Judgment

ORDER : - We heard Mr. R. K. Jain, learned counsel for the petitioner in SLP No. 4126 of 1984 and Mr. V. D. Mishra, learned counsel for the petitioners in SLP No. 5540 of 1984 and Mr. K. K. Venugopal, learned counsel for the contesting respondents in both the petitions and Mr. A. P. Chatterjee, learned counsel for the State of West Bengal.

2. List of dates filed by Mrs. Indra Bansal, learned counsel is taken on record.

3. Very interesting point of law was sought to be canvassed by Mr. K. K. Veenugopal, learned counsel for the respondents but as the petitions are directed against interim orders by the Calcutta High Court and therefore at this stage we consider it unnecessary to undertake the exercise to examine it. We give the following directions and dispose of these petitions.

4. There were two informations of cognizable offences lodged against respondents Nos. 1 and 2, one at Barasat Police Station bearing No. 63 of 1984 and another at Serampore Police Station bearing No. 14/84, on March 12, 1984 and March 15, 1984 respectively. On an oral petition followed by a written petition by respondents Nos. 1 and 2, a learned single Judge of the Calcutta High Court on March 15, 1984 made an order granting interim injunction in terms of prayers (g) & (i), which would imply that respondent No. 3, State of West Bengal and respondents Nos. 4 to 14. the various Police Officers and their servants and subordinate officers were restrained from taking any step or further step or any action or carrying on the investigation on the basis of or in pursuance of, or, in furtherance of two aforementioned FIRs lodged against respondents Nos. 1 and 2. The order had the effect of interfering and staying investigation of offences by investigating officer performing statutory duty under the Code of Criminal Procedure. We consider it absolutely unnecessary to make reference to the decision of this Court and they are legion which have laid down that save in exceptional case where non-interference would result in miscarriage of justice, the Court and the judicial process should not interfere at the stage of investigation of offences. And frankly such is not the case. This is a routine case where information of an offence or offences has been lodged investigation commenced, search and seizure followed and the suspects arrested. Prompt came the unusual procedure of oral applications and oral appeals and interim order interfering with investigation. And these oral applications and oral appeals followed by such orders as interim relief prayed for granted in terms of prayer which leave us guessing about prayers made, the case for granting the prayer, appreciations by a judicially trained mind and what appealed to the Court. We have serious reservations about the procedure of oral applications and oral appeals. We do not propose to finally pronounce on these vital points. On an oral appeal, the appellate Bench modified the order made by the learned single Judge and the injunction restraining investigation was vacated. However, the Investigating Officer was directed not to detain the writ petitioners i.e respondents Nos. l and 2 more than one hour each on any day for the purpose of investigation. We are of the opinion that investigation must proceed unhampered by Court orders. Investigation shall proceed unhindered and uninterrupted by any order made by the High Court of Calcutta subject to the following conditions.

5. Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 shall appeal before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Judicial having jurisdiction over the police station where the information of offence was lodged and surrender to him on any day within a fortnight from today and the learned Magistrate shall take them into judicial custody and release them on appropriate bail subject to his discretion to fix the amount of bonds.

6. In the course of investigation, the Investigating Officer has seized and taken into his possession various books, documents and papers. It appears that the pe