‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎260v] (68/192)

Chapter III.
PROTECTION.
Cases and persons
brought to trial.
44
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
^ 919 - 1920 ,
accusations having been found to be frivolous or vexatious. Proceed'
maintenance under chapter XXXVI of the Criminal Procedure Codew 1 ^? ^ 0r
against 84 persons and proceedings under chapter XLII of the Code 611
ture of bail or recognizance were taken in the case of 1,337 persons ° r ° rfei '
3. Of the persons convicted, 3,833 were punished with rigorous i •
ment, 2,112 with simple imprisonment, 54,519 with fine and 534 with Wh^ 1SOn '
One hundred and thirty-four sentences of imprisonment were in the
youthful offenders, commuted to detention in a reformatory schooMqf
convicted persons were warned and discharged, 138 were sent to the J
Asylum at Matunga, 704 were released on probation of good conduct T
Asylum at Matunga, 704 were released on probation of good conduct T
section 562, Criminal Procedure Code, and 4 persons were convicted mrUii
Workman’s Breach of Contract Act XIII of 1859.
2.—Magistrates and other Authorities outside Bombay.
1. The number of cases disposed of outside Bombay rose from 67 956 1
70,337, of which 22 were dealt with by District Magistrates, 50,717 by Sub
ordinate Stipendiary Magistrates, 6,743 by Honorary Magistrates, 208 by
Special Magistrates, 10,873 by Benches of Magistrates, 59 by ’Sanitary
Committees and Sanitary Boards and 1,578 by Village Officers. Besides
District and Sub-Divisional Magistrates decided 137 cases referred to them
under sections 347 and 349 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Of the total
number of cases referred to above, the cases of 1,376 persons were committed or
referred to the sessions, and the remainder involving 121,947 persons finally
disposed of by the various tribunals. Out of the total 121,947, 58,758 or 481
per cent, were convicted and 55,507 or 45’5 per cent were acquitted or discharged,
Of the persons convicted, the numbers tried summarily were 4,639 by Benches
of Magistrates, 8,864 by Subordinate Stipendiary Magistrates, 2,202 by
Honorary Magistrates, 4 by Chief Magistrates of Districts and 283 by Village
Officers.
2. Proceedings under chapter VIII of the Criminal Procedure Code to
prevent a breach of the peace were taken in 161 cases involving 574 persons,
the number of persons dealt with in Kaira alone being 149. The number of
cases under chapter XII of the Code involving questions of the possession of
land decided by Magistrates was 100. Four hundred and seventy-five complain
ants were ordered to pay compensation for frivolous or vexatious accusations,
Proceedings for maintenance under chapter XXXVI were taken against 364
persons. The number of witnesses examined in the courts of magistrates in
the mofussil rose from 147,310 to 166,656.
3. Of the persons convicted, 13,209 were sentenced to rigorous imprison
ment and 1,167 to simple imprisonment and 43,405 were fined. Whipping was
ordered in 341 cases. Four of the sentences of rigorous imprisonment included
a term of solitary confinement and in the cases of 27 youthful offenders the
sentence of imprisonment was commuted to one of detention in a reformatory
school. Three thousand eight persons were ordered to find or give security or
recognizance to keep the peace or sureties for good behaviour. Of the sentences
of imprisonment imposed, 4,401 were for terms not exceeding 15 days;o, o
for terms not exceeding six months; 2,421 for terms not exceeding two years,
and 10 for terms exceeding two years. Sentences of whipping were pass
341 persons as against 177 in the preceding year. The total amount ° Jlj
imposed was Rs. 3,94,110, of which Rs. 3,39,834 were realized andKs. L ,
were paid as compensation to complainants.
3.—Courts of Session.
1. The number of cases decided rose from 668 to 851. The number
persons brought to trial rose by 1,051 to 2,835. The cases of 2,698 p
were decided and of 227 remained under trial at the close of the year.
2,608 persons tried, 1,456 or 55*8 per cent, vwere convicted and 1,093 or , ^
cent, were acquitted or discharged and the cases of 49 persons were re ^
the High Court under sections 307 and 374 of the Criminal Procedure u ^ ^
10 persons died during trial. The number of witnesses rose from 7,bo
The average duration of Sessions trials fell from 431 to 38 3 , a J ’ 4 ,^
duration of cases was the highest in the districts of Bijapur (79), cl
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