High Court of Andhra Pradesh
RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J.
Dr. Tera Chinnapa Reddy
Versus
The Govt. of A.P. rep., by its Secretary to Government, Legislative Affairs & Justice (FAC), Law (LA&J – Home-Courts.A2) Department, Hyderabad & Others
Writ Petition No. 38979 of 2012
Decided on : 13-09-2013
(B) Criminal Procedure Code 1973 - Section 24(8) - Appointment of Special Public Prosecutors---Objective considerations--- Power to appoint can be exercised to presence interest of State and to protect public interest---Legislative policy underlying Section 24(8) Cr.P.C. is to preserve interest of the State---Power is vested in the Government to appoint a special public prosecutor where public interest demands, and not to vindicate grievance of a private person.
The principle that a Public Prosecutor must act independently from the police is fundamental to ensuring a fair and impartial criminal justice system. The Prosecutor holds a quasi-judicial role, tasked with assisting the court and upholding justice without undue influence from law enforcement authorities (!) . This independence is crucial to prevent misuse and corruption, safeguarding the integrity of prosecutions and maintaining public confidence in the legal process (!) . The Prosecutor's duties include objectively evaluating evidence, presenting a truthful case, and avoiding any external pressures or directives from the police or other authorities (!) . Any interference or influence from the police or external bodies compromises the Prosecutor's impartiality and the fairness of the trial (!) . Therefore, the law mandates that Prosecutors exercise their powers independently, based solely on legal considerations, and not under the dictation or control of the police, to preserve the rule of law and ensure justice is truly served (!) .
1. Can the Advocate of the defacto-complainant, who issued a legal notice to the accused earlier, be appointed as a Special Public Prosecutor to prosecute him in the very same case? This is the question which arises for consideration in this Writ Petition.
2. The petitioner, the Managing Director of a bulk drug manufacturing company, contested the 2009 general elections from Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency and lost to the 3rd respondent. In his writ affidavit, the petitioner states that the 3rd respondent sent signals asking him to stay away from active politics; several malicious calls were made to him by anonymous callers; strangers were found lurking around his residence; he submitted representations in September, 2010 to the police seeking personal security; he filed W.P.No.20230 of 2012 questioning the action of the respondents in not providing him police security; the said writ petition was disposed of on 20.07.2012 directing the respondents to consider his representations as per G.O.Ms.No.655, Home, dated 13.03.1997; his request for personal security was rejected because of the pressure brought by the 3rd respondent; the personal secretary to the 3rd respondent filed a complaint before the C.I.D Hyderabad, under Section 55-A(a)&(b) of the Information Technology Act and Sections 189 and 507 IPC, which was registered as Crime No.50 of 2012; he was arrested on 25.08.2012 and obtained bail from the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally, Hyderabad; the 3rd respondent, being a Minister, wielded power and started pressurizing officials to have his companies closed; the 3rd respondent issued notice dated 11.08.2012, through the 4th respondent, stating that he had made defamatory statements in the newspapers; in response thereto, he issued a reply notice through his counsel on 25.08.2012 denying the allegations; the said notice was issued, by the 4th respondent, in his individual capacity as a counsel for the 3rd respondent; due to the pressures brought by the 3rd respondent, G.O.Rt.No.2282 dated 27.11.2012 was issued appointing his counsel (the 4th respondent) as a special public prosecutor to conduct prosecution, on behalf of the Government, against him; he never made any statement as mentioned in the notice dated 11.08.2012; the 3rd respondent had misused his political power and had pressurized the Government to issue the G.O. appointing a special public prosecutor; there is no necessity for the State Government to appoint a public prosecutor to appear in a case between two private individuals to which the State is not a party; this is an abuse of the State exchequer; the 3rd respondent requested the government, vide letter dated 23.11.2012, to appoint the 4th respondent as a Special Public Prosecutor to prosecute the petitioner; heeding to his request, the government appointed the 4th respondent as a Special Public Prosecutor though he was a private advocate and had issued the legal notice on 11.08.2012, on behalf of the 3rd respondent, demanding unconditional apology from him; it is illegal to appoint a private advocate as a Special Public Prosecutor; the function of the public prosecutor is to assist the Court in adjudicating a dispute; there is reasonable apprehension in his mind regarding the independence of the 4th respondent as a special public prosecutor; it is not open to the complainant to name a person for being appointed as a special public prosecutor; the questions, whether or not it is necessary to appoint a special public prosecutor in a case, and, if so, the person to be appointed as such, all are matters in the prerogative of the State; the State cannot surrender its discretion to appoint a public prosecutor to the choice of an individual; from the impugned G.O., it is clear that the 4th respondent was appointed as a Special Public Prosecutor at the behest of the 3rd respondent as a private individual; the Government has not exercised its discretion as required under the Code;
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