsThadTbeenTmadeTinTaTbonaTfideTmanner.TTheTHighTCourtTthoughtTitTfitTtoTleaveTbothTtheseTquestionsTforTc
onsiderationTbyTaTtrialTjudge,TandTinTaTpartialTreprieveTtoTtheTappellantTitTwasTdirectedTthatTallTtheTcriminalTproceedingsTpen
dingTagainstTherTbeTconsolidatedTandTtriedTbyTtheTChiefTMetropolitanTMagistrateTatTEgmore,TChennai.THowever,TtheTHighTCo
urtTalsoTproceededTtoTrecordTitsTownTviewsTregardingTtheTcontentsTofTtheTappellant'sTstatementsTandTevenTmadeTsomeTstrong
TobservationsTcondemningTtheTincidenceTofTpremaritalTsexTandTlive-inTrelationships.

9.TInTtheTproceedingsTbeforeTus,TMs.TPinkiTAnand,TlearnedTcounselTappearingTforTtheTappellant,ThasTsubmittedTthatTtheTcompl
ainantsT(respondentsTinTtheseTappeals)TwereTnotT`personsTaggrieved'TwithinTtheTmeaningTofTSectionT199(1)
(b)TCr.PCTandThenceTtheyTwereTnotTcompetentTtoTinstituteTprivateTcomplaintsTforTtheTallegedToffences.TItTwasTstatedTthatTthe
TappellantThadTmadeTaTfairTandTreasonableTcommentTTasTaTprudentTperson,TandTtherefore,TtheTopinionTexpressedTbyTtheTapp
ellantTisTfullyTprotectedTunderTArticleT19(1)
(a)TofTtheTConstitutionTofTIndiaTwhichTguaranteesTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTtoTallTcitizens.TFurthermore,TitTwasTcont
endedTthatTevenTifTtheTallegationsTinTtheTvariousTcomplaintsTareTtakenTonTtheirTfaceTvalueTandTacceptedTinTtheirTentirety,Tthe
TsameTdoTnotTdiscloseTanyToffenceTwhatsoeverTandTtheTopinionTofTtheTappellantTdoesTnot,TbyTanyTmeans,TfallTwithinTtheTa
mbitTofTSectionsT499,T500TandT505IPCTorTSectionsT3TandT4TofTActT1986.TItTwasTalsoTcanvassedTthatTtheTcriminalTproceedi
ngsThadTbeenTinstitutedTinTaTmalaTfideTmannerTbyTtheTworkersTofTaTparticularTpoliticalTparty,TwithTtheTintentionTofTvilifying
TtheTappellantTandTgainingTundueTpoliticalTmileage.

10.TInTresponse,TSh.TKanagaraj,TSr.TAdv.,TSh.TS.TGowthaman,TAdv.TandTSh.TB.TBalaji,TAdv.TappearingTforTtheTrespondents,T
submittedTthatTsinceTtheTHighTCourtThasTrefusedTtoTquashTtheTcomplaints,TthisTCourtTshouldTnotTinterfereTeitherTsinceTtheTco
mplaintsTrequireTdeterminationTofTfactualTcontroversiesTthatTareTbestTleftTtoTbeTdecidedTbyTaTcourtTofTfirstTinstance.TTheyTha
veTassertedTthatTtheTcomplainantsTinTtheseTcasesTareTmostlyTwomenTbelongingTtoTTamilTNadu,TwhoTwereTpersonallyTaggrieve
dTbyTtheTappellant'sTremarks.TItTwasTarguedTthatTtheTendorsementTofTpre-
maritalTsexTbyTaTprominentTpersonTsuchTasTtheTappellantTwouldThaveTaTmorallyTcorruptiveTeffectTonTtheTmindsTofTyoungTpe
ople.THerTstatementTwouldTdefinitelyTobscureTsomeTbasicTmoralTvaluesTandTexposeTyoungTpeopleTtoTbizarreTideasTaboutTprem
aritalTsex,TtherebyTleadingTtoTdeviantTbehaviourTwhichTwouldTadverselyTaffectTpublicTnotionsTofTmorality.TItTwasTcontendedTt
hatTtheTconstitutionalTprotectionTforTspeechTandTexpressionTisTnotTabsoluteTandTthatTitTisTsubjectTtoTreasonableTrestrictionsTba
sedTonTconsiderationsTofT`publicTorder',T`defamation',T`decencyTandTmorality'TamongTotherTgrounds.

11.TWeThaveTconsideredTtheTrivalTsubmissionsTmadeTbyTlearnedTcounselTforTtheTpartiesTandTperusedTtheTrecord.

12.TInTorderTtoTdecideTthisTcase,TitTwillTnotTbeTproperTforTusTtoTeitherTcondemnTorTendorseTtheTviewsTexpressedTbyTtheTap
pellant.TWhenTtheTcriminalTlawTmachineryTisTsetTinTmotion,TtheTsuperiorTcourtsTshouldTnotTmechanicallyTuseTeitherTtheirTinhe
rentTpowersTorTwritTjurisdictionTtoTinterveneTwithTtheTprocessTofTinvestigationTandTtrial.THowever,TsuchTformsTofTjudicialTrev
iewTcanTbeTexercisedTtoTpreventTaTmiscarriageTofTjusticeTorTtoTcorrectTsomeTgraveTerrorsTthatTmightThaveTbeenTcommittedTb
yTtheTsubordinateTcourts.T[SeeTdecisionTofTthisTCourtTin:TM/sTPepsiTFoodsTLtd.T&TAnr.TVs.TSpecialTJudicialTMagistrateT&TO
rs.,TAIRT1998TSCT128].TInTtheTpast,TthisTCourtThasTevenTlaidTdownTsomeTguidelinesTforTtheTexerciseTofTinherentTpowerTby
TtheTHighTCourtsTtoTquashTcriminalTproceedingsTinTsuchTexceptionalTcases.TWeTcanTreferTtoTtheTdecisionTinTStateTofTHaryan
aT&TOrs.TVs.TCh.TBhajanTLalT&TOrs.,TAIRT1992TSCT604,TtoTtakeTnoteTofTtwoTsuchTguidelinesTwhichTareTrelevanceTforTth
eTpresentTcaseT:-

"(1).TWhereTtheTallegationsTmadeTinTtheTFirstTInformationTReportTorTtheTcomplaint,TevenTifTtheyTareTtakenTatTtheirTfaceTvalu
eTandTacceptedTinTtheirTentiretyTdoTnotTprimaTfacieTconstituteTanyToffenceTorTmakeToutTaTcaseTagainstTtheTaccused.
...T(7).TWhereTaTcriminalTproceedingTisTmanifestlyTattendedTwithTmalaTfideTand/orTwhereTtheTproceedingTisTmaliciouslyTinstitu
tedTwithTanTulteriorTmotiveTforTwreakingTvengeanceTonTtheTaccusedTandTwithTaTviewTtoTspiteThimTdueTtoTprivateTandTperso
nalTgrudge."

13.TItTisTofTcourseTaTsettledTlegalTpropositionTthatTinTaTcaseTwhereTthereTisTsufficientTevidenceTagainstTtheTaccused,TwhichT
mayTestablishTtheTchargeTagainstThim/her,TtheTproceedingsTcannotTbeTquashed.TInTM/sTMedchlTChemicalsT&TPharmaTLtd.TVs.
TM/sTBiologicalTE.TLtd.T&TOrs.,TAIRT2000TSCT1869,TthisTCourtTobservedTthatTaTcriminalTcomplaintTorTaTchargeTsheetTcanT
onlyTbeTquashedTbyTsuperiorTcourtsTinTexceptionalTcircumstances,TsuchTasTwhenTtheTallegationsTinTaTcomplaintTdoTnotTsuppor
tTaTprimaTfacieTcaseTforTanToffence.TSimilarly,TinTM/sTZanduTPharmaceuticalTWorksTLtd.T&TOrs.TVs.TMohd.TSharafulTHaque
T&TOrs.,TAIRT2005TSCT9,TthisTCourtThasTheldTthatTcriminalTproceedingsTcanTbeTquashedTbutTsuchTaTpowerTisTtoTbeTexerci
sedTsparinglyTandTonlyTwhenTsuchTanTexerciseTisTjustifiedTbyTtheTtestsTthatThaveTbeenTspecificallyTlaidTdownTinTtheTstatutor
yTprovisionsTthemselves.TItTwasTfurtherTobservedTthatTsuperiorTcourtsT"mayTexamineTtheTquestionsTofTfact"TwhenTtheTuseTofT
theTcriminalTlawTmachineryTcouldTbeTinTtheTnatureTofTanTabuseTofTauthorityTorTwhenTitTcouldTresultTinTinjustice.TInTShakso
nTBelthissorTVs.TStateTofTKeralaT&TAnr.,T(2009)T14TSCCT466,TthisTCourtTreliedTonTearlierTprecedentsTtoTclarifyTthatTaTHigh
TCourtTwhileTexercisingTitsTinherentTjurisdictionTshouldTnotTinterfereTwithTaTgenuineTcomplaintTbutTitTshouldTcertainlyTnotThe
sitateTtoTinterveneTinTappropriateTcases.TInTfactTitTwasTobserved:

"OneTofTtheTparamountTdutiesTofTtheTsuperiorTcourtsTisTtoTseeTthatTaTpersonTwhoTisTapparentlyTinnocentTisTnotTsubjectedTto
TprosecutionTandThumiliationTonTtheTbasisTofTaTfalseTandTwhollyTuntenableTcomplaint."

14.TThereTcanTbeTnoTquarrelTaboutTthisTCourt'sTcompetenceTtoTquashTcriminalTproceedingsTpendingTbeforeTtheTsubordinateTco
urts.THowever,TthisTpowerTmustTbeTexercisedTsparinglyTandTwithTcircumspection.TInTlightTofTtheTpositionTsummarizedTabove,T
weTcanTexamineTtheTpresentTcaseTwithTtwoTconsiderationsTinTmind,TnamelyTwhetherTtheTallegationsTmadeTagainstTtheTappellan
tTsupportTaTprimaTfacieTcaseTforTtheToffencesTmentionedTinTtheTrespectiveTcomplaints,TandTwhetherTtheTcomplaintsTwereTmad
eTinTaTbonaTfideTmanner.

15.TPerusalTofTtheTcomplaintsTrevealsTthatTmostTofTtheTallegationsThaveTpertainedTtoToffencesTsuchTasTdefamationT(SectionsT4
99,T501TandT502TIPC),TobscenityT(SectionT292TIPC),TindecentTrepresentationTofTwomenTandTincitementTamongTothers.TAtTthe
Toutset,TweTareTofTtheTviewTthatTthereTisTabsolutelyTnoTbasisTforTproceedingTagainstTtheTappellantTinTrespectTofTsomeTofTth
eTallegedToffences.TForTexample,TtheTAct,T1986TwasTenactedTtoTpunishTpublishersTandTadvertisersTwhoTknowinglyTdisseminate
TmaterialsTthatTportrayTwomenTinTanTindecentTmanner.THowever,TthisTstatuteTcannotTbeTusedTinTtheTpresentTcaseTwhereTtheT
appellantThasTmerelyTreferredTtoTtheTincidenceTofTpre-
maritalTsexTinTherTstatementTwhichTwasTpublishedTbyTaTnewsTmagazineTandTsubsequentlyTreportedTinTanotherTperiodical.TItTw
ouldTdefyTlogicTtoTinvokeTtheToffencesTmentionedTinTthisTstatuteTtoTproceedTagainstTtheTappellant,TwhoTcannotTbeTdescribedT
asTanT`advertiser'TorT`publisher'TbyTanyTmeans.TSimilarly,TSectionT509TIPCTcriminalisesTaT`word,TgestureTorTactTintendedTtoTi
nsultTtheTmodestyTofTaTwoman'TandTinTorderTtoTestablishTthisToffenceTitTisTnecessaryTtoTshowTthatTtheTmodestyTofTaTparticu
larTwomanTorTaTreadilyTidentifiableTgroupTofTwomenThasTbeenTinsultedTbyTaTspokenTword,TgestureTorTphysicalTact.TClearlyTt
hisToffenceTcannotTbeTmadeToutTwhenTtheTcomplainants'TgrievanceTisTwithTtheTpublicationTofTwhatTtheTappellantThadTstatedTi
nTaTwrittenTform.TLikewise,TsomeTofTtheTcomplaintsThaveTmentionedToffencesTsuchTasTthoseTcontemplatedTbyTSectionT153AT
IPCT(`PromotingTenmityTbetweenTdifferentTgroupsTetc.,')TwhichThaveTnoTapplicationTtoTtheTpresentTcaseTsinceTtheTappellantTw
asTnotTspeakingTonTbehalfTofToneTgroupTandTtheTcontentTofTherTstatementTwasTnotTdirectedTagainstTanyTparticularTgroupTeith
er.

16.TComingTtoTtheTsubstanceTofTtheTcomplaints,TweTfailTtoTseeThowTtheTappellant'sTremarksTamountTtoT`obscenity'TinTtheTco
ntextTofTSectionT292TIPC.TClauseT(1)TtoTSectionT292TstatesTthatTtheTpublicationTofTaTbook,Tpamphlet,Tpaper,Twriting,Tdrawin
g,Tpainting,Trepresentation,Tfigure,Tetc.,TwillTbeTdeemedTobscene,TifT–

7TItTisTlasciviousT(i.e.TexpressingTorTcausingTsexualTdesire)TorTT7TAppealsTtoTtheTprurientTinterestT(i.e.TexcessiveTinterestTinT
sexualTmatters),TorT7TIfTitsTeffect,TorTtheTeffectTofTanyToneTofTtheTitems,TtendsTtoTdepraveTandTcorruptTpersons,TwhoTareTli
kelyTtoTread,Tsee,TorThearTtheTmatterTcontainedTinTsuchTmaterials.

InTtheTpast,TauthorsTasTwellTasTpublishersTofTartisticTandTliteraryTworksThaveTbeenTputTtoTtrialTandTpunishedTunderTthisTsecti
on.TInTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTappellantTtakesTfullTresponsibilityTforTherTstatementTwhichTwasTpublishedTinT`IndiaTToday',TaTlea
dingTnewsTmagazine.TItTwouldTbeTaptTtoTreferTbackTtoTtheTdecisionTofTthisTCourtTinTRanjitTD.TUdeshiTVs.TStateTofTMahara
shtra,TAIRT1965TSCT881,TwhereinTitTwasTheldTthatTifTaTmereTreferenceTtoTsexTbyTitselfTisTconsideredTobscene,TnoTbooksTca
nTbeTsoldTexceptTthoseTwhichTareTpurelyTreligious.TItTwasTobservedTthatTinTtheTfieldTofTartTandTcinema,TtheTadolescentTisTs
hownTsituationsTwhichTevenTaTquarterTofTaTcenturyTagoTwouldTbeTconsideredTderogatoryTtoTpublicTmorality,TbutThavingTregar
dTtoTchangedTconditions,TtheTsameTareTtakenTforTgrantedTwithoutTinTanyTwayTtendingTtoTdebaseTorTdebauchTtheTmind.TWhat
TisTtoTbeTconsideredTisTwhetherTaTclassTofTpersons,TnotTanTisolatedTcase,TintoTwhoseThandsTtheTbook,TarticleTorTstoryTfallsT
willTsufferTinTtheirTmoralToutlookTorTbecomeTdepravedTbyTreadingTitTorTmightThaveTimpureTandTlecherousTthoughtsTarousedT
inTtheirTminds.TEvenTthoughTtheTdecisionTinTthatTcaseThadTupheldTaTconvictionTforTtheTsaleTofTaTliteraryTwork,TitTbecameTc
learTthatTreferencesTtoTsexTcannotTbeTconsideredTobsceneTinTtheTlegalTsenseTwithoutTexaminingTtheTcontextTofTtheTreference.

17.TThisTpositionTwasTlaterTclarifiedTinTSamareshTBoseTVs.TAmalTMitra,TAIRT1986TSCT967,TwhereTtheTCourtTheldTthatTinTj
udgingTtheTquestionTofTobscenity,TtheTjudgeTinTtheTfirstTplaceTshouldTtryTtoTplaceThimselfTinTtheTpositionTofTtheTauthorTand
TfromTtheTviewpointTofTtheTauthor,TtheTjudgeTshouldTtryTtoTunderstandTwhatTisTitTthatTtheTauthorTseeksTtoTconveyTandTwhet
herTwhatTtheTauthorTconveysThasTanyTliteraryTandTartisticTvalue.TJudgeTshouldTthereafterTplaceThimselfTinTtheTpositionTofTaTr
eaderTofTeveryTageTgroupTinTwhoseThandsTtheTbookTisTlikelyTtoTfallTandTshouldTtryTtoTappreciateTwhatTkindTofTpossibleTinf
luenceTtheTbookTisTlikelyTtoThaveTonTtheTmindsTofTtheTreader.
18.TThereTareTnumerousTotherTdecisions,TbothTfromTIndiaTandTforeignTcountryTwhichTmandateTthatT`obscenity'TshouldTbeTgaug
edTwithTrespectTtoTcontemporaryTcommunityTstandardsTthatTreflectTtheTsensibilitiesTasTwellTasTtheTtoleranceTlevelsTofTanTaver
ageTreasonableTperson.TOwingTtoTtheTclearformulationTonTthisTissueTitTisTnotTnecessaryTforTusTtoTdiscussTtheseTprecedentsTat
Tlength.TInTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTappellantThasTmerelyTreferredTtoTtheTincreasingTincidenceTofTpre-
maritalTsexTandTcalledTforTitsTsocietalTacceptance.TAtTnoTpointTofTtimeTappellantTdescribedTtheTsexualTactTorTsaidTanythingTt
hatTcouldTarouseTsexualTdesiresTinTtheTmindTofTaTreasonableTandTprudentTreader.TFurthermore,TtheTstatementThasTbeenTmadeT
inTtheTcontextTofTaTsurveyTwhichThasTtouchedTonTnumerousTaspectsTrelatingTtoTtheTsexualThabitsTofTpeopleTinTbigTcities.TEv
enTthoughTthisTsurveyTwasTnotTpartTofTaTliteraryTorTartisticTwork,TitTwasTpublishedTinTaTnewsTmagazineTtherebyTservingTthe
TpurposeTofTcommunicatingTcertainTideasTandTopinionsTonTtheTabove-
TmentionedTsubject.TInTtheTlongTrun,TsuchTcommunicationTpromptsTaTdialogueTwithinTsocietyTwhereinTpeopleTcanTchooseTtoTe
itherTdefendTorTquestionTtheTexistingTsocialTmores.TItTisTdifficultTtoTappreciateTtheTclaimTthatTtheTstatementsTpublishedTasTpar
tTofTtheTsurveyTwereTinTtheTnatureTofTobsceneTcommunications.

19.TWeTmustTalsoTrespondTtoTtheTclaimTthatTtheTappellant'sTremarksTcouldThaveTtheTeffectTofTmisguidingTyoungTpeopleTbyTe
ncouragingTthemTtoTindulgeTinTpremaritalTsex.TThisTclaimTisTaTlittleTfar-
fetchedTsinceTtheTappellantThadTnotTdirectedTherTremarksTtowardsTanyTindividualTorTgroupTinTparticular.TAllTthatTtheTappellan
tTdidTwasTtoTurgeTtheTsocietalTacceptanceTofTtheTincreasingTinstancesTofTpremaritalsexTwhenTbothTpartnersTareTcommittedTtoT
eachTother.TThisTcannotTbeTconstruedTasTanTopenTendorsementTofTsexualTactivitiesTofTallTkinds.TIfTitTwereTtoTbeTconsideredT
so,TtheTcriminalTlawTmachineryTwouldThaveTtoTtakeTonTtheTunenforceableTtaskTofTpunishingTallTwriters,TjournalistsTorTotherTs
uchTpersonsTforTmerelyTreferringTtoTanyTmatterTconnectedTwithTsexTinTpublishedTmaterials.TForTtheTsakeTofTargument,TevenTi
fTitTwereTtoTbeTassumedTthatTtheTappellant'sTstatementsTcouldTencourageTsomeTpeopleTtoTengageTinTpremaritalTsex,TnoTlegalT
injuryThasTbeenTshownTsinceTtheTlatterTisTnotTanToffence.

20.T"Offence"TmeansT`anTactTorTinstanceTofToffending';T`commitTanTillegalTact'TandTillegalTmeans,T`contraryTtoTorTforbiddenT
byTlaw'.

"Offence"ThasTtoTbeTreadTandTunderstoodTinTtheTcontextTasTitThasTbeenTprescribedTunderTtheTprovisionsTofTSectionsT40,T41T
andT42TIPCTwhichTcoverTtheToffencesTpunishableTunderTI.P.C.TorTunderTspecialTorTlocalTlawTorTasTdefinedTunderTSectionT2(
n)TCr.P.C.TorTSectionT3(38)TofTtheTGeneralTClausesTAct,T1897T(videTProprietaryTArticlesTTradeTAssociationTVs.TAttorneyTGen
eralTforTCanadaTAIRT1931TPCT94;TThomasTDanaTVs.TStateTofTPunjabTAIRT1959TSCT375;TJawalaTRamT&TOrs.TVs.TTheTSta
teTofTPepsuT(nowTPunjab)T&TOrs.TAIRT1962TSCT1246;TandTStandardTCharteredTBankT&TOrs.TVs.TDirectorateTofTEnforcemen
tT&TOrs.TAIRT2006TSCT1301).

21.TWhileTitTisTtrueTthatTtheTmainstreamTviewTinTourTsocietyTisTthatTsexualTcontactTshouldTtakeTplaceTonlyTbetweenTmaritalT
partners,TthereTisTnoTstatutoryToffenceTthatTtakesTplaceTwhenTadultsTwillinglyTengageTinTsexualTrelationsToutsideTtheTmaritalTs
etting,TwithTtheTexceptionTofT`adultery'TasTdefinedTunderTSectionT497TIPC.TAtTthisTjuncture,TweTmayTreferTtoTtheTdecisionTgi
venTbyTthisTCourtTinTLataTSinghTVs.TStateTofTU.P.T&TAnr.,TAIRT2006TSCT2522,TwhereinTitTwasTobservedTthatTaTlive-
inTrelationshipTbetweenTtwoTconsentingTadultsTofTheterogenicTsexTdoesTnotTamountTtoTanyToffenceT(withTtheTobviousTexceptio
nTofT`adultery'),TevenTthoughTitTmayTbeTperceivedTasTimmoral.TATmajorTgirlTisTfreeTtoTmarryTanyoneTsheTlikesTorT"liveTwit
hTanyoneTsheTlikes".TInTthatTcase,TtheTpetitionerTwasTaTwomanTwhoThadTmarriedTaTmanTbelongingTtoTanotherTcasteTandThad
TbegunTcohabitationTwithThim.TTheTpetitioner'sTbrotherThadTfiledTaTcriminalTcomplaintTaccusingTherThusbandTofToffencesTunde
rTSectionsT366TandT368TIPC,TtherebyTleadingTtoTtheTcommencementTofTtrialTproceedings.TThisTCourtThadTentertainedTaTwritT
petitionTandTgrantedTreliefTbyTquashingTtheTcriminalTtrial.TFurthermore,TtheTCourtThadTnotedTthatT`noToffenceTwasTcommitted
TbyTanyTofTtheTaccusedTandTtheTwholeTcriminalTcaseTinTquestionTisTanTabuseTofTtheTprocessTofTtheTCourt'.

22.TItTwouldTalsoTbeTinstructiveTtoTreferTtoTaTdecisionTofTtheTHouseTofTLordsT(U.K.)TinTGillickTVs.TWestTNorfolkTandTWis
bechTAreaTHealthTAuthority,T(1985)T3TAllTERT402.TInTthatTcase,TmotherTofTaTteenageTgirlThadTquestionedTtheTdecisionTofTt
heTNationalTHealthTServiceT(NHS)TtoTissueTaTcircularTtoTlocalTareaThealthTauthoritiesTwhichTcontainedTguidelinesTforTrenderin
gTadviceTaboutTcontraceptiveTmethodsTtoTgirlsTunderTtheTageTofT16Tyears.TObjectionsTwereTraisedTagainstTthisTcircularTonTthe
TgroundTthatTtheThealthTserviceTauthoritiesThadTnoTcompetenceTtoTrenderTsuchTadviceTandTthatTdoingTsoTcouldTadverselyTaffe
ctTyoungTchildrenTwhileTatTtheTsameTtimeTinterferingTwithTparentalTautonomyTinTtheTmatterTofTbringingTupTchildren.TTheTma
jorityTdecisionTrejectedTtheTchallengeTagainstTtheTcircularTbyTclarifyingTthatTtheTrenderingTofTadviceTaboutTcontraceptiveTmetho
dsTandTtheirTprovisionTbyTmedicalTprofessionalsTdidTnotTamountTtoTaTsexualToffence.TAmongTtheTseveralTaspectsTdiscussedTin
TthatTcase,TitTwasTheldTthatTtheTprovisionTofTinformationTaboutTcontraceptiveTfacilitiesTtoTgirlsTunderTtheTageTofT16TyearsTco
uldTnotTbeTopposedTonTtheTgroundTthatTsuchTinformationTcouldTpotentiallyTencourageTmoreTsexualTactivityTbyTtheTteenagers.T
ForTtheTpurposeTofTtheTpresentTcase,TthisTdecisionTsupportsTtheTreasoningTthatTweTmustTfullyTunderstandTtheTcontextTandTthe
TpurposeTforTwhichTreferencesTtoTsexThaveTbeenTmadeTinTanyTgivenTsetting.

23.TWeTnowTturnTtoTtheTquestionTwhetherTtheTappellant'sTremarksTcouldTreasonablyTamountTtoToffenceTofTdefamationTasTdefi
nedTunderTSectionT499TIPC.TInTtheTimpugnedTjudgmentTdatedT30.4.2008,TtheTHighTCourtTobservedTthatTasTtoTwhetherTtheTap
pellantTcouldTclaimTaTdefenceTagainstTtheTallegationsTofTdefamationTwasTaTfactualTquestionTandTthusTwouldTbeTdecidedTbyTa
TtrialTCourt.THowever,TevenTbeforeTexaminingTwhetherTtheTappellantTcanTclaimTanyTofTtheTstatutoryTdefencesTinTthisTregard,T
theToperativeTquestionTisTwhetherTtheTallegationsTinTtheTimpugnedTcomplaintsTsupportTaTprimaTfacieTcaseTofTdefamationTinTth
eTfirstTplace.TItTisTourTconsideredTviewTthatTthereTisTnoTprimaTfacieTcaseTofTdefamationTinTtheTpresentTcase.TThisTwillTbeco
meTself-
TevidentTifTweTdrawTattentionTtoTtheTkeyTingredientsTofTtheoffenceTcontemplatedTbyTSectionT499TIPC,TwhichTreadsTasTfollow
s:

"499.TDefamation.-
TWhoever,TbyTwordsTeitherTspokenTorTintendedTtoTbeTread,TorTbyTsignsTorTbyTvisibleTrepresentations,TmakesTorTpublishesTan
yTimputationTconcerningTanyTpersonTintendingTtoTharm,TorTknowingTorThavingTreasonTtoTbelieveTthatTsuchTimputationTwillTha
rm,TtheTreputationTofTsuchTperson,TisTsaid,TexceptTinTtheTcasesThereinafterTexpected,TtoTdefameTthatTperson.
ExplanationT1.T-
TItTmayTamountTtoTdefamationTtoTimputeTanythingTtoTaTdeceasedTperson,TifTtheTimputationTwouldTharmTtheTreputationTofTth
atTpersonTifTliving,TandTisTintendedTtoTbeThurtfulTtoTtheTfeelingsTofThisTfamilyTorTotherTnearTrelatives.
ExplanationT2.T-
TItTmayTamountTtoTdefamationTtoTmakeTanTimputationTconcerningTaTcompanyTorTanTassociationTorTcollectionTofTpersonsTasT
such.
ExplanationT3.T-TAnTimputationTinTtheTformTofTanTalternativeTorTexpressedTironically,TmayTamountTtoTdefamation.
ExplanationT4.-
TNoTimputationTisTsaidTtoTharmTaTperson'sTreputation,TunlessTthatTimputationTdirectlyTorTindirectly,TinTtheTestimationTofTother
s,TlowersTtheTmoralTorTintellectualTcharacterTofTthatTperson,TorTlowersTtheTcharacterTofTthatTpersonTinTrespectTofThisTcasteTo
rTofThisTcalling,TorTlowersTtheTcreditTofTthatTperson,TorTcausesTitTtoTbeTbelievedTthatTtheTbodyTofTthatTpersonTisTinTaTloath
someTstate,TorTinTaTstateTgenerallyTconsideredTasTdisgraceful.T..."

(emphasisTsupplied)TTheTdefinitionTmakesTitTamplyTclearTthatTtheTaccusedTmustTeitherTintendTtoTharmTtheTreputationTofTaTpa
rticularTpersonTorTreasonablyTknowTthatThis/herTconductTcouldTcauseTsuchTharm.TExplanationT2TtoTSectionT499TfurtherTstatesT
thatT`ItTmayTamountTtoTdefamationTtoTmakeTanTimputationTconcerningTaTcompanyTorTanTassociationTorTcollectionTofTpersons
TasTsuch.'

24.TWithTregardTtoTtheTcomplaintsTinTquestion,TthereTisTneitherTanyTintentTonTpartTofTtheTappellantTtoTcauseTharmTtoTtheTre
putationTofTtheTcomplainantsTnorTcanTweTdiscernTanyTactualTharmTdoneTtoTtheirTreputation.TInTshort,TbothTtheTelementsTi.e.T
mensTreaTandTactusTreusTareTmissing.TAsTmentionedTearlier,TtheTappellant'sTstatementTpublishedTinT`IndiaTToday'T(inTSeptemb
erT2005)TisTaTratherTgeneralTendorsementTofTpremaritalTsexTandTherTremarksTareTnotTdirectedTatTanyTindividualTorTevenTatTa
T`companyTorTanTassociationTorTcollectionTofTpersons'.TItTisTdifficultTtoTfathomThowTtheTappellant'sTviewsTcanTbeTconstruedT
asTanTattackTonTtheTreputationTofTanyoneTinTparticular.TEvenTifTweTreferTtoTtheTremarksTpublishedTinT`DhinaTThanthi'T(dated
T24.9.2005)TwhichThaveTbeenTcategoricallyTdeniedTbyTtheTappellant,TthereTisTnoTdirectTattackTonTtheTreputationTofTanyoneTin
Tparticular.TInstead,TtheTpurportedTremarksTareTinTtheTnatureTofTrhetoricalTquestionsTwhereinTitTwasTaskedTifTpeopleTinTTamil
TNaduTwereTnotTawareTofTtheTincidenceTofTTsex.TEvenTifTweTconsiderTtheseTremarksTinTtheirTentirety,TnowhereThasTitTbeen
TsuggestedTthatTallTwomenTinTTamilTNaduThaveTengagedTinTpremaritalTsex.TThatTimputationTcanTonlyTbeTfoundTinTtheTcomp
laintsTthatTwereTfiledTbyTtheTvariousTrespondents.TItTisTaTclearTcaseTofTtheTcomplainantsTreadingTinTtooTmuchTintoTtheTappel
lant'sTremarks.

25.TThisTtakesTusTtoTtheTquestionTofTwhetherTtheTimpugnedTcomplaintsTwereTmadeTinTaTbonaTfideTmanner.TAsTweThaveTalre
adyTnoted,TmostTofTtheTcomplainantsTareTassociatedTwithTtheTPMK,TaTpoliticalTpartyTwhichTisTactiveTinTtheTStateTofTTamilT
Nadu.TThisTfactTdoesTaddTweightTtoTtheTsuggestionTthatTtheTimpugnedTcomplaintsThaveTbeenTfiledTwithTtheTintentionTofTgain
ingTundueTpoliticalTmileage.TItTmayTbeTreiteratedThereTthatTinTrespectTofTtheToffenceTofTdefamation,TSectionT199TCr.PCTman
datesTthatTtheTMagistrateTcanTtakeTcognizanceTofTtheToffenceTonlyTuponTreceivingTaTcomplaintTbyTaTpersonTwhoTisTaggrieve
d.TThisTlimitationTonTtheTpowerTtoTtakeTcognizanceTofTdefamationTservesTtheTrationalTpurposeTofTdiscouragingTtheTfilingTofTf
rivolousTcomplaintsTwhichTwouldTotherwiseTclogTtheTMagistrate'sTCourts.TThereTisTofTcourseTsomeTroomTforTcomplaintsTtoTbe
TbroughtTbyTpersonsTotherTthanTthoseTwhoTareTaggrieved,TforTinstanceTwhenTtheTaggrievedTpersonThasTpassedTawayTorTisTot
herwiseTunableTtoTinitiateTlegalTproceedings.THowever,TinTgivenTfactsTofTtheTpresentTcase,TweTareTunableTtoTseeThowTtheTco
mplainantsTcanTbeTproperlyTdescribedTasT`personsTaggrieved'TwithinTtheTmeaningTofTSectionT199(1)
(b)Cr.PC.TAsTexplainedTearlier,TthereTwasTnoTspecificTlegalTinjuryTcausedTtoTanyTofTtheTcomplainantsTsinceTtheTappellant'sTre
marksTwereTnotTdirectedTatTanyTindividualTorTaTreadilyTidentifiableTgroupTofTpeople.TInTM.S.TJayarajTVs.TCommissionerTofT
Excise,TKeralaT&TOrs.,T(2000)T7TSCCT552,TthisTCourtTobservedTasTunder:

"TheT`personTaggrieved'TmeansTaTpersonTwhoTisTwrongfullyTdeprivedTofThisTentitlementTwhichTheTisTlegallyTentitledTtoTreceiv
eTandTitTdoesTnotTincludeTanyTkindTofTdisappointmentTorTpersonalTinconvenience.T`PersonTaggrieved'TmeansTaTpersonTwhoTis
TinjuredTorToneTwhoTisTadverselyTaffectedTinTaTlegalTsense."

26.TWeTcanTalsoTapprovinglyTreferTtoTanTearlierTdecisionTofTthisTCourtTinTG.TNarasimhanT&TOrs.TVs.TT.V.TChokappa,TAIRT
1972TSCT2609.TInTthatTcaseTaTcontroversyThadTarisenTafterT`TheTHindu',TaTleadingTnewspaperThadTpublishedTaTreportTaboutT
aTresolutionTpassedTbyTtheTDravidaTKazhagham,TaTpoliticalTparty,TinTitsTconferenceTheldTonTJanuaryT23-
24,T1971.TAmongTotherTissues,TtheTresolutionTalsoTincludedTtheTfollowingTwords:
"ItTshouldTnotTbeTmadeTanToffenceTforTaTperson'sTwifeTtoTdesireTanotherTman."

TheTHindu,TinTitsTreport,TgaveTpublicityTtoTthisTresolutionTbyTusingTtheTfollowingTwords:

"TheTConferenceTpassedTaTresolutionTrequestingTtheTGovernmentTtoTtakeTsuitableTstepsTtoTseeTthatTcovetingTanotherTman'sTwif
eTisTnotTmadeTanToffenceTunderTtheTIndianTPenalTCode."

ATcomplaintTunderTSectionsT499,T500TandT501TIPCTwasTfiledTinTresponseTtoTthisTreport.TLikeTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTCourtTh
adTtoTconsiderTwhetherTtheTcomplainantThadTtheTproperTlegalTstandingTtoTbringTsuchTaTcomplaint.TTheTCourtTdidTexamineTSe
ctionT198TofTtheTCodeTofTCriminalTProcedure,T1898T(analogousTtoSectionT199TofTtheTCr.PC.T1973)TandTobservedTthatTtheTsai
dTprovisionTlaidTdownTanTexceptionTtoTtheTgeneralTruleTthatTaTcriminalTcomplaintTcanTbeTfiledTbyTanyoneTirrespectiveTofTwh
etherTheTisTanT"aggrievedTperson"TorTnot.TButTthereTisTaTdepartureTfromTthisTnormTinTsoTfarTasTtheTprovisionTpermitsTonlyT
anT"aggrievedTperson"TtoTmoveTtheTCourtTinTcaseTofTdefamation.TThisTsectionTisTmandatoryTandTitTisTaTsettledTlegalTproposi
tionTthatTifTaTMagistrateTwereTtoTtakeTcognizanceTofTtheToffenceTofTdefamationTonTaTcomplaintTfiledTbyToneTwhoTisTnotTan
T"aggrievedTperson",TtheTtrialTandTconvictionTofTanTaccusedTinTsuchTaTcaseTbyTtheTMagistrateTwouldTbeTvoidTandTillegal.TT
hisTCourtTfurtherTnotedTthatTtheTnews-
itemTinTquestionTdidTnotTmentionTanyTindividualTpersonTnorTdidTitTcontainTanyTdefamatoryTimputationTagainstTanyTindividual.
TAccordingly,TitTwasTheldTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTnotTaT`personTaggrieved'TwithinTtheTmeaningTofTSectionT198TCrPC,T189
8.TTheTCourtTalsoTtookTnoteTofTExplanationT2TtoTSectionT499TIPCTwhichTcontemplatesTdefamationTofT`aTcompanyTorTanTass
ociationTorTanyTcollectionTofTpersonsTasTsuch'.TUndoubtedly,TtheTexplanationTisTwideTbutTinTorderTtoTdemonstrateTtheToffence
TofTdefamation,TsuchTaTcollectionTofTpersonsTmustTbeTanTidentifiableTbodyTsoTthatTitTisTpossibleTtoTsayTwithTprecisionTthatT
aTgroupTofTparticularTpersons,TasTdistinguishedTfromTtheTrestTofTtheTcommunityTstoodTdefamed.TInTcaseTtheTidentityTofTtheTc
ollectionTofTpersonsTisTnotTestablishedTsoTasTtoTbeTrelatableTtoTtheTdefamatoryTwordsTorTimputations,TtheTcomplaintTisTnotTm
aintainable.TInTcaseTaTclassTisTmentioned,TifTsuchTaTclassTisTindefinite,TtheTcomplaintTcannotTbeTentertained.TFurthermore,TifTi
tTisTnotTpossibleTtoTascertainTtheTcompositionTofTsuchTaTclass,TtheTcriminalTprosecutionTcannotTproceed.

WhileTdecidingTtheTcase,TthisTCourtTplacedTrelianceTonTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTHouseTofTLordsTinTKnupfferTVs.TLondonTExpre
ssTNewspaperTLtd.T(1944)T1TALLTERT495,TwhereinTitThadTbeenTheldTthatTitTisTanTessentialTelementTofTtheTcauseTofTaction
TforTdefamationTthatTtheTwordsTcomplainedTofTshouldTbeTpublishedT"ofTtheTcomplainant/plaintiff".TWhereTheTisTnotTnamed,Tth
eTtestTwouldTbeTwhetherTtheTwordsTwouldTreasonablyTleadTpeopleTacquaintedTwithThimTtoTtheTconclusionTthatTheTwasTtheTp
ersonTreferredTto.

InTfact,TitTisTtheTreputationTofTanTindividualTpersonTwhichTmustTbeTinTquestionTandTonlyTsuchTaTpersonTcanTclaimTtoThaveT
"aTlegalTpegTforTaTjustifiableTclaimTtoThangTon".

27.TComingTbackTtoTtheTfactsTofTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTcomplainantsThaveTallegedTdefamationTinTrespectTofTimputationsTagain
stTtheTcharacterTofTTamil-
speakingTwomen,TwhichTcouldTperhapsTbeTviewedTasTaTclassTofTpersons.THowever,TweThaveTalreadyTexplained,TtheTappellant's
TremarksTdidTnotTsuggestTthatTallTwomenTinTTamilTNaduThaveTengagedTinTpremaritalTsex.TInTfactTherTstatementTinT`IndiaTT
oday'TdidTnotTreferTtoTanyTspecificTindividualTorTgroupTatTall.TIfTweTreferTtoToneTofTtheTquestionsTaskedTasTpartTofTtheTco
ncernedTsurvey,ToneTofTtheTanswersTshowsTthatT26%TofTtheTpeopleTwhoTrespondedTtoTtheTsameTdidTnotTthinkTthatTitTwasTn
ecessaryTforTwomenTtoTretainTtheirTvirginityTtillTtheTtimeTofTmarriage.TClearlyTtheTappellantTwasTnotTaloneTinTexpressingTsuc
hTaTview,TevenTthoughTitTmayTbeTunpopularTorTcontraryTtoTtheTmainstreamTsocialTpractices.TEvenTifTitTwereTassumedTthatTt
heTnews-
itemTcarriedTinT`DhinaTThanthi'TcausedTmentalTagonyTtoTsomeTsectionsTofTwomenTinTTamilTNadu,TthereTisTnoTprimaTfacieTc
aseTforTanyToffence.TWhatTisTinterestingTtoTnoteTisTthatTnotTallTofTtheTcomplainantsTareTwomen,TandTinTfactTalmostTallTtheT
complainantsTareTassociatedTwithTaTparticularTpoliticalTparty.

28.TWeTareTofTtheTviewTthatTtheTinstitutionTofTtheTnumerousTcriminalTcomplaintsTagainstTtheTappellantTwasTdoneTinTaTmalaT
fideTmanner.TInTorderTtoTpreventTtheTabuseTofTtheTcriminalTlawTmachinery,TweTareTthereforeTinclinedTtoTgrantTtheTreliefTsou
ghtTbyTtheTappellant.TInTsuchTcases,TtheTproperTcourseTforTMagistratesTisTtoTuseTtheirTstatutoryTpowersTtoTdirectTanTinvestiga
tionTintoTtheTallegationsTbeforeTtakingTcognizanceTofTtheToffencesTalleged.TItTisTnotTtheTtaskTofTtheTcriminalTlawTtoTpunishTi
ndividualsTmerelyTforTexpressingTunpopularTviews.TTheTthresholdTforTplacingTreasonableTrestrictionsTonTtheT`freedomTofTspeec
hTandTexpression'TisTindeedTaTveryThighToneTandTthereTshouldTbeTaTpresumptionTinTfavourTofTtheTaccusedTinTsuchTcases.TIt
TisTonlyTwhenTtheTcomplainantsTproduceTmaterialsTthatTsupportTaTprimaTfacieTcaseTforTaTstatutoryToffenceTthatTMagistratesTc
anTproceedTtoTtakeTcognizanceTofTtheTsame.TWeTmustTbeTmindfulTthatTtheTinitiationTofTaTcriminalTtrialTisTaTprocessTwhichT
carriesTanTimplicitTdegreeTofTcoercionTanditTTshouldTnotTbeTtriggeredTbyTfalseTandTfrivolousTcomplaints,TamountingTtoTharass
mentTandThumiliationTtoTtheTaccused.

29.TEvenTthoughTtheTconstitutionalTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpressionTisTnotTabsoluteTandTcanTbeTsubjectedTtoTreasonableTres
trictionsTonTgroundsTsuchTasT`decencyTandTmorality'TamongTothers,TweTmustTlayTstressTonTtheTneedTtoTtolerateTunpopularTvie
wsTinTtheTsocio-
culturalTspace.TTheTframersTofTourTConstitutionTrecognisedTtheTimportanceTofTsafeguardingTthisTrightTsinceTtheTfreeTflowTofTo
pinionsTandTideasTisTessentialTtoTsustainTtheTcollectiveTlifeTofTtheTcitizenry.TWhileTanTinformedTcitizenryTisTaTpre-
conditionTforTmeaningfulTgovernanceTinTtheTpoliticalTsense,TweTmustTalsoTpromoteTaTcultureTofTopenTdialogueTwhenTitTcomes
TtoTsocietalTattitudes.TAdmittedly,TtheTappellant'sTremarksTdidTprovokeTaTcontroversyTsinceTtheTacceptanceTofTpremaritalTsexTa
ndTlive-
inTrelationshipsTisTviewedTbyTsomeTasTanTattackTonTtheTcentralityTofTmarriage.TWhileTthereTcanTbeTnoTdoubtTthatTinTIndia,T
marriageTisTanTimportantTsocialTinstitution,TweTmustTalsoTkeepTourTmindsTopenTtoTtheTfactTthatTthereTareTcertainTindividualsT
orTgroupsTwhoTdoTnotTholdTtheTsameTview.TToTbeTsure,TthereTareTsomeTindigenousTgroupsTwithinTourTcountryTwhereinTsexu
alTrelationsToutsideTtheTmaritalTsettingTareTacceptedTasTaTnormalToccurrence.TTEvenTinTtheTsocietalTmainstream,TthereTareTaTs
ignificantTnumberTofTpeopleTwhoTseeTnothingTwrongTinTengagingTinTpremaritalTsex.TNotionsTofTsocialTmoralityTareTinherently
TsubjectiveTandTtheTcriminalTlawTcannotTbeTusedTasTaTmeansTtoTundulyTinterfereTwithTtheTdomainTofTpersonalTautonomy.TM
oralityTandTCriminalityTareTnotTco-
extensive.TInTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTsubstanceTofTtheTcontroversyTdoesTnotTreallyTtouchTonTwhetherTpremaritalTsexTisTsociallyT
acceptable.TInstead,TtheTrealTissueTofTconcernTisTtheTdisproportionateTresponseTtoTtheTappellant'sTremarks.TIfTtheTcomplainantsT
vehementlyTdisagreedTwithTtheTappellant'sTviews,TthenTtheyTshouldThaveTcontestedTherTviewsTthroughTtheTnewsTmediaTorTany
TotherTpublicTplatform.TTheTlawTshouldTnotTbeTusedTinTaTmannerTthatThasTchillingTeffectsTonTtheT`freedomTofTspeechTandTe
xpression'.TItTwouldTbeTaptTtoTreferTtoTtheTfollowingTobservationsTmadeTbyTthisTCourtTinTS.TRangarajanTVs.TP.TJagjivanTRa
mT&TOrs.,T(1989)T2TSCCT574,TwhichTspellToutTtheTappropriateTapproachTforTexaminingTtheTscopeTofT`reasonableTrestrictions'
TunderTArt.T19(2)TofTtheTConstitutionTthatTcanTbeTplacedTonTtheTfreedomTofTspeechTandTexpression:-

"T...TOurTcommitmentTofTfreedomTofTexpressionTdemandsTthatTitTcannotTbeTsuppressedTunlessTtheTsituationsTcreatedTbyTallowi
ngTtheTfreedomTareTpressingTandTtheTcommunityTinterestTisTendangered.TTheTanticipatedTdangerTshouldTnotTbeTremote,Tconjec
turalTorTfar-
fetched.TItTshouldTTThaveTproximateTandTdirectTnexusTwithTtheTexpression.TTheTexpressionTofTthoughtTshouldTbeTintrinsically
TdangerousTtoTtheTpublicTinterest.

TTTTTTInTTTotherTTTwords,TTTTtheTTTTexpressionTTTshouldTTTbe
TTTTTTinseparablyTTTTlockedTTTTTTupTTTTwithTTTTtheTTTTaction
contemplatedTlikeTtheTequivalentTofTaT`sparkTinTaTpowderTkeg'.

TheTCourtTfurtherTheld:

"T...TTheTstandardTtoTbeTappliedTbyTtheTBoardTorTcourtsTforTjudgingTtheTfilmTshouldTbeTthatTofTanTordinaryTmanTofTcomm
onTsenseTandTprudenceTandTnotTthatTofTanToutTofTtheTordinaryTorThypersensitiveTmanT...TTheTdifferentTviewsTareTallowedTto
TbeTexpressedTbyTproponentsTandTopponentsTnotTbecauseTtheyTareTcorrect,TorTvalidTbutTbecauseTthereTisTfreedomTinTthisTcou
ntryTforTexpressingTevenTdifferingTviewsTonTanyTissue.T...TFreedomTofTexpressionTwhichTisTlegitimateTandTconstitutionallyTpro
tected,TcannotTbeTheldTtoTransomTbyTanTintolerantTgroupTofTpeople.TTheTfundamentalTfreedomTunderTArticleT19(1)
(a)TcanTbeTreasonablyTrestrictedTonlyTforTtheTpurposesTmentionedTinTArticleT19(2)TandTtheTrestrictionTmustTbeTjustifiedTonTth
eTanvilTofTnecessityTandTnotTtheTquicksandTofTconvenienceTorTexpediency.TOpenTcriticismTofTgovernmentTpoliciesTandToperati
onsTisTnotTaTgroundTforTrestrictingTexpression.TWeTmustTpracticeTtoleranceTofTtheTviewsTofTothers.TIntoleranceTisTasTmuchTd
angerousTtoTdemocracyTasTtoTtheTpersonThimself."

30.TThus,TdisseminationTofTnewsTandTviewsTforTpopularTconsumptionTisTpermissibleTunderTourTconstitutionalTscheme.TTheTdiff
erentTviewsTareTallowedTtoTbeTexpressedTbyTtheTproponentsTandTopponents.TATcultureTofTresponsibleTreadingTisTtoTbeTinculca
tedTamongstTtheTprudentTreaders.TMoralityTandTcriminalityTareTfarTfromTbeingTco-
extensive.TAnTexpressionTofTopinionTinTfavourTofTnon-dogmaticTandTnon-
TTconventionalTmoralityThasTtoTbeTtoleratedTasTtheTsameTcannotTbeTaTgroundTtoTpenaliseTtheTauthor.

31.TBeforeTsayingTomega,TitTisTnecessaryTforTusTtoTpointToutTcertainTunwarrantedTdevelopmentsTthatThaveTtakenTplaceTeverTs
inceTtheTmatterTwasTheardTtillTdate.TInTfact,TduringTtheTcourseTofThearing,TcertainTqueriesTwereTputTtoTtheTlearnedTcounselTa
ppearingTforTpartiesTsoTasTtoTclarifyTtheTlegalTissueTinvolvedTinTtheTmatterTbutTunfortunately,TthoseTqueriesThaveTbeenThighly
TmisunderstoodTnotTonlyTbyTmediaTbutTalsoTbyTcommonTman.TAsTaTresultTthereof,TweThaveTbeenTfloodedTwithTseveralTletter
TpetitionsTmakingTaTprayerTforTreviewTofTtheTorderTpassedTbyTus.TItTisTpertinentTtoTmentionThereTthatTnoTorderTwasTpassed
TbyTusTandTonlyTduringTtheTcourseTofThearing,TweThadTeitherTgivenTsomeTinstancesTorTputTsomeTquestionsTtoTtheTlearnedTc
ounselTwhichTwereTansweredTbyTthem.TThus,TthisThyperTactiveTattitudeTofTtheTcommonTmanTwas,Tindeed,TnotTcalledTfor.TSo
meThaveTevenTgoneTtoTtheTextentTofTtellingTusTthatTweTshouldThaveTknownTtheTIndianTmythologyTbeforeTputtingTsuchTquesti
on.TThus,TwhateverTweThaveTsaidTduringTtheTcourseTofTtheThearingTshouldTbeTreviewed.TWeTfailTtoTunderstandThowTsuchTan
TattitudeTcouldTbeTadoptedTbyTthoseTlearnedTpersonsTwhoTwereTinvolvedTinTsendingTvariousTletterTpetitionsTtoTus.TTAdmittedl
y,TallTthoseTpersonsTwhoThaveTsentTlettersTtoTusTwereTnotTpresentTonTthatTparticularTdateTbutTmustThaveTgatheredTinformatio
nTfromTtheTprintTandTelectronicTmediaTwhichTevokedTtheirTsentimentsTtoTsuchTanTextentTthatTtheyTprayedTforTreview.

32.TItTis,Ttherefore,TnotTonlyTdesirableTbutTimperativeTthatTelectronicTandTnewsTmediaTshouldTalsoTplayTpositiveTroleTinTprese
ntingTtoTgeneralTpublicTasTtoTwhatTactuallyTtranspiresTduringTtheTcourseTofTtheThearingTandTitTshouldTnotTbeTpublishedTinTs
uchTaTmannerTsoTasTtoTgetTunnecessaryTpublicityTforTitsTownTpaperTorTnewsTchannel.TSuchTaTtendency,TwhichTisTindeedTgro
wingTfast,TshouldTbeTstopped.TWeTareTsayingTsoTasTwithoutTknowingTtheTreferenceTinTcontextTofTwhichTtheTquestionsTwereT
putTforthTbyTus,TwereTcompletelyTignoredTandTtheTsameTwereTmisquotedTwhichTraisedTunnecessaryThueTandTcry.
33.TWeThopeTandTtrustTinTfuture,TtheyTwouldTbeTlittleTmoreTcareful,TresponsibleTandTcautiousTinTthisTregard.

34.TInTconclusion,TweTfindTthatTtheTvariousTcomplaintsTfiledTagainstTtheTappellantTdoTnotTsupportTorTevenTdrawTaTprimaTfaci
eTcaseTforTanyTofTtheTstatutoryToffencesTasTalleged.TTherefore,TtheTappealsTareTallowedTandTtheTimpugnedTjudgmentTandTord
erTofTtheTHighTCourtTdatedT30.4.2008TisTsetTaside.TTheTimpugnedTcriminalTproceedingsTareTherebyTquashed.

............................CJI.

.............................TJ.

(DEEPAKTVERMA)T.............................TJ.(Dr.TB.S.TCHAUHAN)TNewTDelhiTAprilT28,T2010
SupremeTCourtTofTIndia
HarbhajanTSinghTvsTStateTOfTPunjabTonT2TMarch,T1965

EquivalentTcitations:T1966TAIRT97,T1965TSCRT(3)T235
Author:TPTGajendragadkar
Bench:TGajendragadkar,TP.B.T(Cj)

TTTTTTTTTTTPETITIONER:
HARBHAJANTSINGH

Vs.

RESPONDENT:
STATETOFTPUNJAB

DATETOFTJUDGMENT:
02/03/1965

BENCH:
GAJENDRAGADKAR,TP.B.T(CJ)
BENCH:
GAJENDRAGADKAR,TP.B.T(CJ)
DAYAL,TRAGHUBAR
RAMASWAMI,TV.

CITATION:
T1966TAIRTTT97 TT1965TSCRTT(3)T235
TCITATORTINFOT:
TRF TTTT1966TSCT595 T(24)
TR TTTT1966TSC1762 T(4)
TRF TTTT1969TSCT381 T(2)
TR TTTT1971TSC1567 T(7)
TR TTTT1977TSCT170 T(6)
TRF TTTT1981TSC1514 T(10,16)
TRF TTTT1990TSC1459 T(31)

ACT:
Indian PenalTCodeT(ActT45TofT1860)Ts.T499,TExceptionTTNine-
ScopeTof.

HEADNOTE:
TTTTThe TGovernmentTofTPunjabTissuedTa TpressTnoteTTstating
thatTTcertainTTdailiesTinTtheTStatesTwereTTpublishingTTfalse
reports TallegingTTthe complicityTofTa TMinister'sTTsonTTin
smuggling,TTthatTTtheTallegationsTwereTmadeTwithTaTTviewTTto
malignTtheTGovernment,Tand,TthatTtheTnameTtheTsonTshouldTTbe
openly Tmentioned.TTIn TresponseTTtoTTthatTTchallenge Tthe
appellant,TwhoTwasTaTpublicTworker,TpublishedTaTstatementTin
theTpress,TnamingTtheTChiefTMinister'sTsonTasTtheTleaderTTof
theTsmugglers,TandTasTalsoTresponsibleTforTaTlargeTnumberTof
crimes.THeTalsoTrequestedTthatTtheTGovernmentTshouldTappoint
aTTcommitteeTTofTTindependentTJudgesTTtoTTinquireTTinto Tthe
matter. TTheTChiefTMinister'sTsonTthenTfiledTaTcomplaintTTof
defamationTagainstTtheTappellant.TAfterTtheTcomplainant Tand
hisTwitnessesTwereTexamined,TtheTappellantTfiledTaTTdetailed
written TstatementTinTanswerTtoTtheTquestionsTunderTs. 342,
CriminalTProcedureTCode,TtenTmonthsTafterTheTwasTTquestioned
underTTthatTTsection.THeTclaimedTthereinTtheTTprotectionTTof
bothTtheTFirstTandTNinthTExceptionsTtoTs.T449TofTtheTTIndian
Penal Code,TT1860.TTAtTTtheTTveryTTcommencementTTTof Tthe
proceedings,TheTgaveTaTlistTofT328Twitnesses.TtoTbeTexamined
onTThis Tbehalf.TTHeTTwasTallowedTTtoTTsummonTTonlyTT35 Tand
eventuallyTThe examinedTT20TTdefenceTTwitnesses.TTHe also
producedTTseveralTdocuments.TAfterTconsideringTtheToral Tand
documentaryTTTevidence, TtheTTtrialTTCourtTTTconvicted Tthe
appellant.TInThisTappealTtoTtheTHighTCourt,TheTclaimed only
theTTprotection TofTTtheTNinthTExceptionTthatTTis,TTthatTThe
publishedTTtheTstatementTinTgoodTfaithTandTforTpublicTTgood.
TheTHighTCourtTdismissedTtheTappeal,TwithTaTmodificationTTin
theTsentence.
TTTTIn hisTTappealTtoTthisTCourt,Tthe appellantTTcontended
that,TinTappreciatingThisTevidenceTinTrespectTofTgoodTfaith,
theTHighTCourtThadTmisdirectedTitself.
TTTTHELD:TTATTbroadTTsurveyTTof TtheTTevidence ledTTby Tthe
appellantTandTtheTbackgroundTinTwhichTtheTimpugnedTstatement
wasTTmade,TshowTthatTtheTHighTCourtTwasTinTerrorTinTTholding
thatTtheTappellantThadTfailedTtoTshowTthatTheTactedTin good
faithTwhenTheTpublishedTtheTstatement.T[253TB-C]
TTTT(ii)TTTheTHighTCourtThadTmisdirectedTitself TinTTdealing
withTtheTquestionTaboutTtheTnatureTandTscopeTofTtheTonusTTof
proofTTwhichTtheTappellantThadTtoTdischargeTin seeking Tthe
protectionTofTtheTNinthTException,Tbecause,TitTheldTthatTTin
dischargingTTtheTTonus, TtheTpleaTshouldTbeTTprovedTTby Tthe
appellantTTasTTstrictly TasTTif TtheTTcomplaintsTTwasTTbeing
prosecutedTTfor TtheToffence.TWhereTtheTburdenTofTTanTTissue
liesTTuponTtheTaccusedTunderTs.T105TofTtheTEvidenceTAct,TThe
isTnotTrequiredTtoTdischargeTtheTburdenTbyTleadingTTevidence
toTTproveTThis caseTTbeyondTTa TreasonableTTdoubt.TTTItTTis
sufficientTTif heTsucceedsTinTproving aTTpreponderanceTTof
probability,TTforTTthen,TTtheTTburdenTTisTTshifted'TTto Tthe
prosecutionTTwhichThasTstillTtoTdischargeTitsToriginal onus
thatTTneverTshifts,TthatTis,TtoTestablishTonTtheTwhole case
theTguiltTbeyondTaTreasonableTdoubt.T[240TH;T241TC-G;TT243A-
B]
R.V.TCarr-Braint,,T[1943]T2TAll.TE.R.T156,Treferred
TTTT(ii)TTWhile TdealingTTwith theTTappellant'sTTclaim Tfor
protectionTTunderTTtheTNinthTException,TtheTHighTTCourt Thad
confusedTtheTrequirements
236
ofTTtheTFirstTExceptionTwithTthoseTofTtheTNinth.TItTwas Tnot
necessaryTTtoTTconsiderTwhetherTtheTappellantTThadTTstrictly
proved theTTtruthTofTtheTallegationTmadeTbyTThim,TTbecause,
proofTTofTtruthTofTtheTimpugnedTstatementTisTnotTanTTelement
ofTtheTNinthTExceptionTasTitTisTofTtheTFirst.TWhatTtheTNinth
ExceptionTTrequiresTTanTaccusedTpersonTtoTproveTisTTthatTThe
madeTTtheTTstatementTinTgoodTfaith.TTTheTTquestionTTTas TTto
whetherTtheTaccusedTactedTinTgoodTfaithTwouldTdependTon Tthe
factsTandTcircumstancesTofTeachTcase,TWhatTisTtheTnatureTTof
theTTimputationTmade;TunderTwhatTcircumstancesTdidTitTTco.me
toTTbeTmade;TwhatTisTtheTstatusTofTtheTpersonTwhoTmakes Tthe
imputation;TTwasTthereTanyTmaliceTinThisTmindTwhenTThe made
theTimputation;TdidTheTmakeTanyT,enquiryTbeforeTheTmade Tit;
areTTthereTreasonsTtoTacceptThis:TstoryTthatThe Tacted with
dueTcareTandTattentionTandTwasTsatisfiedTthatTtheTimputation
wasTTtrue;TTTthese,TTTandTTotherTTTconsiderationsTTwouldTTbe
relevantTinTdecidingTtheTquestion.T[243TB-E;T244TG-H]
TTTT(iii)TTThe HighTCourtTalsoTerredTinTTholdingTTthat Tthe
appellant'sTTwrittenTTstatement Tshould TnotTTbeTTTseriously
considered,TasTheTdidTnotTmakeToutThisTcaseTofTgoodTfaithTat
theTearlyTstageTofTtheTtrial,TandTthatTtheTwrittenTstatement
wasTTlikelyTtoThaveTbeenTinfluencedTbyTlegalTadvice.TIf Tthe
written TstatementTfiledTafterTaTlongTdelayTcontainedTTpleas
whichTTcouldTTotherwise TTbeTTTlegitimatelyTTTregarded TTas
matters TofTafter-thought,TthatTnoTdoubt,Twould Taffect Tthe
valueTofTtheTpleasTtakenTinTtheTwrittenTstatement.TBut, Tthe
factTTthatTatTtheTveryTcommencementTofTtheTproceedings, Tthe
appellantTTcalledTTfor aTTlargeTTnumberTTofTTwitnesses Tand
documents,TandTtheTevidenceTledTbyThimTasTwellTasTtheTnature
ofTTTtheTTcross-examinationTTto Twhich heTTTsubjected Tthe
complainantTTandThisTwitnesses,TmakeTitTdifficultTtoTTreject
hisTTpleaTTofTTgoodTfaith,TonTtheTgroundTTthat theTTwritten
statementTTwas filedTveryTlateTandTtheTpleasTTtakenTTinTTit
mightTbeTanTafter-thought.T[245TH.TB-C:T246TE-F]
TilkeshwarTTSinghTandTothersTv.TStateTofTBhar,TA.I.R.TT1956.
S.TC.239Texplaired

JUDGMENT:

CRIMINALTAPPELLATETJURISDICTION:TCriminalTAppealTNo.T53TofT1951.

AppealTbyTspecialTleaveTfromTtheTjudgmentTandTorderTdatedTNovemberT25,T1960TofTtheTPunjabTHighTCourtTinTCriminalTAp
pealTNo.T86-DTofT1959.

T.R.TBhasin,TS.C.TMalik,TSushmaTMalikTandTRantTBehjaTLalTMalik,TforTtheTappellant.

R.N.TSachthey,TforTrespondentTNo.T1.

RamTLalTAnand,TAjitTSinghTJohar,TS.K.TMehta,TandTK.L.TMehta,TforTrespondentTNo.T2.

The,TJudgmentTofTtheTCourtTwasTdeliveredTbyTGajendragadkar,C.TJ.,ByTthisTappeal,TwhichThasTbeenTbroughtTtoTthisTCourtTby
TspecialTleave,TtheTappellantTHarbhajanTSinghTchallengesTtheTcorrectnessTofThisTconvictionTforTanToffenceTunderTS.T500T07Tt
heTIndianTPenalTCode,TandTtheTsentenceTimposedTonThimTforTtheTsaidToffence.TTheTcriminalTproceedingsTagainstTtheTappellan
tTwereTstartedTonTaTcomplaintTfiledTbyTSurinderTSinghTKairon,TsonTofTS.TPartapTSinghTKairon,TwhoTwasTatTtheTrelevantTtim
eTtheTChiefTMinisterTofTtheTStateTofTPunjab.TInThisTcomplaint,TtheTcomplainantTSurinderTSinghTallegedTthatTtheTappellantTha
dTpublishedTinTtheTPressTaTstatementTagainstThimTwhichTwasThighlyTdefamatoryTofThim.TTheTsaidTstatementTwasTpublishedTi
nTtheT"Blitz",TwhichTisTaTweeklyTmagazineTofTBombay,TonTJulyT23,T1957,TandTextractsTfromTitTwereTgivenTpublicityTinTthe
T"TimesTofTIndia"TandTcertainTotherTpapers.TAccordingTtoTthe,Tcomplaint,TtheTdefamatoryTstatementTwas,TabsolutelyTuntrueTan
dTbyTpublishingTit,TtheTappellantThadTrenderedThimselfTliableTtoTbeTpunishedTunderTs.T500,TI.P.C.

ItTappearsTthatTonTJulyT2,2/23,T1957,TtheTpunjabTGovernmentTissuedTaTPressTnoteTinTwhichTitTwasTaverredTthatTcertainTUrdu
TDailiesTfromTJullundurTwereTindulgingTinTmischiefTandTfalseTpropaganda,TallegingTcomplicityTofTaTMinister'sTsonTinTsmuggli
ngTonTtheTborder.TTheTPressTnoteTallegedTthatTthisTwasTdoneTwithTaTviewTtoTmalignTtheTGovernmentTandTtoTcauseTsuspicio
nTinTtheTmindTofTpublic.TTheTPunjabTGovernmentTcategoricallyTdeniedTtheTsaidTallegation.TTheTPressTnoteTaddedTthatTtheTpa
persTwhichTwereTpublishingTtheTsaidTfalseTreportsTshouldTcomeToutTopenlyTwithTtheTnameTofTtheTsonTofTtheTMinisterTinstea
dTofTrepeatedlyTpublishingTthingsTinTaTvagueTandTindirectTmanner,TandTthatTtheyTshouldTnotTtakeTshelterTbehindTanonymityTa
ndTshouldTnetTbeTafraidTofTtheTconsequencesTofTtheTpublicationTofTtheseTallegations.TTheTPressTnoteTconcludedTwithTtheTstat
ementTthatTtheTPunjabTGovernmentThadTalreadyTtakenTstepsTtoTcurbTsmugglingTandTtheyTwereTdeterminedTtoTputTitTdownTwit
hTaTfirmThand.TItTwasTinTresponseTtoTtheTchallengeTthusTissuedTbyTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTinTitsTPressTnoteTthatTtheTappell
antTpublishedTimpugnedTstatementTwhichTreads:

"MyTattentionThasTbeenTdrawnTtoTaTPunjabTGovernmentTPressTNoteTcategoricallyTdenyingTtheTcomplicityTofTaTMinister'sTsonT
inTsmuggling.TThatTPressTNoteTalsoTthrowsTaTchallengeTtoTsomeTUrduTDailiesT"toTcomeToutTopenlyTwithTtheTnameTofTtheTs
onTofTtheTMinister"TandTthenTbaseTtheTconsequences.TITdon'tTknowTwhetherTtheTnewspapersTconcernedTwillTtakeTupTthisTisTc
hallengeTofTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTorTnot,TbutTasToneTofTthoseTwhoThaveTbeenTnamingTthatTsonTofTtheTMinisterTasToneTof
TtheTleadersTofTtheTsmugglersTfromTPublicTplatform,TITherebyTnameTthatTso,TasTSurinderTSinghTKaironTsonTofTS.TPartapTsin
ghTKairon,TChiefTMinister.TAndTITdoTsoTdeterminedTtoTfacelessTconsequencesTofTtheTchargeTbeingTopenlyTleviedTbyTme.TITf
urtherTallegeTthatTtheTsonTofTourTChiefTMinisterTisTnotTonlyTaTleaderTofTsmugglersTbutTisTresponsibleTforTaTlargeTnumberTo
fTcrimesTbeingTcommittedTinTtheTPunjab.TButTbecauseTtheTculpritThappensTtoTbeTChiefTMinister'sTsonTtheTcasesTareTalwaysTs
helvedTup.
IfTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTacceptsTthisTchallenge,TitTshouldTdoTsoTbyTappointingTanTindependentTcommitteeTofTimpartialTJudg
esTfromToutsideTtheTPunjabTandTthenTletTusTseeTwhoThasTtoTfaceTtheTconsequences.TIfTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTdareTnotTdoT
so,TITwouldTnotTmindTservingTaTtermTinTJailTforThavingThadTtheTcourageTtoTcomeToutTwithTtheTtruth.TMayTITbringTitTtoTth
eTnoticeTofTPunjabTGovernmentTthatTChiefTMinister'sTsonTisTbeingTdiscussedTinTalmostTeveryTPunjabiThouse.TbutTpeopleTareT
afraidTofTtalkingTaboutThimTinTpublicTlestTtheyTbeTpunishedTforTthat."

ItTisTthisTstatementTwhichThasTgivenTriseTtoTtheTpresentTcriminalTproceedings.

AfterTthisTstatementTwasTpublished,TMr.TAjaibTSingh,TSeniorTSuperintendentTofTPolice,TAmritsar,TissuedTaTstatementTonTtheT2
5thTJuly,T1957,TwhichTwasTpublishedTinTtheT"Tribune"TonTtheT26thTJuly.TByTthisTstatement,TMr.TAjaibTSinghTassuredTtheTpe
opleTthatTpersonsTconcernedTinTsmugglingTcasesThadTbeenTinterrogatedTandTheTwasTsatisfiedTthatTtheTallegationTthatTsomeTMi
nister'sTsonTwasTinvolvedTinTsmugglingTwasTfalseTandTinaccurate.TToTthisTstatement,TtheTappelLantTissuedTaTrejoinderTwhichT
wasTpublishedTinTtheT"HindTSamachar",TwhichTisTanTUrduTDailyTofTJullundur,TonTJulyT27,T1957.TThen,TfollowedTtheTcompla
intTwhichTwasTfiledTbyTtheTcomplainantTonTAugustT17,T1957.TThat,TshortlyTstated,TisTtheTbackgroundTofTtheTpresentTcriminal
Tproceedings.TTheTcomplaintTwasTfiledTinTtheTcourtTofTtheTMagistrate,TFirstTClass,TTar,TTaran.TThereafter,TtheTappellantTmov
edTthisTCourtTunderTs.T527TofTtheTCriminalTProcedureTCodeTforTtheTtransferTofTtheTsaidTcaseTfromTtheTcourtTofTtheTMagistr
ateTwhereTitThadTbeenTtiled.TThisTCourtTdirectedTonTOctoberT4,T1957,TthatTtheTcaseTinTquestionTshouldTbeTremittedTtoTtheTP
unjabTHighTCourtTsoTthatTitTshouldTbeTtransferredTbyTtheTsaidTHighTCourtTfromTtheTcourtTofTtheTMagistrateTatTTarnTTaranT
toTaTcourtTofTSessionsTinTDelhi.TThatTisThowTtheTcaseTwasTtransferredTtoTtheTcourtTofTtheTAdditionalTSessionsTJudge,TDelhi,
TandTwasTtriedTbyThim.TInTsupportTofThisTcomplaint,TtheTcomplainantTexaminedThimselfTandTledTevidenceTofTthreeTotherTwit
nesses.TTheTpurportTofTtheToralTevidenceTledTbyTtheTcomplainantTwasTtoTshowTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTaTpersonTofTstatusT
andTgoodTreputation,TwasTcarryingTonTbusinessTandThadTsufferedTinTreputationTandTcharacterTbyTtheTdefamatoryTstatementTpub
lishedTbyTtheTappellant.

WhenTtheTappellantTwasTexaminedTunderTs.T342,TCr.TP.C.,TheTtoldTtheTlearnedTJudgeTthatTheTwouldTpreferTtoTfileTaTdetailed
TwrittenTstatement.TLater,TheTdidTfileThisTwrittenTstatementTandTmadeTseveralTpleasTagainstTtheTchargeTlevelledTagainstThimTb
yTtheTcomplainant.TInTsubstance,TheTallegedTthatTtheTallegationsTmadeTbyThimTinThisTimpugnedTstatementTwereTtrueTandTheT
hadTpublishedTtheTsaidTallegationsTinTtheTinterestTofTpublicTgood.TInTotherTwords,TheTclaimedTtheTprotectionTofTtheTFirstTEx
ceptionTtoTs.T499,TIPC.THeTalsoTpleadedTthatTtheTimputationTwhichTheThadTmadeTagainstTtheTcomplainantThadTbeenTmadeTin
TgoodTfaithTandTforTpublicTgood.TThus,TheTalsoTclaimedTtheTprotectionTofTtheTNinthTExceptionTtoTs.T499,TIPC.

InTsupportTofThisTdefenceTtheTappellantTwantedTtoTsummonT328TwitnessesTandTaTlargeTnumberTofTdocuments.TTheTtrialTcourt
TallowedThimTtoTsummonT35TwitnessesTinTall,TbutTeventuallyTheTexaminedTonlyT20TdefenceTwitnesses.THeTalsoTproducedTsev
eralTdocuments.

AfterTconsideringTtheToralTandTdocumentaryTevidenceTproducedTbeforeThim,TtheTlearnedTtrialTJudgeTcameTtoTtheTconclusionTth
atTtheTwordsTusedTbyTtheTappellantTinThisTstatement,TwhichTwasTpublishedTinTtheTPapers,TwereTdefamatoryTperTse,TandTheTh
eldTthatTtheTappellantThadTfailedTtoTmakeToutTaTcaseTeitherTunderTtheTFirstTExceptionTorTunderTtheTNinthTException.TInTthe
Tresult,TheTconvictedTtheTappellantTandTsentencedThimTtoToneTyear'sTsimpleTimprisonment.

TheTappellantTthenTpreferredTanTappealTbeforeTtheTPunjabTHighTCourt,TchallengingTtheTcorrectnessTandTproprietyTofTtheTorder
TofTconvictionTandTsentenceTpassedTagainstThimTbyTtheTlearnedTtrialTJudge.TBeforeTtheTappellateTCourt,TtheTappellantTclaimed
TtheTprotectionTofTtheTNinthTExceptionTonlyTandTdidTnotTpressThisTcaseTthatTheTwasTentitledTtoTtheTprotectionTofTtheTFirstT
ExceptionTasTwell.THeTalsoTurgedTthatTheThadTbeenTmateriallyTprejudicedTinasmuchTasTtheTtrialTJudgeThadTnotTgivenThimTaT
fairTandTproperTopportunityTtoTleadThisTevidenceTbothToralTandTdocumentary.TTheTlearnedTsingleTJudge,TwhoTheardThisTappea
l,TconsideredTtheTargumentsTurgedTbeforeThimTonTbehalfTofTtheTappellantTandTcameTtoTtheTconclusionTthatTtheTappellantThad
TfailedTtoTproveThisTclaimTthatTtheTimpugnedTstatementTfellTwithinTtheTscopeTofTtheTNinthTExceptionTtoTs.T499,TIPC.THeTto
okTtheTviewTthatTtheTappellantThadT"completelyTfailedTtoTsubstantiateTtheTpleaTofTgoodTfaith."TTheTmaterialTwhichThadTbeen
TplacedTbeforeTtheTtrialTJudgeTinTsupportTofTdefenceTofTgoodTfaithTwas,TaccordingTtoTtheTHighTCourt,TofTaTveryTflimsyTcha
racterTandTcouldTnotTsustainTtheTplea.TItTmayTbeTpointedToutTatTthisTstageTthatTtheTHighTCourtTfoundTthatTinTcaseTtheTappe
llantThadTprovedTgoodTfaith,TitTwouldTnotThaveTfeltTanyTdifficultyTinTcomingTtoTtheTconclusionTthatTtheTpublicationTofTtheTi
mpugnedTstatementTwasTforTtheTpublicTgood.TButTsince,TaccordingTtoTtheTHighTCourt,TgoodTfaithThadTnotTbeenTproved,TtheT
appellantTwasTnotTentitledTtoTclaimTtheTprotectionTofTtheTNinthTException.TThen,TasTregardsTtheTgrievanceTmadeTbyTtheTappe
llantTthatTheThadTnotTbeenTgivenTaTreasonableTopportunityTtoTleadThisTevidence,TtheTHighTCourtTheldTthatTtheTsaidTgrievance
TwasTnotTwell-
founded.TInTthatTconnection,TtheTHighTCourtTreferredTtoTtheTfactTthatTthoughTtheTtrialTJudgeThadTallowedTtheTappellantTtoTex
amineT35Twitnesses,TtheTappellantTexaminedTonlyT20Twitnesses,TandTitTobservedTthatTtheTlargeTmassTofTdocumentaryTevidence
TwhichThadTbeenTproducedTbyTtheTappellantTdidTnotTserveTanyTusefulTorTmaterialTpurposeTevenTforTtheTdefenceTofTtheTappe
llant;TandTsoTtheTcontentionTthatTprejudiceThadTbeenTcausedTtoThimTbyTtheTfailureTofTtheTlearnedTtrialTJudgeTtoTgiveThimTa
TreasonableTopportunityTtoTleadTevidenceTwasTrejectedTbyTtheTHighTCourt.TInTtheTresult,TtheTHighTCourtTconfirmedTtheTorder
TofTconvictionTpassedTagainstTtheTappellantTbyTtheTtrialTJudge,TbutTorderedTthatTinsteadTofTundergoingToneTyear'sTsimpleTimp
risonment,TtheTappellantTshallTundergoTthreeTmonths'TsimpleTimprisonmentTandTpayTaTfineTofTRs.T2,000.TInTdefaultTofTpayme
ntTofTfine,TheTwasTdirectedTtoTundergoTthreeTmonths'TsimpleTimprisonment.TItTisTagainstTthisTorderTthatTtheTappellantThasTco
meTtoTthisTCourtTbyTspecialTleave.
Norma1ly.TweTwouldTnotThaveTexaminedTtheTcorrectnessTofTtheTfindingTrecordedTbyTtheTHighTCourtTinTrespectTofTtheTappell
ant'sTpleaTofTgoodTfaith.TbecauseTthatTisTaTfindingTmadeTbyTtheTHigh.TCourtTonTappreciatingToralTandTdocumentaryTevidence
TandTasTitThappens.TtheTsaidTfindingTconfirmsTtheTviewTtakenTbyTtheTtrialTJudgeThimself.TWhetherTorTnotTgoodTfaithThasTbe
enTprovedTbyTanTaccusedTpersonTwho.TpleadsTinThisTdefenceTtheTNinthTExceptionTtoTaTchargeTofTdefamationTunderTs.T500.T
IPC.TwouldTbeTaTquestionTofTfactTandTevenTifTitTisTassumedTtoTbeTaTmixedTquestionTofTfactTandTlaw,TifTtheTcourtsTbelowT
makeTaTconcurrentTfindingTonTsuchTaTquestion.TthisTCourtTgenerallyTdoesTnotTre-
examineTtheTmatterTforTitselfTwhileTexercisingTitsTjurisdictionTunderTArt.T136TofTtheTConstitution.TButTinTtheTpresentTcase.Tw
eTcannotTacceptTtheTfindingTofTtheTHighTCourt.TbecauseTitTisTplainTthatTinTdealingTwithTtheTquestionTofTgoodTfaithTtheTHig
hTCourtThasTmisdirectedTitselfTmateriallyTonTpointTofTlaw.TSectionT499TofTtheTCodeTdefinesTdefamation.TItTisTunnecessaryTto
TsetToutTtheTsaidTdefinition.TbecauseTitTisTcommonTgroundTthatTtheTimpugnedTstatementTpublishedTbyTtheTappellantTisTperTse
Tdefamatory.TandTso.TweTmustTproceedTtoTdealTwithTtheTpresentTappealTonTtheTbasisTthatTtheTsaidTstatementTwouldTharmTthe
TreputationTofTtheTcomplainant.TExceptionT9TtoTs.T499TprovidesTthatTitTisTnotTdefamationTtoTmakeTanTimputationTonTtheTcha
racterTofTanother.TprovidedTtheTimputationTbeTmadeTinTgoodTfaithTforTtheTprotectionTofTtheTinterestTofTtheTpersonTmakingTit.
TorTforTanyTotherTperson.TorTforTtheTpublicTgood.TInTtheTpresentTcase.TtheTingredientTofTpublicTgoodTisTsatisfied.TandTtheTo
nlyTquestionTwhichTaroseTforTdecisionTinTtheTcourtTbelowTandTwhichTarisesTbeforeTus.TisTwhetherTtheTimputationTcanTbeTsai
dTtoThaveTbeenTmadeTinTgoodTfaith.TThereTisTnoTdoubtTthatTtheTrequirementsTofTgoodTfaithTandTpublicTgoodThaveTbothTtoT
beTsatisfied.TandTso.TtheTfailureTofTtheTappellantTtoTproveTgoodTfaithTwouldTexcludeTtheTapplicationTofTtheTNinthTExceptionT
inThisTfavourTcvenTifTtheTrequirementTofTpublicTgoodTisTsatisfied.TThisTpositionTisTnotTdisputedTbyTMr.TT.R.TBhasinTwhoTap
pearsTforTtheTappellant.

Mr.TBhasin,Thowever.TcontendsTthatTinTappreciatingTtheTevidenceTofTtheTappellantTandThisTargumentsTinTrespectTofThisTgoodT
faith.TtheTHighTCourtThasTclearlyTmisdirectedTitself.TbecauseTitThasTexpresslyTobservedTthatTinTdischargingTtheTonusTofTprovid
ingTgoodTfaith.TitTisTnecessaryTtoTrememberTthatTtheTpicaTofTgoodTfaithTmustTbeTprovedT"asTstrictlyTasTifTtheTcomplainantT
wereTbeingTtriedTforTtheToffensesTimputedTtoThim."TTheTHighTCourtThasTaddedTthatTtheTaccusedTpleadingTjustificationTvirtuall
yTbecomesTtheTaccuser.TandTthatTisTwhyTtheTburdenThasTbeenTplacedTbyTlawTuponThimTbothTinTEnglandTandTinTIndia.TThe
TlearnedTJudgeTofTtheTHighTCourtTmadeThisTpointTstillTclearerTwithTtheTobservationTthatTinTcasesTofTcriminalTdefamation.Tan
TaccusedThasTnotTonlyTtoTjustifyTtheTwholeTofThisTlibel.TbutTtheTpleaTtakenThasTtoTbeTprovedTasTstrictlyTasTifTtheTcomplain
antTwasTbeingTprosecutedTforTtheToffence.TTheTsameTobservationsThaveTbeenTrepeatedTbyTtheTlearnedTJudgeTinTseveralTplaces
TinThisTjudgment.TMr.TBhasinTcontendsTthatTtheTapproachTwhichTtheTlearnedTJudgeThasTadoptedTinTdealingTwithTtheTpleaTrai
sedTbyTtheTappellantTunderTExceptionT9TisTclearlyTerroneous.TInTcurTopinion,TMr.TBhasinTisTright.TItTisTtrueTthatTunderTs.T1
05TofTtheTEvidenceTAct,TifTanTaccusedTpersonTclaimsTtheTbenefitTofTExceptions,TtheTburdenTofTprovingThisTpleaTthatThisTcas
eTfallsTunderTtheTExceptionsTisTonTtheTaccused.TButTtheTquestionTwhichToftenTarisesTandThasTbeenTfrequentlyTconsideredTbyT
judicialTdecisionsTisTwhetherTtheTnatureTandTextentTofTtheTonusTofTproofTplacedTonTanTaccusedTpersonTwhoTclaimsTtheTbenef
itTanTexceptionTisTexactlyTtheTsameTasTtheTnatureTandTextentTofTtheTonusTplacedTonTtheTprosecutionTinTaTcriminalTcase;Tand
TthereTisTconsensusTofTjudicialTopinionTinTfavourTofTtheTviewTthatTwhereTtheTburdenTofTanTissueTliesTuponTtheTaccused,The
TisTnotTrequiredTtoTdischargeTthatTburdenTbyTleadingTevidenceTtoTproveThisTcaseTbeyondTaTreasonableTdoubt.TThat.TnoTdoubt.
TisTtheTtestTprescribedTwhileTdecidingTwhetherTtheTprosecutionThasTdischargedTitsTonusTtoTproveTtheTguiltTofTtheTaccused;Tbu
tTthatTisTnotTaTtestTwhichTcanTbeTappliedTtoTanTaccusedTpersonTwhoTseeksTtoTproveTsubstantiallyThisTclaimTthatThisTcaseTfa
llsTunderTanTException.TWhereTanTaccusedTpersonTisTcalledTuponTtoTproveTthatThisTcaseTfallsTunderTanTException,TlawTtreats
TtheTonusTasTdischargedTifTtheTaccusedTpersonTsucceedsT"inTprovingTaTpreponderanceTofTprobability."TAsTsoonTasTtheTprepon
deranceTofTprobabilityTisTproved,TtheTburdenTshiftsTtoTtheTprosecutionTwhichThasTstillTtoTdischargeTitsToriginalTonus.TItTmust
TbeTrememberedTthatTbasically,TtheToriginalTonusTneverTshiftsTandTtheTprosecutionThasTatTallTstagesTofTtheTcase,TtoTproveTth
eTguiltTofTtheTaccusedTbeyondTaTreasonableTdoubt.TAsTPhipsonThasTobserved,TwhenTtheTburdenTofTanTissueTisTuponTtheTacc
used,TheTisTnot.TinTgeneral,TcalledTonTtoTproveTitTbeyondTaTreasonableTdoubtTorTinTdefaultTtoTincurTaTverdictTofTguilty;TitTi
sTsufficientTifTheTsucceedsTinTprovingTaTpreponderanceTofTprobability,TforTthenTtheTburdenTisTshiftedTtoTtheTprosecutionTwhic
hThasTstillTtoTdischargeTitsToriginalTonusTthatTneverTshifts,Ti.e.,TthatTofTestablishing,TonTtheTwholeTcase,TguiltTbeyondTaTreas
onableTdoubt.TItTwillTbeTrecalledTthatTitTwasTwithTaTviewTtoTemphasisingTtheTfundamentalTdoctrineTofTcriminalTlawTthatTthe
TonusTtoTproveTitsTcaseTliesTonTtheTprosecution,TthatTViscountTSankeyTinTWoolmingtonTv.TDirectorTofTPublicTProsecutions(1)
TobservedTthatT"noTmatterTwhatTtheTchargeTorTwhereTtheTtrial,TtheTprincipleTthatTtheTprosecutionTmustTproveTtheTguiltTofTthe
TprisonerTisTpartTofTtheTcommonTlawTofTEnglandTandTnoTattemptTtoTwhittleTitTdownTcanTbeTentertained."TThisTprincipleTofT
commonTlawTisTaTpartTofTtheTcriminalTlawTinTthisTcountry.TThatTisTnotTtoTsayTthatTifTanTExceptionTisTpleadedTbyTanTaccus
edTperson,TheTisTnotTrequiredTtoTjustifyThisTplea;TbutTtheTdegreeTandTcharacterTofTproofTwhichTtheTaccusedTisTexpectedTfurni
shTinTsupportTofThisTplea,TcannotTbeTequatedTwithTtheTdegreeTandTcharacterTofTproofTexpectedTfromTtheTprosecutionTwhichTi
sTrequiredTtoTproveTitsTcase.TInTthisTconnection,TitTmayTbeTrelevantTtoTreferTtoTtheTobservationsTmadeTbyTHumphreysTJ.TinT
R.v.TCarr-
Braint(1):T"LordTHailsham,TL.C.,T[inTSodemanTv.R.T[1936]T2TAllTE.R.T1138]TwasTinTagreementTwithTtheTdecisionTofTtheTmaj
orityTofTtheTSupremeTCourtTofTCanada,TinTR.v.TClarkT[(1921)T61TS.C.R.T608]TwhereTDuffTJ.TinTtheTcourseTofThisTjudgment,
TexpressedTtheTviewTthatTtheTnecessityTforTexcludingTdoubtTcontainedTinTtheTruleTasTtoTtheTonusTuponTtheTprosecutionTinTcri
minal.TcasesTmightTbeTregardedTasTanTexceptionTroundedTuponTconsiderationsTofTpublicTpolicy.TThereTcanTbeTnoTconsideratio
nTofTpublicTpolicyTcallingTforTsimilarTstringencyTinTtheTcaseTofTanTaccusedTpersonTendeavoringTtoTdisplaceTaTrebuttableTpres
umption."TInTR.v.TCorr-
Braint(1),TaTsomewhatTsimilarTquestionTaroseTbeforeTtheTCourt.TInTthatTcase,TtheTappellantTwasTchargedTwithTtheToffenceTofT
corruptlyTmakingTaTgiftTorTloanTtoTaTpersonTinTtheTemployTofTtheTWarTDepartmentTasTanTinducementTtoTshow,TorTasTaTre
wardTforTshowing,TfavourTtoThim.TThisTchargeTwasTlaidTunderTthePreventionTofTCorruptionTAct,T1916,TandTinTrespectTofTsuc
hTaTcharge,Ts.T2TofTtheTPreventionTofTCorruptionTAct,T1916,ThadTprovidedTthatTaTconsiderationTshallTbeTdeemedTtoTbeTgiven
TcorruptlyTunlessTtheTcontraryTisTproved.TTheTquestionTwhichTaroseTbeforeTtheTCourtTwas;TwhatTisTtheTaccusedTrequiredTtoTp
roveTifTheTwantsTtoTclaimTtheTbenefitTofTtheTexception?
TAtTtheTtrial,TtheTJudgeThadTdirectedTtheTjuryTthatTtheTonusTofTprovingThisTinnocenceTlayTonTtheTaccusedTandTthatTtheTburd
enTofTproofTrestingTonThimTtoTnegativeTcorruptionTwasTasTheavyTasTthatTordinarilyTrestingTonTtheTprosecution.TInTotherTword
s,TtheTJudgeTinTsubstanceTtoldTtheTjuryTthatTtheTaccusedThadTtoTproveThisTinnocenceTbeyondTaTreasonableTdoubt.TTheTCourt
TofTCriminalTAppealTheldTthatTthisTdirectionTdidTnotTcorrectlyTrepresentTtheTtrueTpositionTinTlaw.TAccordingTtoTtheTCourtTof
TAppeal,TtheTonusTonTtheTaccusedTwasTonlyTtoTsatisfyTtheTjuryTofTtheTprobabilityTofTthatTwhichTheTwasTcalledTuponTtoTest
ablish,TandTifTheTsatisfiedTtheTjuryTthatTtheTprobabilityTwasTthatTtheTgiftTwasTmadeTinnocently,TtheTstatutoryTpresumptionTwa
sTrebuttedTandTheTwasTentitledTtoTbeTacquitted.

WhatTtheTCourtTofTCriminalTAppealTheldTaboutTtheTappellantTinTtheTsaidTcaseTbeforeTitTisTsubstantiallyTtrueTaboutTtheTappell
antTbeforeTus.TIfTitTcanTbeTshownTthatTtheTappellantThasTledTevidenceTtoTshowTthatTheTactedTinTgoodTfaith,TandTbyTtheTtest
TofTprobabilitiesTthatTevidenceTprovesThisTcase,TheTwillTbeTentitledTtoTclaimTtheTbenefitTofTExceptionTNine.TInTotherTwords,T
theTonusTonTanTaccusedTpersonTmayTwellTbeTcomparedTtoTtheTonusTonTaTpartyTinTcivilTproceedings.TandTjustTasTinTcivilTpr
oceedingsTtheTcourtTtryingTanTissueTmakesTitsTdecisionTbyTadoptingTtheTtestTofTprobabilities,TsoTmustTaTcriminalTcourtTholdTt
hatTtheTpleaTmadeTbyTtheTaccusedTisTprovedTifTaTpre-

1T[1943]T2TAll.TE.RT156.

ponderanceTofTprobabilityTisTestablishedTbyTtheTevidenceTledTbyThim.TWeTare,Ttherefore,TsatisfiedTthatTMr.TBhasinTisTentitled
TtoTcontendTthatTtheTlearnedTJudgeThasTmisdirectedThimselfTinTlawTinTdealingTwithTtheTquestionTaboutTtheTnatureTandTscope
TofTtheTonusTofTproofTwhichTtheTappellantThadTtoTdischargeTinTseekingTprotectionTofTExceptionTNine.TThereTisTanotherTinfir
mityTinTtheTjudgmentTofTtheTHighTCourt,TandTthatTarisesTfromTtheTfactTthatTwhileTdealingTwithTtheTappellant'sTclaimTforTpro
tectionTunderTtheTNinthTException,TtheTlearned.TJudgeThasTinadvertentlyTconfusedTtheTrequirementsTofTExceptionTOneTwithTtho
seTofTExceptionTNine.TTheTFirstTExceptionTtoTs.T499TisTavailableTtoTanTaccusedTpersonTifTitTisTshownTbyThimTthatTtheTimp
ugnedTstatementTwasTtrueTandThadTbeenTmadeTpublicTforTtheTpublicTgood.TInTotherTwords,TtheTtwoTrequirementsTofTtheTFirst
TExceptionTareTthatTtheTimpugnedTstatementTmustTbeTshownTtoTbeTtrueTandTthatTitsTpublicationTmustTbeTshownTtoTbeTforTp
ublicTgood.TTheTproofTofTtruthTwhichTisToneTofTtheTingredientsTofTtheTFirstTExceptionTisTnotTanTingredientTofTtheTNinthTEx
ception.TWhatTtheTNinthTExceptionTrequiresTanTaccusedTpersonTtoTproveTisTthatTheTmadeTtheTstatementTinTgoodTfaith.TWeTw
illTpresentlyTconsiderTwhatTthisTrequirementTmeans.TButTatTthisTstage,TitTisTenoughTtoTpointToutTthatTtheTproofTofTtruthTofTt
heTimpugnedTstatementTisTnotTanTelementTofTtheTNinthTExceptionTasTitTisTofTtheTFirst;TandTyet,TinTdealingTwithTtheTappella
nt'sTcaseTunderTtheTNinthTException,TtheTlearnedTJudgeTinTseveralTplaces,ThasTemphasisedTtheTfactTthatTtheTevidenceTledTbyT
theTaccusedTdidTnotTproveTtheTtruthTofTtheTallegationsTwhichTheTmadeTinThisTimpugnedTstatement.TTheTlearnedTJudgeThasTex
presslyTstatedTatTtheTcommencementTofThisTjudgmentTthatTtheTappellantThadTnotTpressedTbeforeThimThisTpleaTunderTtheTFirst
TException,TandTyetTheTproceededTtoTexamineTwhetherTtheTevidenceTadducedTbyTtheTappellantTestablishedTtheTtruthTofTtheTall
egationsTmadeTinThisTimpugnedTstatementTasTthoughTtheTappellantTwasTarguingTbeforeThimThisTcaseTunderTtheTFirstTExceptio
n.TInTdealingTwithTtheTclaimTofTtheTappellantTunderTtheTNinthTException,TitTwasTnotTnecessary,TandTindeedTitTwasTimmateria
l,TtoTconsiderTwhetherTtheTappellantTstrictlyTprovedTtheTtruthTofTtheTallegationsTmadeTbyThim.

ThatTtakesTusTtoTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhatTtheTrequirementTofTgoodTfaithTmeans.TGoodTfaithTisTdefinedTbys.T52TofTtheTCode.
TNothing,TsaysTs.T52,TisTsaidTtoTbeTdoneTorTbelievedTinT'goodTfaithTwhichTisTdoneTorTbelievedTwithoutTdueTcareTandTattenti
on.TItTwillTbeTrecalledTthatTunderTtheTGeneralTClausesTAct,T"ATthingTshallTbeTdeemedTtoTbeTdoneTinTgoodTfaithTwhereTitTis
TinTfactTdoneThonestlyTwhetherTitTisTdoneTnegligentlyTorTnot."TTheTelementTofThonestyTwhichTisTintroducedTbyTtheTdefinitio
nTprescribedTbyTtheGeneralTClausesTActTisTnotTintroducedTbyTtheTdefinitionTofTtheTCode;TandTweTgovernedTbyTtheTdefinition
TprescribedTbyTs.T52TofTtheTCode.TSo,TinTconsideringTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhetherTtheTappellantTactedTinTgoodTfaithTinTpubli
shingThisTimpugnedTstatement,TweThaveTtoTenquireTwhetherTheTactedTwithTdueTcareTandTattention.TThereTisT/B(N)3SCI--
3TnoTdoubtTthatTtheTmereTpleaTthatTtheTaccusedTbelievedTthatTwhatTheTstatedTwasTtrueTbyTitself,TwillTnotTsustainThisTcaseTo
fTgoodTfaithTunderTtheTNinthTException.TSimpleTbeliefTorTactualTbeliefTbyTitselfTisTnotTenough.TTheTappellantTmustTshowTth
atTtheTbeliefTinThisTimpugnedTstatementThadTaTrationalTbasisTandTwasTnotTjustTaTblindTsimpleTbelief.TThatTisTwhereTtheTele
mentTofTdueTcareTandTattentionTplaysTanTimportantTrole.TIfTitTappearsTthatTbeforeTmakingTtheTstatementTtheTaccusedTdidTnot
TshowTdueTcareTandTattention,TthatTwouldTdefeatThisTpleaTofTgoodTfaith.TButTitTmustTbeTrememberedTthatTgoodTfaithTdoesTn
otTrequireTlogicalTinfallibility.TAsThasTheldTbyTtheTCalcuttaTHighTCourtTinTtheTmatterTofTtheTPetitionTofTShiboTProsadTPanda
h(1),TinTdealingTwithTtheTquestionTofTgoodTfaith,TtheTproperTpointTtoTbeTdecidedTisTnotTwhetherTtheTallegationsTputTforward
TbyTtheTaccusedTinTsupportTofTtheTdefamationTareTin.TsubstanceTtrue,TbutTwhetherTheTwasTinformedTandThadTgood.TreasonTa
fterTdueTcareTandTattentionTtoTbelieveTthatTsuchTallegationsTwereTtrue.

AnotherTaspectTofTthisTrequirementThasTbeenTpithilyTexpressedTbyTtheTBombayTHighTCourtTinTtheTcaseTofTEmperorTv.TAbdo
olTWadoodTAThtned(2).T"GoodTfaith",TitTwasTobservedT"requiresTnotTindeedTlogicalTinfallibility,TbutTdueTcareTandTattention.T
ButThowTfarTerroneousTactionsTorTstatementsTareTtoTbeTimputedTtoTwantTofTdueTcareTandTcautionTmust,TinTeachTcase,TbeTco
nsideredTwithTreferenceTtoTtheTgeneralTcircumstancesTandTtheTcapacityTandTintelligenceTofTtheTpersonTwhoseTconductTisTinTqu
estion."T"ItTisTonlyTtoTbeTexpected",TsaysTtheTjudgment,T"thatTtheThonestTconclusionsTofTaTcalmTandTphilosophicalTmindTmay
TdifferTveryTlargelyTfromTtheThonestTconclusionsTofTaTpersonTexcitedTbyTsectarianTzealTandTuntrainedTtoThabitsTofTpreciseTre
asoning.TAtTtheTsameTtime,TitTmustTbeTborneTinTmindTthatTgoodTfaithTinTtheTformationTorTexpressionT.ofTanTopinion,TcanTaf
fordTnoTprotectionTtoTanTimputationTwhichTdoesTnotTpurportTtoTbeTbasedTonTthatTwhichTisTtheTlegitimateTsubjectTofTpublicTc
omment."

Thus,TitTwouldTbeTclearTthatTinTdecidingTwhetherTanTaccusedTpersonTactedTinTgoodTfaithTunderTtheTNinthTException,TitTisTn
otTpossibleTtoTlayTdownTanyTrigidTruleTorTtest.TItTwouldTbeTaTquestionTtoTbeTconsideredTonTtheTfactsTandTcircumstancesTof
TeachTcaseTwhatTisTtheTnatureTofTtheTimputationTmade;TunderTwhatTcircumstancesTdidTitTcomeTtoTbeTmade;TwhatTisTtheTstat
usTofTtheTpersonTwhoTmakesTtheTimputation;TwasTthereTanyTmaliceTinThisTmindTwhenTheTmadeTtheTsaidTimputation;TdidThe
TmakeTanyTenquiryTbeforeTheTmadeTit;TareTthereTreasonsTtoTacceptThisTstoryTthatTheTactedTwithTdueTcareTandTattentionTand
TwasTsatisfiedTthatTtheTimputationTwasTtrue?
TTheseTandTotherTconsiderationsTwouldTbeTrelevantTinTdecidingTtheTpleaTofTgoodTfaithTmadeTbyTanTaccusedTpersonTwhoTclai
msTtheTbenefitTofTtheTNinthTException.TUnfortu-

(1)TI.L.R.T4TCal.T124.

(2)TI.L.R.T31TBorn.T293.

nately,TtheTlearnedTJudgeThasTrejectedTtheTpleaTofTtheTappellantTthatTheTactedTinTgoodTfaith,TatTleastTpartlyTbecauseTheTwas
TpersuadedTtoTtakeTtheTviewTthatTtheTevidenceTledTbyThimTdidTnotTtendTtoTshowTthatTtheTallegationsTcontainedTinThisTimpu
gnedTstatementTwereTtrue.TThisTnaturallyThas,TtoTsomeTextent,TvitiatedTtheTvalidityTofThisTfinding.

ItTalsoTappearsTthatTtheTlearnedTJudgeTwasTinclinedTtoTtakeTtheTviewTthatTtheTelaborateTwrittenTstatementTfiledTbyTtheTappell
antTnearlyTtenTmonthsTafterTheThadTbeenTexaminedTunderTs.T342,TshouldTnotTbeTseriouslyTconsidered,TandTthatTtheTappellant
TfailedTtoTmakeToutThisTcaseTofTgoodTfaithTatTtheTearlyTstageTofTtheTtrial.TIndeed.TtheTlearnedTJudgeThasTpassedTsevereTstri
cturesTagainstTtheTcontentsTofTtheTwrittenTstatementTandThasTblamedTtheTappellant'sTlawyerTforThavingTadvisedThimTtoTmakeT
theseTcontentions.TInTsupportTofThisTfindingTthatTwrittenTstatementsTofTthisTkindTshouldTbeTdiscouragedTandTcannotTbeTserious
lyTtakenTintoTaccount,TtheTlearnedTJudgeThadTreferredTtoTtwoTdecisionsTofTthisTCourt.TOneTisTtheTcaseTofTTilkeshwarTSinghT
andTothersTv.TTheTStateTofTBihar(1),TwhereTthisTCourtTwasTcalledTuponTtoTconsiderTtheTvalidityTofTtheTargumentTurgedTbefo
reTitTthatTthereThadTnotTbeenTaTproperTexaminationTofTtheTappellantsTunderTs.T342,TandTso,TtheirTconvictionTshouldTbeTquash
ed.TInTrejectingTthisTargument,TthisTCourtTpointedToutTthatTwhenTtheTappellantsTwereTexaminedTunderTs.T342,TtheyTsaidTthey
Twould.TfileTwrittenTstatements,TandTinTtheTstatementsTsubsequentlyTtiledTbyTthem,TtheyTgaveTelaborateTanswersTonTallTtheTpo
intsTraisedTmTtheTprosecutionTevidence.TThatTisTwhyTthisTCourtTobservedTthatTtheTappellantsThadTnotTatTallTbeenTprejudicedT
byTreasonTofTtheTfactTthatTallTtheTnecessaryTquestionsTwereTnotTputTtoTthemTunderTs.T342.TItTisTinTthisTconnectionTthatTthis
TCourtTincidentally,TobservedTthatTs.T342TcontemplatesTanTexaminationTinTcourtTandTtheTpracticeTofTfilingTstatementsTisTtoTbe
Tdeprecated.TButTthatTisTnotTaTgroundTforTinterferenceTunlessTprejudiceTisTestablished.TTheTlearnedTJudgeThasTreadTthisTobser
vationTasTlayingTdownTaTgeneralTprincipleTthatTtheTfilingTofTaTwrittenTstatementTbyTanTaccusedTpersonTshouldTbeTdeprecated
TandTtheTpleaTmadeTbyThimTinTsuchTaTwrittenTstatementTneedTnot,Ttherefore,TbeTseriouslyTconsidered,TbecauseTtheyTareTgene
rallyTtheTresultTofTlegalTadviceTandTareTnoTbetterTthanTafterthoughts.TWeTdoTnotTthinkTthatTtheTobservationTonTwhichTtheTlea
rnedTJudgeThasTbasedThimselfTinTmakingTthisTcriticismTjustifiesThisTview.TInTmanyTcases,TtheTaccusedTpersonTwouldTpreferTt
oTfileTaTwrittenTstatementTandTgiveTaTconnectedTanswerTtoTtheTquestionsTraisedTbyTtheTprosecutionTevidence.TIndeed,Ts.T256(
2)ofTtheTCr.TP.C.,TprovidesTthatTifTanTaccusedTpersonTputsTinTaTwrittenTstatement,TtheTmagistrateTshallTfileTitTwithTtheTrecor
d.TIfTtheTwrittenTstatementTisTfiledTafterTaTlongTdelayTandTcontainsTpleasTwhichTcanTotherwiseTbeTlegitimatelyTregardedTasTm
attersTofTafter-thought,TthatTnoTdoubtTwouldTaffectTtheTvalueTofTtheTpleasTtakenTinTtheT(1)T[1955]T2TS.C.R.T1043.

writtenTstatement.TButTweTdoTnotTthinkTthatTitTwouldTbeTpossibleTtoTlayTdownTaTgeneralTruleTthatTtheTwrittenTstatementTfile
dTbyTanTaccusedTpersonTshouldTnotTreceiveTtheTattentionTofTtheTcourtTbecauseTitTisTlikelyTtoThaveTbeenTinfluencedTbyTlegal
Tadvice.TInTourTopinion,TsuchTaTdistrustTofTlegalTadviceTwouldTbeTentirelyTunjustified.TTheTotherTdecisionTtheTlearnedTJudgeT
hasTreferredTtoTisTinTtheTcaseTofTSidheswarTGangulyTv.TStateTofTWestTBengalC).TInTthatTcase,TthisTCourtThasTobservedTthat
TthereTisTnoTprovisionTintheTCodeTofTCriminalTProcedureTforTaTwrittenTstatementTofTtheTaccusedTbeingTfiledTatTtheTSessions
Tstage,TandTitTisTinTrespectTofTwrittenTstatementsTfiledTatTtheTSessionsTstageTthatTitThasTmadeTtheTfurtherTcornmealTthatTinT
aTcaseTtriedTbyTtheTlearnedTSessionsTJudgeTwithTtheThelpTofTtheTJury,TifTsuchTaTstatementTisTallowedTtoTbeTusedTbyTtheTJu
ry,TitTmayTthrowTtheTdoorTopenTtoTirrelevantTandTinadmissibleTmatterTandTthusTthrowTanTadditionalTburdenTonTtheTpresiding
TJudgeTtoTextricateTmatterTwhichTwasTadmissibleTfromTaTmassTofTinadmissibleTstatementsTwhichTmayThaveTbeenTintroducedTi
nTtheTwrittenTstatement.TInTtheTpresentTcase,TweTareTnotTdealingTwithTaTstatementTfiledTatTtheTSessionsTtrialTproperlyTsoTcall
ed,TandTso,TweTneedTnotTpauseTtoTconsiderTtheTeffectTofTtheseTobservations.

InTtheTpresentTcase,TtheTwrittenTstatementTisTanTelaborateTdocumentTandTitTgivesTtheTversionTofTtheTappellantTinTgreatTdetail.
TInTconsideringTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhetherTtheTallegationsTmadeTinTtheTwrittenTstatementTcouldTbeTdismissedTasTnoTmoreTth
anTanTafterthought,TweTcannotTignoreTtheTfactTthatTatTtheTveryTcommencementTofTtheTproceedings,TtheTappellantTgaveTaTlistT
ofT328TwitnessesTandTcalledTforTaTlargeTnumberTofTdocuments,TandTasTweTwillTpresentlyTpointToutTtheTwitnessesTwhomTheT
examinedTandTsomeTofTtheTdocumentsTwhichTheThadTproduced,TtendTtoTshowTthatTtheTappellantThadTreceivedTinformationTatT
theTrelevantTtimeTwhichTsupportedThisTpleaTthatTtheTallegationsTwhichTheTwasTmakingTagainstTtheTcomplainantTappearedTtoThi
mTtoTbeTtrue;Totherwise,TitTisTnotTeasyTtoTunderstandThowTtheTappellantTcouldThaveTgivenTaTlistTofTwitnessesTandTcalledTfor
TdocumentsTtoTshowTeitherTthatTtheTallegationsTmadeTbyThimTwereTtrue,TorTthatTinTanyTevent.TinTmakingTtheTsaidTallegation
sTheTactedTinTgoodTfaithTandTforTtheTpublicTgood.TIfTtheTevidenceTledTbyTtheTappellantTasTwellTasTtheTnatureTofTtheTcross-
.TexaminationTtoTwhichTheTsubjectedTtheTcomplainantTandThisTwitnessesTareTtakenTintoTaccount,TitTwouldTbeTdifficult.TweTthi
nkTtoTrejectThisTpleaTofTgoodTfaithTonTtheTgroundTthatTtheTwrittenTstatementTwasTfiledTveryTlateTandTtheTpleasTtakenTinTitT
areTanTafter-
thought.TItTisTbecauseTofTtheseTinfirmitiesTinTtheTjudgementTunderTappealTthatTweTallowedTMr.TBhasinTtoTtakeTusTthroughTth
eTevidenceTinTthisTcase.TWeToughtTtoTaddTthatTMr.TAnand,TwhoTappearedTforTtheTcomplainant,TfairlyTconcededTthatThavingTr
egardTtoTtheTfactTthatTtheTlearnedTJudgeThadTmisdirectedThimselfTinTlaw,TtheTappellantTwouldTbeTentitledTtoTrequestTthisTCou
rtTtoTexamineTtheTevidenceTforTitselfTbeforeTitTacceptedTtheTconclusionTofTtheTlearnedTJudgeTonTtheTquestionTofTappellant'sTg
oodTfaith.

(1)[1958]TS.C.R.T749.

BeforeTweTproceedTtoTreferTtoTtheTbroadTfeaturesTofTtheTevidence,TitTwouldTbeTrelevantTtoTmentionToneTfact.TTheTappellantT
wasTatTtheTrelevantTtimeTtheTStateTSecretaryTofTtheTPunjabTPrajaTSocialistTParty.THeTisTaTpublicTworkerTandTbelongsTtoTanT
activeTpoliticalTparty.THeThadTstatedTthatTthereTwasTnoTanimnsTinThisTmindTagainstTtheTcomplainantTandThisTfather,TandTthat
TisTnotTseriouslyTdisputed.TMaliceTinTthatTsenseTmust,Ttherefore.TbeTeliminatedTinTdealingTwithTtheTappellant'sTplea.TItTisTquit
eTtrueTthatTevenTifTtheTappellantTwasTnotTactuatedTbyTmalice,TitTwouldTnotTbeTpossibleTtoTsustainThisTpleaTofTgoodTfaithTm
erelyTbecauseTheTmadeTtheTimpugnedTstatementTasTaTpublicTworkerTandTheTcanTclaimTthatTheTwasTnotTactuatedTbyTpersonal
TmaliceTagainstTtheTcomplainant.TAbsenceTofTpersonalTmaliceTmayTbeTaTrelevantTfactTinTdealingTwithTtheTappellant'sTpleaTof
TgoodTfaith,TbutTitsTsignificanceTorTimportanceTcannotTbeTexaggerated.TEvenTinTtheTabsenceTofTpersonalTmalice.TtheTappellant
TwillThaveTtoTshowTthatTheTactedTwithTdueTcareTandTattention.

ThereTisTanotherTfactTwhichTmustTalsoTbeTborneTinTmind.TTheTstatementTwhichTtheTaccusedTpublishedTwasTinTresponseTtoTth
eTchallengeTissuedTbyTtheTGovernmentTofTPunjab.TItTisTnotTearlyTtoTunderstandTwhyTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTthoughtTitTnece
ssaryTtoTissueTaTPressTstatementTinTregardTtoTallegationsTwhichTwereTmadeTbyTtheTUrduTpapersTagainstTaTMinister'sTson.TBut
TtheTPunjabTGovernmentTappearsTtoThaveTenteredTtheTarenaTandTissuedTaTchallengeTtoTtheTnewspapersTinTquestion,TandTitTw
asTinTresponseTtoTthisTchallengeTthatTtheTappellantTpublishedTtheTimpugnedTstatement.TInTthisTstatement,TtheTappellantTrequest
edTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTtoTappointTanTindependentTCommitteeTofTimpartialTJudgesTtoTinvestigateTtheTmatter,TandTheTundert
ookTtoTproveTtheTtruthTofThisTchargeTifTanTindependentTcommitteeTwasTappointed.TInTthatTconnections.TheTstatedTthatTheTwis
hedTtoTbringTitTtoTtheTnoticeTofTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTthatTtheTChiefTMinister'sTsonTisTbeingTdiscussedTinTalmostTeveryTP
unjabiThouse,TbutTpeopleTwereTafraidTofTtalkingTaboutThimTinTpublicTlestTtheyTbeTpunishedTforTthat.TThatTisTtheTgenesisTofT
theTimpugnedTstatement.

TheTtwoTdefamatoryTstatementsTmadeTbyTtheTappellantTareTthatTtheTcomplainantTisTtheTpersonTagainstTwhomTtheTallegationsT
areTmadeTinTtheTPress,TandTthatTheTisTnotTonlyTaT"leaderTofTsmugglersTbutTisTresponsibleTforTaTlargeTnumberTofTcrimesTbei
ngTcommittedTinTtheTPunjab."TTheTstatementTaddedTthatT"becauseTtheTculpritThappensTtoTbeTtheTChiefTMinister'sTson,TtheTcas
esTareTalwaysTshelvedTup."TTheTquestionTwhichTcallsTforTourTdecisionTis:ThasTtheTappellantTshownTthatTheTactedTinTgoodTfai
thTwhenTheTmadeTanTimputationTagainstTtheTcomplainantTthatTheTwasTtheTleaderTofTtheTsmugglersTandTwasTresponsibleTforTa
TlargeTnumberTofTcrimesTbeingTcommittedTinTPunjab'?
TInTdealingTwithTthisTquestion,TweToughtTtoTtakeTaTbroadTsurveyTofTtheTevidenceTledTbyTtheTappellantTandTtheTbackgroundT
inTwhichTtheTimpugnedTstatementTcameTtoTbeTmade.TItTappearsTthatTbeforeTtheTimpugnedTstate-

mentTwasTmade,TnewspapersThadTbeenTpublishingTreportsTagainstTaTMinister'sTsonTwithoutTnamingThim.TSomeTMembersTofTth
eTPunjabTLegislativeTAssemblyThadTalsoTmadeTsimilarTstatementsTonTtheTfloorTofTtheTHouse.

TheTappellantTexaminedTsomeTwitnesses.TJagatTNarain,TwhoTisTanTM.L.A.TwasToneTofTthem.THeTstatedTthatTinTtheTyearT195
6,goldTsmugglingThadTincreasedTonTtheTAmritsarTborderTandTthatTheTderivedThisTknowledgeTfromTtheTnewspapers.THeTsaidThe
ThadTreceivedTcomplaintsTorallyTandTinTwritingTaboutTtheTgoldTsmugglingTonTtheTborderTandTtheseTsuggestedTtheTcomplicityT
ofTaTMinister'sTsonTinTsmuggling.TWhenTheTwasTaskedTwhetherTheTcouldTnameTtheTinformants,TheTstatedTthatTheTwouldTnot
TlikeTtoTnameTthemTlestTtheyTgetTintoTtrouble.TSajjanTSinghTisTanotherTwitnessTwhomTtheTappellantTexaminedTHeTwasTtheTP
arliamentaryTSecretaryTofTtheTPrajaTSocialistTParty.THeTstatedTthatTtheTappellantThadTvisitedTAmritsarTareaTinT1957TandTheTh
adTtoldTtheTappellantTaboutTtheTlargeTscaleTsmugglingTinTtheTborderTarea.THeThadTalsoTtoldThimTthatTHazaraTSingh,TShingha
raTSingh,TBudhaTSinghTandTTaraTPanditTwereTsmugglersTandTsomeTofTtheTMembersTofTtheTLegislativeTAssemblyTwereThelpin
gTtheTsmugglersTandTthatTtheTpoliceTdidTnotTtakeTanyTactionTagainstTHazaraTSinghTbecauseTofThisTconnectionTwithTtheTcomp
lainantTThisTwitnessThadTseenTHazaraTSinghTandTtheTcomplainantTmovingTtogetherTinTconnectionTwithTtheTelectionTcampaigns
TofT1952TandT1957.TTheTelectionTofT1957TtookTplaceTsomeTtimeTinTFebruary,1957;TandTsO,TtheTevidenceTofTthisTwitnessTsh
owsTthatTheThadTgivenTtheTinformationTaboutTtheTcomplainant'sTconductTinTrespectTofTHazaraTSinghTandTotherTmattersTinTab
outTFebruary,T1957.

ThatTtakesTusTtoTtheTevidenceTofTKulwantTRaiTofTvillageTSirhali,TDistrictTAmritsar.TAgainstTthisTwitness,TcasesTwereTpending
TunderTs.T8(1)TofTtheTForeignTExchangeTRegulationTAct,Ts.T5(3)TofTtheTLandTCustomsTActTandTs.T19TofTtheTSeaTCustomsT
Act.TItThasTalsoTbeenTallegedTagainstThimTthatT140TtoTlasTofTsmuggledTgoldThadTbeenTfoundTinThisTpossession.THeTwasTals
oTprosecutedTbyTMr.TDhir,TMagistrate,TTarnTTaran,TunderTtheTIndianTArmsTAct.T,redTprosecutionTunderTtheTIndianTOpiumTAc
tTwasTalsoTpendingTagainstThim.TItTappearsTthatTtwoTcasesTagainstThimTwereTwithdrawnTbecauseTaTcommunicationTdatedTMay
T18,T1957,TwasTaddressedTbyTtheTHomeTSecretaryTtoTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTtoTtheTDistrictTMagistrateTAmritsar,TdirectingThi
mTtoTwithdrawTtheTtwoTcasesTpendingTagainstThim.TTheTletterTrequiredTtheTDistrictTMagist:ateTtoTtakeTactionTinTthatTbehalfTi
mmediately.TItTisTremarkableTthatTanTaffidavitTwasTfiledTbyTKulwantTRaiTdatedTMayT21,T1957,TwhereinTheTstatedTthatTtheTC
hiefTMinisterThadTpassedTanTorderTonTMayT7,T1957,TforTtheTwithdrawalTofTtheTcasesTagainstThimTandTthatTtheTGovernmentT
orderTinTthatTbehalfTwouldTbeTreceivedTbyTtheTcourtTveryTsoon.TThisTmeansTthatTKulwantTRaiTknewTaboutTtheTdecisionTofTt
heTGovernmentTtoTwithdrawTcasesTagainstThimTevenTbeforeTtheTsaidTdecisionTwasTcommunicatedTtoTtheTDistrictTMagis-

trateTandTthenTtoTtheTtrialTMagistrate.TItTisTalsoTsignificantTthatTonTJuneT9,T1957,TwhenTtheTproceedingsTunderTs.T514TCr.TP
.C.,TwereTfixedTforThearingTagainstTKulwantTRai,TheTwasTabsentTfromTcourtTandTaTtelegramTwasTreceivedTbyTtheTMagistrateT
thatTKulwantTRaiTwasTillTandThisTabsenceTshouldTbeTexcused.TThisTtelegramTwasTsentTnotTbyTKulwantTRaiTbutTbyTtheTcom
plainant.TTheTcomplainantTnoTdoubtTdeniedTthatTheThadTsentTsuchTaTtelegram,TbutTtheTHighTCourtThasTfoundTthatTinTallTpro
bability,TtheTtelegramThadTbeenTsentTbyTtheTcomplainant.TTheTcomplainantTalsoTdidTnotTadmitTthatTheTwasTaTfriendTofTKulw
antTRai.TThereTagain,TtheTHighTCourtTwasTnotTpreparedTtoTacceptTtheTcomplainant'sTversion.TOnTthisTevidence,TitTseemsTplai
nTthatTtheTcomplainantTknewTKulwantTRaiTveryTwellTandTdidTnotTstopTshortTofThelpingThimTactivelyTbyTsendingTaTtelegram
TtoTtheTMagistrateTtoTexcuseTKulwantTRai'sTabsenceTonTtheTdateTofThearingTofTtheTcaseTagainstThim.TFromTtheTevidenceTof
TKulwantTRaiTwhomTtheTappellantThadTtoTexamineTtoTsupportThisTpleaTofTgoodTfaith.TitTisTnotTdifficultTtoTinferTthatTKulwa
ntTRaiTwasTcharge-
sheetedTinTrespectTofTseveralToffences,TandTanTallegationThadTbeenTmadeTagainstThimTthatTheTwasTconnectedTwithTgoldTsmug
gling.TIfTtheTappellantTknewTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTfriendlyTwithTsuchTaTcharacter,TwouldTheTbeTjustifiedTinTclaimingTthat
TinTgivingTexpressionTtoThisTbeliefTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasThandTinTgloveTwithTKulwantTRai,TaTgoldTsmuggler,TheTwasTact
ingTinTgoodTfaith'?
TThatTisTtheTquestionTwhichThasTtoTbeTansweredTinTtheTpresentTcase.TInTdealingTwithTthisTaspectTofTtheTmatter,TtheTlearned
TJudgeTnoTdoubtTfoundTthatTtheTmaterialTonTtheTrecordTwasTenoughTtoTjustifyTtheTconclusionTthatTthereTwasTfriendshipTbetw
eenTKulwantTRaiTandTtheTcomplainantTand'TthatTtheTcomplainantThadTsentTaTtelegramTtoTtheTMagistrateTonTKulwantTRai'sTbe
half,TbutTheTthoughtTitThadTnotTbeenTprovedTthatTinTfact,TKulwantTRaiThadTbeenTengagedTinTgoldTsmuggling.TNoTdoubt,TaT
caseTwasTpendingTagainstThimTforTgoldTsmuggling;TbutTtheTlearnedTJudgeTheldTthatTtheTpendencyTofTaTcriminalTcaseTdoesTn
otTnecessarilyTproveTthatTtheTchargeTlevelledTagainstTKulwantTRaiTwasTinTfactTtrue.TItTisTthisTapproachTwhichTisTsubstantially
TresponsibleTforTtheTlearnedTJudge'sTconclusionTthatTgoodTfaithTisTnotTprovedTinTrespectTofTtheTallegationsTmadeTbyTtheTapp
ellantTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTaTfriendTandTleaderTofTgoldTsmugglers.TTheTlearnedTJudgeToverlookedTtheTfactTthatTinTdealin
gTwithTthisTaspectTofTtheTmatter,TtheTpertinentTenquiryTisTnotTwhether,TinTfact,TtheTchargeTofTgoldTsmugglingThadTbeenTprov
edTagainstTKulwantTRaiTandTwhetherTitTisTshownTsatisfactorilyTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTassistingThimTinTthatTbehalf.TWhatTi
sTpertinentTtoTenquireTis,TifTtheTappellantTknewTaboutTthisTevidenceTatTtheTrelevantTtimeTandTheTbelievedTthatTtheTcomplaina
ntTwasTassistingTKulwantTRaiTinTrespectTofThisTgoldTsmugglingTactivities,TcouldTheTbeTsaidTtoThaveTactedTinTgoodTfaithTorT
notTwhenTheTpublishedTtheTstatementTinTthatTbehalf?

WeTmayTincidentallyTpointToutTthatTweTcannotToverlookTtheTfactTthatTtheTappellantTexperiencedTsomeTdifficultyTinTprovingThi
sTcaseTinTtheTpresentTproceedings,TbecauseTwitnessesTwereTnotTwillingTtoTcomeToutTandTgiveTevidence,TthoughTtheyTmayThav
eTgivenTthatTinformationTtoTtheTappellantTbeforeTheTmadeThisTstatement.TTakeTforTinstance,TtheTcaseTofTHardinTSinghTofTvill
ageTPatti.TItTappearsTthatTthisTwitnessTwasTarrestedTbyTtheTpoliceTonTJuneT19,T1959TasTaTsuspectTsmugglerTandTheTwasTkept
TinTtheTlock-
upTfromTJuneT19TtoTJuneT25,T1959TandTwasTthereafterTletToff.TAccordingTtoThim,TheTwasTarrestedTbecauseTheThadTbeenTsu
mmonedTasTaTdefenceTwitnessTinTtheTpresentTcase.TLetTusTthenTconsiderTtheTcaseTofTHazaraTSinghTandTtheTassociationTofTth
eTcomplainantTwithThim.THazaraTSinghTcomesTfromTtheTsameTvillageTtoTwhichTtheTfamilyTofTtheTcomplainantTbelongs,TandTy
et,TheTwasTnotTpreparedTevenTtoTadmitTthatTheTknewTtheTcomplainantTorThisTfamily.TTheTlearnedTJudgeTrealisedTthatTHazara
TSinghTwasTnotTpreparedTtoTspeakTtheTtruthTatTleastTonTsomeTpoints,TandTso,TheTobservedTthatTheTwasTwillingTtoTacceptTth
eTappellant'sTcaseTthatTtheTcomplainant,TSadhuTSinghTandTMajorTNaurangTSingh,TSeniorTSuperintendentTofTPoliceTwereTonTfri
endlyTterms..THe,Thowever,TthoughtTthatTitTwasTnotTclearlyTshownTonTtheTrecordTwhetherTHazaraTSinghTwasTenteredTasTaTba
dmintonTinTtheTpoliceTregistersTandTthatTthereTwasTalsoTnoTconvincingTevidenceTonTrecordTtoTshowTthatTHazaraTSinghTwasTa
TgoldTsmuggler.TTheTlearnedTJudgeTreferredTtoTtheTevidenceTwhichTshowedTthatTtheTcomplainantTandTHazaraTSinghTwereTmo
vingTtogetherTduringTtheTelectionTdaysTandTwereTfriendlyTwithTeachTother;TbutTthat.TaccordingTtoTtheTlearnedTJudge,TdidTnot
TproveTtheTtruthTofTtheTstatementTthatTHazaraTSinghTwasTaTgoldTsmugglerTandTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasThisTfriend.TThisTap
proachTagainTisTpartlyTbasedTuponTimportingTintoTtheTdiscussionTtheTconsiderationTaboutTtheTtruthTofTtheTstatementTwhichTwo
uldTbeTrelevantTunderTtheTFirstTExceptionTbutTwhichTisTnotTmaterialTunderTtheTNinthTException.TInTconnectionTwithTHazaraT
Singh,TandTKulwantTRai,TthereTareTtwoTdocumentsTtoTwhichTourTattentionThasTbeenTinvitedTbyTMr.TBhasin.TTheseTdocuments
TshowTthatTKulwantTRaiTwasTtreatedTonTtheTPoliceTrecordTasTaTnotoriousTsmugglerTandThabitualToffender,TandTHazaraTSingh
TwasTtreatedTasTaTbadTcharacterTandThisTnameTwasTborneTonTregisterTNo.T10,TandThisThistoryTsheetTwasTopenedTatTNo.T110
TATBasraTAlif.TThereThasTbeenTsomeTargumentTbeforeTusTatTtheTBarTonTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhetherTtheseTtwoTdocumentsTa
reTdulyTproved.TMr.TArtTandTforTtheTcomplainantThasTstronglyTurgedTthatTtheseTdocumentsTareTnotTproved.TandTinTanyTevent
.TnoTrelianceTwasTplacedTonTthemTinTtheTcourtsTbelow.TThisTlatterTcontentionTisTundoubtedlyTtrue;TbutTtheTcontentionTthatTth
eTdocumentsTwereTnotTprovedTinTtheTpresentTcaseTstrikesTusTasTnoneTtooTstrong,TbecauseTtheseTdocumentsThaveTbeenTinclude
dTinTtheTpaperTbookTafterTtheTlistsTmadeTbyTtheTrespectiveTadvocatesTforTtheTpartiesTwereTexchangedTandTtheTindexTwasTfin
allyTsettledTwithTtheirTapprovalTinTtheTPunjabTHighTCourt.TTheTlearnedTAdvocateTforTtheTStateTorTtheTcomplainantTdidTnotTo
bjectTtoTtheTinclusionTofTtheseTtwoTdocumentsTinTtheTrecord,TandTthisTshowedTthatTtheyTwereTtreatedTasTdulyTformingTpartT
ofTtheTrecord.TItTdoesTappearTthatTMr.TDhir,TtheTResidentTMagistrate,TKaithalT(D.W.T27)ThasTproducedTtheTwholeTfileTofTthe
TcaseTinTrespectTofTtheTproceedingsTtakenTunderTs.5/4.TCr.TP.C.,TandTMr.TBhasinTcontendsTthatTalongTwithTtheTfile,TtheTtwo
TdocumentsTinTrespectTofTKulwantTRatTwereTreceived.TMr.TAnandTnoTdoubtTsuggestedTthatTitTwasTnotTshownTunderTwhatTsta
tutoryTprovisions.TtheseTdocumentsTareTkept;TbutTsinceTtheTadmissibilityTofTtheseTdocumentsTdoesTnotTappearTtoThaveTbeenTch
allengedTinTtheTcourtsTbelow,TweTthinkToilTisTtooTlateTtoTraiseTthisTtechnicalTpointTatTthisTstage.THowever.TinTdealingTwithTt
heTappeal.TweTareTpreparedTtoTexcludeTfromTourTconsiderationTevidenceTfurnishedTbyTtheseTtwoTdocuments.TEvenTwithoutTthe
m.TthereTisTenoughTevidenceTtoTshowTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTfriendlyTwithTKulwantTRatTandTHazaraTSingh,TandTonTtheTw
hole.TweTareTinclinedTtoTtakeTtheTviewTthatTifTtheTappellantTknewTaboutTtheTcomplainant'sTfriendshipTandTactiveTassociationT
withTtheseTtwoTpersonsTandThadTotherTinformationTaboutTtheTactivitiesTofTtheseTtwoTpersons.TitTcannotTbeTsaidTthatTheTdidTn
otTactTinTgoodTfaithTwhen,TinTresponseTtoTtheTchallengeTissuedTbyTtheTPunjabTGovernment.TheTcameTupTwithTtheTimpugned
TstatementTandTsentTitTforTpublicationTinTtheTPress.TThen,TinTregardTtoTtheTotherTallegationTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTconcer
nedTwithTtheTcommissionTofToffencesTinTPunjab,TweTmayTreferTtoTtheTevidenceTledTbyTtheTappellantTtoTshowTthatTinTmakin
gTthisTcharge,TheTactedTinTgoodTfaith.TTheTwitnessTtoTwhoseTevidenceTreferenceThasTbeenTmadeTbyTMr.TBhasinTinTrespectTo
fTthisTpartTofTtheTcaseTisTMr.TK.K.TDewett,TwhoTwasTtheTPrincipalTofTtheTPunjabTUniversityTCollege,THoshiarpur,TbetweenTJ
une,T1952TandTApril,T1958.TTheTincidentTtoTwhichTthisTwitnessTdeposed'TtookTplaceTinT1953.TAtTthisTtime.TtheTcomplainantT
hadTleftTtheTcollegeTatTHoshiarpur.TOnTJanuaryT19,TheTwentTtoTthatTcollegeTtoTgetThisTcertificateTPrincipalTDewettTinThisTev
idenceTdidTnotTsupportTtheTappellantTinThisTsuggestionTthatTtheTcomplainantThadTbehavedTinTaTcriminalTwayTandThadTthreate
nedTtoTassaultTtheTstudentsTinTtheTcollegeTonTthatToccasion.TButTtheTconfidentialTreportTmadeTbyThimTonTJanuaryT22TshowsT
thatTinTtheTwitness-
boxTPrincipalTDewettThesitatedTtoTdiscloseTtheTwholeTtruth.TThisTreportTunambiguouslyTindicatesTthatTtheTcomplainantTthreaten
edTseveralTstudentsTwithTaTstick.TandTitTspeaksTofTtwoTorTthreeTincidentsTthatTtookTplaceTwhichTcreatedTaTconsiderableTexcit
ementTandTcommotionTamongTtheTstudentTcommunityTinTtheTcollege.TInTthisTreport,TtheTPrincipal,TinTfact,TdescribesTtheTsituat
ionTasTveryTugly.TandTheTrefersTtoTtheTfactTthatTtheTstudentsTwentTonTstrikeTandTpassedTresolutions,TdemandingTtheTrusticatio
nTofTtheTcomplainantTfromTtheTUniversityTandTalsoTprotestingTagainstTinactionTandTpartialityTofTtheTPrincipalThimself.TThisTc
onfidentialTreportTwasTfurtherTinquiredTinto,TandTtheTdocumentsTinTrespectTofTthisTenquiryTareTalsoTonTtheTrecord.TTheTstude
ntsTseemTtoThaveTdemandedTthatTtheTcomplainantTshouldTbeTarrested.TbecauseTtheyTwereTafraid'TthatTheTwouldTcollectThisTfri
endsTandTcauseTmischiefTtoTthem.T'Ultimately,TtheTVice-
ChancellorTmadeTaTreportTtoTtheTChancellorTthatThavingTexaminedTtheTmatter,TheTcameTtoTtheTconclusionTthatTtheTcomplaina
ntTwasT"aTbitTbumptiousTandTthrowsThisTweightTaboutTinTaTwayTwhichTfellow-
studentsTfindTirritating".THeTaddedT"HowToneTwishesTthatTtheTsonsTofTmenTholdingTexaltedTofficesTinTtheTStateTwouldTbehav
eTinTaTwayTconsistentTwithTtheTdignityTofTtheirTparents".TTheTlearnedTJudgeTdoesTnotTappearTtoThaveTtakenTintoTaccountTthe
seTreports,TbutThasTsubstantiallyTreliedTonTtheToralTevidenceTofTtheTPrincipalThimself.TEvenTso,TheThasTrecordedThisTconclusio
nTthatTtheTevidenceTshowsTjuvenileTindiscretionTonTtheTpartTofTtheTcomplainantTbutTnoTjuvenileTdelinquencyTandTcertainlyTno
T"crimeTinTtheTsenseTofTtheTlibelousTimputationTmade".TInTdealingTwithTthisTpartTofTtheTimputationTagain,TtheTlearnedTJudge
TshouldThaveTaskedThimselfTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhetherTonTtheTmaterialTofTtheTkindTdisclosedTbyTtheTconfidentialTreportTma
deTbyTtheTPrincipal,TwouldTaTpersonTofTordinaryTprudenceTactingTbonafideTinTgoodTfaithTbeTnotTjustifiedTinTcomingTtoTtheTc
onclusionTthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTnotTonlyTthrowingThisTweightTabout,TbutTwasTalsoTthreateningTassaultsTinTtheTcollege,Tbe
causeTheTthoughtTheTwouldTbeTimmuneTfromTlegalTprocessTbyTvirtueTofThisTposition?
TTheTfactTthatTtheTappellantTcalledTforTseveralTdocumentsTandTgaveTaTlistTofTwitnessesTasTsoonTasTheTenteredTonThisTdefenc
e,TshowsTwhatTheTknewTatTtheTrelevantTtime,TandThisTpleaTthatTheTactedTinTgoodTfaithThasTtoTbeTjudgedTonTtheTbasisTthat
TheTmadeTtheTimputationsTbecauseTheThadTmaterialTofTthisTkindTinThisTpossession.

ItTisTtrueTthatTtheTappellantThasTstatedTinThisTwrittenTstatementTthatTseveralTpersonsTcameTandTreportedTtoThimTagainstTtheTc
omplainant,TandTamongstTthemTwereTincludedTsomeThighTpoliceTofficialsTasTwell;TbutThavingTregardTtoTtheTfactTthatTtheTcom
plainant'sTfatherToccupiedTtheTpositionTofTtheTChiefTMinisterTofTPunjab.TtheyTwereTnotTwillingTtoTcomeTforwardTand_TgiveTe
videnceTinTcourt.TInTfact,TtheTappellantThadTrequestedTtheTPunjabTGovernmentTinThisTimpugnedTstatementTtoTappointTaTcomm
issionTofTinquiryTandThadTstatedTthatTifTaTcommissionTofTinquiryTwasTappointed,TheTwouldTproveThisTchargesTagainstTtheTco
mplainant.TItTisTinTtheTlightTofTtheseTcircumstances,TthatTweThaveTtoTdecideTwhetherTtheTappellantThasTprovedTthatTheTacted
TinTgoodTfaithTorTnot.TInTdealingTwithTthisTquestion.TweTcannotToverlookTorTignoreTtheTprobabilitiesTonTwhichTtheTappellant
Trelies,TtheTsurroundingTcircumstancesTtoTwhichTheThasTreferredTandTtheTactualTevidenceTwhichTheThasTled.

Incidentally,TweTmayTmentionTtwoTotherTdocumentsTonTwhichTMr.TBhasinThasTrelied.TOnTFebruaryT20,T1957.TtheTcomplainant
TwroteTaTletterTtoT'MajorTSahib'T(SSP).TInTthatTletter,TheTtoldTtheTMajorTSahibTtoTgrantTleaveTtoTS.TGurdialTSinghTNo.T172
5TpostedTatTChowkiTKhosaTBurj,TandTheTaddedTthatTitTwasTveryTurgent,TandTaskedThimTtoTdoTitTimmediately.TSimilarly,Ton
TJuneT3,T1956,TtheTcomplainantTwroteTaTletterTtoTtheTExecutiveTOfficer,TTaranTTaran,TinTwhichTheTstatedT"ourT10/12TtrucksT
loadedTwithTwoodTwillTbeTreachingTTaranTTaranToneTorTtwoTdaily.TTherefore,TyouTpleaseTinstructTyourTMoharrirTonTtheTJand
iala-AmritsarTroadTthatThe

253.TshouldTnotTcreateTanyTobstructionTregardingToctroi".TItTwouldTbeTnoticedTthatTtheTcomplainantThadTbeenTwritingTtoTGov
ernmentTservantsTinTrespectTofTmattersTfallingTwithinTtheirTauthorityTasTsuchTservants;TandTthatTshows,TaccordingTtoTMr.TBha
sin.TthatTtheTcomplainantTwasTthrowingThisTweightTaboutTevenTinTmattersTwithTwhichTheThadTnoTconnectionTatTall.

WeThaveTcarefullyTconsideredTtheTevidenceTtoTwhichTourTattentionTwasTdrawnTbyTMr.TBhasinTasTwellTasTMr.TAnand,TandTw
eThaveTcomeTtoTtheTconclusionTthatTtheTHighTCourtTwasTinTerrorTinTholdingTthatTtheTappellantThadTfailedTtoTshowTthatTheT
actedTinTgoodTfaithTwhenTheTpublishedTtheTimpugnedTstatement.TAsTweThaveTalreadyTstated,TitThasTbeenTfoundTbyTtheTHigh
TCourtTandTitTisTnotTdisputedTbeforeTusTthatTtheTpublicationTofTtheTimpugnedTstatementTwasTforTtheTpublicTgood;TandTso,To
urTconclusionTisTthatTtheTappellantTisTentitledTtoTclaimTtheTprotectionTofTtheTNinthTException.TBeforeTweTpartTwithTthisTappe
al,TweToughtTtoTaddTthatTthisTmatterTcameTbeforeTthisTCourtTforThearingTonTtheT1stTSeptember,T1964,TandTanTinterlocutoryTj
udgmentTwasTdeliveredTbyTwhichTcertainTdocumentsTwereTcalledTfor.TOnTthatToccasion,TMr.TBhasinThadTpressedTbeforeTthisT
CourtThisTcontentionTthatTtheTtrialTJudgeTwasTinTerrorTinTnotTcallingTforTcertainTdocumentsTwhichTtheTappellantTwantedTtoTre
lyTon,TandTinTupholdingTtheTpleaTofTprivilegeTmadeTbyTStateTGovt.TinTrespectTofTcertainTotherTdocuments.TWeTwantedTtoTsa
tisfyTourselvesTwhetherTtheTdocumentsTonTwhichTMr.TBhasinTwantedTtoTrelyTwereTrelevantTandTwhetherTtheTpleaTofTprivilege
TclaimedTbyTtheTStateTwasTjustified.TSomeTofTtheseTdocumentsThaveTbeenTreceivedTbyTthisTCourtTinTpursuanceTofTourTinterl
ocutoryTjudgment.TButTweTdoTnotTthinkTitTnecessaryTtoTconsiderTthisTmatter,TbecauseTtheTdocumentsTwhichTMr.TBhasinTwant
edTtoTbeTproducedTorTprovedTmightTatTbest.TifTtheyTareTadmitted,TbeTofThelpTtoThimTtoTshowTthatTtheTallegationsTmadeTby
TtheTappellantTareTtrue.TtoThimThoweverTisTaTpleaTwhichTfailsTunderTtheTFirstTExceptionTandTsinceTtheTappellantTdidTnotTcla
imTtheTbenefitTofTthatTExceptionTinTtheTHighTCourt,TweTdoTnotTthinkTitTwouldTbeTopenTtoTtheTappellantTtoTpressThisTpoint
TthatTweTshouldTexamineTtheTquestionTasTtoTwhetherTtheTtrialTJudgeTerredTinTnotTallowingTtheTappellantTtoTbringTtheseTdocu
mentsTonTtheTrecord.TThatTisTwhyTweTdid'TnotTlookTatTtheseTdocumentsTandThaveTnotTconsideredTtheTquestionTraisedTbyTMr
.TBhasinTatTtheTtimeTwhenTtheTinterlocutoryTjudgmentTwasTdeliveredTinTthisTcase.TInTotherTwords,TtheTappellantTisTnotTallow
edTtoTraiseThisTpleaTthatTtheTallegationsTmadeTbyThimTinTtheTimpugnedTstatementTareTtrue.

EvenTso.TinTviewTofTourTconclusionTthatTtheTappellantThasTsucceededTinTshowingTthatTheTisTentitledTtoTtheTprotectionTofTthe
TNinthTExceptionTtoTs.T499,TtheTappealTmustTbeTallowedTandTtheTorderTofTconvictionTandTsentenceTpassedT.againstTtheTappel
lantTsetTaside.theTfineTimposedTonTtheTappellantThasTbeenTpaidTbyThim,TtheTsameTshouldTbeTrefundedTtoThim.

AppealTallowed.