IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa, J.
Pappu Kasiratnam - Appellant
Versus
State of Andhra Pradesh - Respondent
Criminal Revision Case Nos. 1125 & 1127 of 2009
Decided On : 10-07-2023
Acquittal - Criminal Trespass - Ss. 448, 324, 509, 354 of IPC - Ss. 354, 448, 323 r/w. 34 of IPC - Ss. 448, 509, 324 r/w. 34 of IPC - The court discussed the postulates fundamental in exercise of revision against an order of acquittal, emphasizing exceptional cases for interference, and the limited jurisdiction under Sec. 397 and Sec. 401. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused for the charged offences, leading to their acquittal.
Fact of the Case:
Accused Nos.1 and 2 trespassed into the house of the petitioner, abused her, and assaulted her husband. The police registered a case based on the complaint, and a private complaint was also filed. After trial, the accused were acquitted.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused for the charged offences, leading to their acquittal.
Issues: Whether the order of acquittal suffered any procedural irregularity or manifest error of law warranting interference of the Court in revision?
Ratio Decidendi: The court discussed the limited jurisdiction under Sec. 397 and Sec. 401 and emphasized exceptional cases for interference in orders of acquittal.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revisions and held that the impugned judgments do not warrant any interference.
JUDGMENT
VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J. - Since these Revisions are preferred by the de-facto-complainant against the very same Accused Nos., 1 and 2, relating to the same incident and as the issue involved in these Criminal revision cases are one and the same, these matters are taken up together, for disposal, by this Common Order.
2. Crl.R.C.No.1125 of 2009 is preferred by the de-facto complainant against the impugned judgment of acquittal dated 09.04.2009in C.C.No.01/2008, on the file of learned Additional Assistant Sessions Judge, Srikakulam (for short "trial Court"), wherein, Accused Nos., 1 and 2 are acquitted for the offences punishable under Ss. 448, 324 and 509 of the IPC.
3. Crl.R.C.No.1127 of 2009 is preferred by the de-facto complainant against the impugned judgment of acquittal dated 09.04.2009in S.C.No.60 of 2008, on the file of the trial Court, wherein, Accused Nos., 1 and 2 are acquitted for the offences punishable under Ss. 448, 324 and 354 of the IPC.
4. The petitioner herein is de-facto complainant and the Respondent Nos., 2 and 3 herein are accused before the trial Court. For the sake of convenience, the parties are referred as arrayed before the trial Court.
5. The brief facts of prosecution case is that, on 19/8/2007, at about 9.30 PM, Accused Nos.1 and 2 trespassed into the house of petitioner, dragged her into street, abused her and her husband in filthy language. They also assaulted husband of de-facto-complainant viz., Baburao by means of stick, inflicted injury with blade, when he tried to pacify the issue. Basing on the report given by complainant, on the next day i.e., on 20/8/2007 at about 2.30 PM, SI of Police, Gara P.S. having received medical intimation, registered crime No.74 of 2007 for the offences punishable under Ss. 448, 354, 323 r/w. 34 of IPC. After completion of investigation, police laid charge sheet against the Accused Nos.1 and 2 for the offences punishable under Sec. 448, 509, 324 r/w. 34 of IPC.
6. During the examination under Sec. 239 Cr.P.C., accused pleaded innocence and claimed to be tried. The same complainant in C.C.No.1 of 2008, who is petitioner herein, filed a private complaint against the same accused herein, before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Srikakulam. After recording the sworn statement of the complainant and another witness, learned Magistrate has taken cognizance for the offences punishable under Ss. 354, 448 and 323 r/w. 34 of IPC and committed the case to the Court of Sessions. In turn, learned Principal Assistant Sessions Judge, Srikakulam registered it as S.C.No.60 of 2008 and made over the same to the Additional Assistant Sessions Judge, Srikakulam for disposal.
7. As narrated above, C.C.No.01 of 2008 is based on police report and P.R.C.No.54 of 2007 i.e., S.C.No.60 of 2008 is based on a private complaint. On the request made by both the counsel, learned Assistant Sessions Judge, recorded the evidence in S.C.No.60 of 2008 for the purpose of C.C.01 of 2008 also. On appearance of accused before the Assistant Sessions Judge, accused Nos. 1 and 2 abjured their guilt and claimed to be tried.
8. P.Ws. 1 to 6 were the witnesses examined, Exs. P1 to P7 were the documents marked, apart from M.Os. 1 and 2 material objects placed before the trial Judge. On behalf of defence, D.Ws.1 and 2 were the witnesses examined, contradiction in the evidence of P.W.3 is marked as Ex.D1.
9. After hearing both counsel, on appreciation of evidence on record, learned trial Judge found A1 and A2 not guilty for the offences charged and acquitted them.
10. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgments of acquittal passed in favour of accused, defacto-complainant preferred these revisions. In fact, both are on case against accused Nos.1 and 2 based on the complaint given by de-facto-Complainant to the effect that, on a particular day and time, A-1 and A-2 trespassed into their house, dragged her into the road, abused her and assaulted her husband and beat him. Hen
AI
The court affirmed that appellate courts must uphold acquittals unless clear evidence of trial court error or gross injustice is shown.
Interference with orders of acquittal is not justified unless there is a manifest illegality or a grave miscarriage of justice.
The High Court's revisional jurisdiction is limited; it cannot convert an acquittal into a conviction without manifest illegality or miscarriage of justice.
The High Court's revisional jurisdiction does not permit converting an acquittal into a conviction unless evident legal errors or miscarriage of justice are demonstrated.
The victim's right to file an appeal against the judgment of acquittal and the limited scope of interference in revisional jurisdiction against judgment of acquittal.
The High Court's power to set aside an acquittal is limited to exceptional cases with glaring defects or manifest errors, as established in precedent.
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