SELVAKUMAR Vs. MANJULA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) This appeal by Accused No. 2 is against the judgment and order of the High Court of Judicature at Madras,[In Crl. Appeal No. 335 of 2013 dtd. 22/8/2019 and 27/8/2019]. convicting him under Ss. 16 and 17 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976[hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'.]. By the said judgment, the High Court reversed the decision of the Principal Sessions Judge,[In Sessions Case No. 51 of 2007 dtd. 30/7/2012]. Kancheepuram at Chengalpattu, by which the Appellant was acquitted under the Act as well under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as the 1989 Act).

(3.) The Appellant/Accused No. 2 is the son of Accused No. 1 who expired during the pendency of the matter before the Trial Court itself. The case of the prosecution is that upon a complaint received at his office on 3/3/2006, the District Revenue Officer, Chengalpattu (hereinafter referred to as PW-­8), raided M/s Murugesa Naicker Selvakumar Rice Mill, Paramasivam Nagar, Thirukazhukundram, Tamil Nadu, along with other officers and found PW's 1 to 6 working in the Rice Mill as bonded labourers. He issued necessary order under exhibit P-­4 to P-­10 to release the labourers. Following the raid, an FIR came to be filed on 16/3/2006 against Accused No. 1, the father of the Appellant herein, and also against the Appellant as Accused No. 2.