SAHIB SINGH MEHRA Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Sahib Singh Mehra, appellant in this appeal by special leave, published an W in his paper 'Kaliyug' of 'Aligarh, dated September 22, 1960, under the heading 'Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Dante' which means that a thief reprimanded the kotwal, a police officer, though the right thing would be the other way. The article contained the following expressions, as translated:

(2.) The Public Prosecutor and the II Assistant Public Prosecutors at Aligarh requested the Superintendent of Police for obtaining the sanction of the Government for filing a complaint by the District Government Counsel in the Court of the Sessions Judge under S. 500, I. P. C. The Government was duly approached through proper channel and, ultimately, the Home Secretary, U. P. Government, wrote to the Inspector General, U. P. on March 1, 1961:

(3.) The appellant admitted before the Sessions Judge the publication of the impugned article and stated that he never had any evil intention. He further stated that he had published the news item for the good of the public and that he had published it in most general terms to bring bad things to the notice of the Government and the authorities for the public good.