Das Gupta, J. - (1.) On the complaint of the present petitioner Kumar Purnendu Nath Tagore the Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate, Calcutta, issued processes against one Saliendra Kumar Chakraborty for an offence under Section 500, I. P. C. and against some other persons for an offence under Section 500/ 109, I. P. C. The case was transferred to Mr. M. C. Sarbadhikary, Presidency Magistrate, for trial but after some witnesses had been examined by him he went away on transfer.. His successor directed a fresh trial. Lady Ranu Mookerjee of No. 7 Harrington Street who , it is said, is the President of the National Academy of Pine Arts, was summoned to appeal as a witness for the complainant on 28-11-1955. On that date she filed an application praying that as her heart was very weak, she would not be able to attend the Magistrate's court which was on the first floor and she might be examined on commission. The Magistrate refused the prayer but ordered that he would examine her on the 6th of December in a ground-floor room.
(2.) For reasons which are not relevant to the decision of the present application, she was not . examined on the 9th of December. A fresh summons was served on her directing her to appear in Court to give her evidence in the case on 7-5-1956. On 2-5-1956, she filed another application praying that she might be examined on commission. The relevant portion of this application is in these words : "Your petitioner is a Hindu Brahmin lady and although she is not a purdanashin is wholly unaccustomed to appear in a public place like a Court and it will cause her great hardship and embarassment to do so. Further your petitioner has not been for some time in good health. She is however fully conscious of her duty to this Honorable Court to render assistance by giving such evidence as she can and she is ready to do so before Your Honour or any Commissioner that may be appointed. In the premises, your petitioner most respectfully submits that the ends of justice will be met and served by her being permitted to be examined either on commission by a Commissioner or by Your Honour but in some place (considered to be convenient by Your Honour) other than the Court building. Your, petitioner is ready and willing to bear and pay the costs of the commission or any costs of or incidental to her examination outside Court buildings. In the circumstances, it is prayed that Your Honour would be so kind as to examine the petitioner on commission or make such other order as to Your Honour deems just." On the 7th May the learned Magistrate passed an order, the material portion of which runs thus : ".... .I think in view of the position she holds in society as stated by the learned counsel for her, the embarrassment she says she feels in appearing in a court of law may not be considered as quite unnatural or ummderstaudable. As she is a lady and only a witness I am prepared to accommodate her and hold court for examining her in a building not far oil from the court that can be arranged. The learned Counsel for Lady Mukherjea assures that he will bo able to arrange this in the Wallace Building opposite the Bankshall courts on the Bankshall Street. Should he be able to arrange this, I have no objection to hold the court there for her examination arid as the building is just opposite these courts, it should not inconvenience? any of the parties, either the complainant or the accused. The learned Advocate for the complainant objects to holding the court outside the court buildings. The accused have no objection. The learned Counsel for Lady Ranu Mukherjea offers to bear all the expenses incidental to holding the court in the Wallace Building and get the necessary permission for use of a portion of the premises. The case is adjourned to 17-5-1956 at 2-30 P.M. for examination of Lady Ranu Mukherjea and also complainant if time permits at Wallace Building, - Bankshall Street....."
(3.) On 11-5-1956, the Magistrate, on being informed by the owners of the Wallace Building that the Board room of the Company could be placed at the disposal of the Court up to 3-30 P.M. only and suggesting that if the room was required for a longer period, some other date be fixed, fixed 21-5-1856, at 2-30 P.M. for the examination of the witnesses at Wallace Building.;