IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD
VIBHA KANKANWADI, J.
Shishir Joshipura - Appellant
Versus
The State of Maharashtra & Anr - Respondents
Criminal Application No. 180 of 2016
Decided on : 08-08-2018
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482, 202, 397, 204, 200 - Legal Metrology Act, 2009 - Section 18(1), 36(1) - Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 - Rule 6(1)(2) - Challenging the order - Order of rejection - Respondent No. 2 has filed complaint bearing S. C. C before learned Judicial Magistrate First Class - It was contended that present applicant accused has committed offence punishable under Section 18(1), 36(1) of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 read with Rule 6(1)(2) of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 - After presentation of complaint, order of issuance of process was not passed by learned Magistrate - But, notice was issued to accused for appearance and said fact was challenged before learned Additional Sessions Judge by way of criminal revision under Section 397 of Cr. P. C - It was specifically contended in revision that verification of complainant has not been taken nor order of enquiry under Section 202 of Cr. P. C. was passed by learned Magistrate - Procedure that was adopted by learned Magistrate was wrong and request was made to interfere - learned Additional Sessions Judge, after hearing both sides dismissed revision - It will not be out of place to mention here that prosecution had contended before revisional Court that procedure that is adopted by learned Magistrate was legal and proper – Held, When complaint was filed under Section 200 of Cr. P. C. as per said provision Magistrate has to take verification examination of complainant - As per proviso when complaint is made in writing by a public servant acting or purporting to act in discharge of his official duties or a Court has made complaint, Magistrate need not examine complainant and his witnesses - Magistrate was right in not examining complainant who was Inspector under Legal Metrology Organization - At time of presentation only an endorsement is required to be taken and said endorsement about presentation of complaint cannot be equated with taking cognizance - Presentation of complaint is under Section 200 of Cr. P. C., whereas issuance of process is under Section 204 of Cr. P. C - This fact is mentioned here, because learned Additional Sessions Judge after referring what has been endorsed to complaint, has come to conclusion that Magistrate has taken cognizance of written complaint filed by public servant - Mandatory part which has been inserted by Act of 25/2005 Section 19 w. e. f. ought to have been adhered - Record of case which has been produced on record as well as recitals in Judgment in Criminal Revision and Advocate would show that learned Magistrate had not postponed issuance of process, it was apparent that accused was not residing within jurisdiction of learned Magistrate - Learned Magistrate has not passed any order in specific words that he is taking cognizance of matter that means he was adhering to procedure to Section 200 of Cr. P. C. No doubt Section 204 does not mandate the Magistrate to explicitly state reasons for issuance of summons - that does not mean that he is not supposed to pass a specific order - Jurisdiction was with learned Additional Sessions Judge under Section 397 of Cr. P. C. to call for and examine record of any proceeding before any inferior Criminal Court for purpose of satisfying himself as to correctness, legality or propriety of any finding - Learned Additional Sessions Judge failed to exercise his powers under Section 397 of Cr. P. C. when there was apparent wrong committed in procedure that was adopted by learned Magistrate - Powers of this Court under Section 482 of Cr. P. C. are required to be exercised- Procedure is not adhered, necessary directions can be given to learned Magistrate to adopt proper procedure and proceed with matter – Application Allowed.
1. Present application has been filed invoking the inherent powers of this Court under Section 482 of Cr. P. C. challenging the order of issuance of process against the present applicant in S. C. C. NO. 942/2013 by Judicial Magistarate First Class, Parali, Dist. Beed and to challenge the Judgment and order of rejection of Criminal Revision No. 24/2014 by Additional Sessions Judge, Ambajogai on 14.10.2015 for the offence punishable under Section 18(1), 36(1) of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 read with Rule 6(1)(2) of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011.
2. Respondent No. 2 has filed complaint bearing S. C. C. No. 942/2013 before learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Parali. It was contended that the present applicant / original accused has committed offence punishable under Section 18(1), 36(1) of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 read with Rule 6(1)(2) of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011. After the presentation of the complaint, order of issuance of process was not passed by the learned Magistrate. But, notice was issued to the accused for appearance and therefore, said fact was challenged before the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ambejogai by way of criminal revision under Section 397 of Cr. P. C. It was specifically contended in the revision that verification of the complainant has not been taken nor order of enquiry under Section 202 of Cr. P. C. was passed by the learned Magistrate. The procedure that was adopted by the learned Magistrate was wrong and therefore, the request was made to interfere. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ambajogai after hearing both sides dismissed the revision. It will not be out of place to mention here that the prosecution had contended before the revisional Court that the procedure that is adopted by the learned Magistrate was legal and proper.
2.1 In the present application, the applicant original accused has contended that the learned Magistrate has not passed any specific order of issuance of process, yet. On the basis of the Roznama it can be seen that the notice was directed to be issued to the accused and accordingly, the notice was issued. Thereafter, the matter was kept for the appearance of accused before the learned Magistrate. Learned Magistrate failed to consider that the address of the accused was clearly indicating that the accused was not residing within the jurisdiction of learned Magistrate and therefore, mandatory part of the provision under Section 202 of Cr. P. C. ought to have been complied with before issuing the process under Section 204 of Cr. P. C. It is also submitted that the learned Additional Sessions Judge went wrong in holding that whatever procedure has been adopted by the learned Magistrate is correct and he has taken cognizance of the matter.
3. Heard learned Advocate Mr. N. S. Ghanekar for the applicant / original accused and learned A.P.P. Mr. S. P. Sonpawale for the State. The learned Advocate for the applicant has reiterated the grounds those have been mentioned in the application. The learned A.P.P. has submitted that specific order was not passed by the learned Magistrate by taking cognizance and there is no question of setting aside any such order. Whatever procedure was adopted by the learned Magistrate was correct.
4. It is to be noted that the said complaint was filed by Food, Supplies and Consumer Protection Department (Legal Metrology Organization of the Govt. of Maharashtra). The complainant therein was serving as an Inspector and during the course of his duty when he found that certain rules have not been followed, he had presented that complaint. On the presentation of the complaint, an endorsement has been taken by the learned Magistrate that the complaint was presented by the complainant who is Inspector, Legal Metrology (W & M) ParaliVaijnath, Dist. Beed ought to have registered as summary criminal case. Thereafter, it appears that no order was passed on the complaint. However, copy of Roznama shows that dire
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