Point of Law: Proviso to Section 326 empowers the succeeding Judge to re-summon the witnesses for their further examination, if he is of opinion that further examination is necessary in the interest of justice.

JUDGMENT :

1. Rule.

2. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally with the consent of the parties.

3. This petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India challenges the order dated 6th March, 2019 below Exhibit-47 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Pune in Regular Criminal Case No. 3736/2015 by which the learned Magistrate shifted the forum of trial of the Petitioner-Accused, from the Court of Judicial Magistrate, First Class to the Court of Sessions, in wake of state amendment – Maharashtra Act of 40 of 2018.

Background facts :

4. Petitioner-Accused is being, prosecuted for the offences punishable under Section 353, 504, 506 (2) of the IPC in R.C.C. No. 3637/2015, which arose from Crime No. 232/2014 dated 6th December, 2014. The evidence in the trial was almost over and when the trial reached the stage of final arguments, by the Act of 40 of 2018; The Government of Maharashtra has changed the forum of Court trying the offences under Section 332, 353 of IPC from Magistrate of First Class to Court of Sessions. In effect the offence under Section 353 of IPC is classified as, cognizable, non-bailable, triable by Sessions and made punishable with imprisonment for five years or fine or both. Whereafter in view of the amendment, Prosecution moved an application under Section 323 of Cr.P.C. for committing the proceedings in the R.C.C. No. 3637/2015 to the Court of Sessions. The learned Magistrate committed the case to the Court of Sessions and directed Petitioner to remain present before the Sessions Court. This order is assailed in this petition.

5. Heard Counsel for the Petitioner and Prosecutor for the State.

6. Mr. Lokesh Zade appearing for the Petitioner, in all fairness submitted that in view of the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Ramesh Kumar Soni Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, (2013) 14 SCC 696; and the judgment of this Court in the case of Shyamrao Vithoba Pillare Vs. State of Maharashtra, 2019 ALL MR Cri. 704, petitioner shall submit himself to the jurisdiction of Court of Sessions at Pune. Yet, Mr. Zade, expressed his concern over and in respect of powers, of the Court under Section 326 of Cr.P.C., which empowers succeeding judge to record the evidence de novo. Mr. Zade, therefore submitted that, if evidence is recorded afresh, it may cause serious prejudice to the accused. Mr. Zade therefore argued that, let the Sessions Judge act on the evidence, recorded by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, for passing the order of, conviction or acquittal.

7. Ms. Sonawane, learned Public Prosecutor would submit that, under Section 326 of Cr.P.C., the succeeding Judge to whom the case has been committed is empowered to re-summon, any such witnesses if the succeeding Judge is of the opinion that examination of any of the witnesses, whose evidence has already been recorded is necessary in the interest of justice. Learned APP would therefore rely on the proviso to Section 326(1) of the Cr.P.C. which reads as under;

“326. Conviction or commitment on evidence partly recorded by one Magistrate and partly by another-

(1) Whenever any 1[Judge or Magistrate], after having heard and recorded the whole or any part of the evidence in an inquiry or a trial, ceases to exercise jurisdiction therein and is succeeded by another 1[Judge or Magistrate] who has and who exercises such jurisdiction, the 1[Judge or Magistrate] so succeeding may act on the evidence so recorded by his predecessor, or partly recorded by his predecessor and partly recorded by himself:

Provided that if the succeeding 1[Judge or Magistrate] is of opinion that further examination of any of the witnesses whose evidence has already been recorded is necessary in the interests of justice, he may re-summon any such witness, and after such further examination, cross-examination and re-examination, if any, as he may permit, the witness shall be discharged.”

Ms. Sonawane, learned APP, thus argued that statutory powers of the succeeding Judge under