LexBHIMRAO TRIMBAKRAO INGLE versus STATE OF MAHARASHTRA
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this caseJudgment (excerpt)
I BHIMRAO TRIMBAKRAO INGLE v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AUGUST 19, 1986 [M.P. THAKKAR AND B.C. RAY, JJ.] Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887-Ss. 3(ii), 5 and 7- 'Common gaming house'-What is-Conviction for offence under s. 5-When arises. The appellants were convicted under s. 5 of the Bombay Preven- tion of Gambling Act 1887. Appellant no. 6 was also convicted under s. 4 of the Act. In the appeal, the Sessions Court on an appreciation of evidence came to the conclusion that the prosecution had failed to establish that appellant no. 6 was deriving any profit or gain by way of charges for the use of the room of the office in which gaming was taking place and that accordingly it was not a 'common gaming house' within the meaning of s. 3(ii), and therefore the offence committed by appel- lant no. 6 would not fall under s. 4. It, however, recorded a f'mding of guilt against all the appellants for an offence under s. 5 seeking support from s. 7, which provides for presumptive proof of keeping or gaming in a common gaming house. This view was affirmed by the High Court. Allowing the appeal to this Court, HELD: 1. An offence under s. 5 can be committed only provided the persons concerned were gaming or were present for the purpose of gaming ina 'common gaming house'. l61SFJ 2. What was held to be 'not' a 'Common Gaming House', having regard to the fact that evidence adduced by the prosecution was con- sidered unacceptable could not have been held to be a common gaming house by recourse to the presumption under section 7. What is not a 'common gaming house' in fact in the light of evidence cannot become a common gaming house by reason ofa presumption. [615C-D] • 3. The Sessions Court was in error in convicting the appellants for an offence under Section 5 which can be committed only provided 613 A B c D E F G H 614 SUPREME COURT REPORTS 11986) 3 S.C.R. A the persons concerned were gaming or were present for the purpose of gaming in a 'common gaming house'. The High Court was in error in failing to appreciate the import of the said finding recorded by the Court on the basis of the appreciation of evidence. [615F-G} B c D E F G CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Criminal Appeal No. 28 of 1977 From the Judgment and Order dated 16.12.1976 of the Bombay High Court in Criminal Rev. Appln. No. 79of1976. A.K. Sanghi for the Appellants. A.M. Khanwilkar and A.S. Bhasme for the Respondent. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by THAKKAR, J. Whether or not it was a 'common gaming house'' is the question. Not is the answer. The appellants were convicted for an offence under Section 5 of the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 (hereinafter called 'the Act') as it stood in 1972 for being found in a 'common gaming house' where they had assembled for the purpose of gaming. Appellant no. 6 . was also convicted for an offence under Section 4 of the Act, for using a room as a common gaming house. The Sessions Court exercising appellate jurisdiction came to the conclusion that the gaming was tak- ing place in an office of the (Agricultural) Soil Conservation Depart- ment and that the room in which the gaming was taking place was not a -.... 'common gaming house' within the meaning of Section 3(ii)' of the Act. On reaclting the conclusion that it was not a 'common gaming house', the Sessions Court came to the conclusion that the offence committed by Appellant No~ 6 would not fall under Section 4 of the Act. The Sessions Court, however, recorded a finding of guilt against 1. As defined ~y section 3(ii) of the Act.· 2. Section 3 (ii): "In this Act, 'common gaming house' means: In the case of any other form of gaming, any house, room or place whatsoever in which any instruments of gaming are kept or used for the profit or gain of the pe.t:sons owning, occupying, using or keeping such house, room or place by way of charge for the use of such H house, room or place or instruments or otherwise howsoever." I . ~- B.T. INGLE v. STATE OF MAH. [THAKKAR, J. [ 615 the appellants including Appellant No. 6 for an offence under SectiQn A 5 of ihe Act seeking support from Section 71 of the Act which provides for presumptive proof of keeping or gaming in a common gaming house. Even though on· an appreciatwn of evidence adduced by the prosecution the Sessions Court came to the conclusion thai the pro· ·secution had failed to establish that Appellant No. 6 was deriving
Excerpt shown. Read the full judgment & AI analysis in Lexace.