PATNA HIGH COURT
M.L.Visa, J.
Md.Nassim
Versus
State Of Bihar
Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 17 of 1999 ;
Decided On : APRIL 17, 2000
Certiorari - Criminal Procedure - Section 304(B) of IPC, Sections 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, Section 200 of Cr PC, Section 202 of Cr PC, Section 397(3) of Cr PC, Section 482 of Cr PC, Section 113-B of Indian Evidence Act - The court discussed the irregularity in the orders passed by the lower courts, the permissible considerations during inquiry under Section 202 of Cr PC, and the entitlement to correction of irregularity. The court also highlighted the maintainability of writ petition and the applicability of Section 482 of Cr PC for immediate relief.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a complaint alleging assault and harassment of his sister, leading to her death. The police submitted a final form declaring the case false. The Chief Judicial Magistrate accepted the report but ordered an inquiry under Section 200 of Cr PC. The petitioner's protest petition was dismissed, and the revision application was also rejected by the Additional Sessions Judge.
Finding of the Court:
The court found irregularity in the orders passed by the lower courts, emphasized the permissible considerations during inquiry under Section 202 of Cr PC, and allowed the application treating it as under Section 482 of Cr PC. The orders of the lower courts were quashed, and the case was remanded for further inquiry.
Issues: Irregularity in lower court orders, permissible considerations during inquiry under Section 202 of Cr PC, maintainability of writ petition, and applicability of Section 482 of Cr PC for immediate relief.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that orders should be based on materials collected during the inquiry under Section 202 of Cr PC, and highlighted the entitlement to correction of irregularity. It also clarified the maintainability of writ petition and the applicability of Section 482 of Cr PC for immediate relief.
Final Decision: The application was allowed, treating it as under Section 482 of Cr PC, and the orders of the lower courts were quashed. The case was remanded back for further inquiry.
M.L.Visa, J.
1. This writ petition by the petitioner has been filed for issuance of an appropriate writ in the nature of certiorari or an appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing order dated 15.10.1997 passed by Sri R.C. Jha, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah in Complaint Case No. 636 of 1996, by which he has been pleased to dismiss the protest petition contained in Annexure 8 and for quashing order dated 21.8.1998 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge 1, Nawadah, in Criminal Revision No. 8 of 1998/6 of 1998 contained in Annexure 9, by which he has been pleased to affirm the order dated 15.10.1997 passed by Shri R.C. Jha, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah and has dismissed the aforesaid criminal revision application.
2. The brief facts giving rise to this petition are that the petitioner filed a complaint petition before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah, alleging therein that his sister Rahia was married to Shyamuddin Mian (respondent No. 4) and after her marriage respondent Nos. 2 to 9 started assaulting and harassing Rahia on demand of a colour T.V. and a sum of Rs. 5,000/-. On 5.5.1990 the petitioner came to know that his sister had been killed and on 6.5.1990 when he reached the village of respondent Nos. 2 to 9 and inquired from them about his sister, they left the house without disclosing anything and petitioner came to know from the villagers that his sister had been killed and she was stealthily burried. The complaint petition of petitioner was sent by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah to police for lodging an FIR and accordingly Kauakol P.S. Case No. 41/90 under Section 304(B) of the Indian Penal Code (in short, IPC) and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act was registered. The police after investigation submitted final form declaring the case of petitioner against accused persons false. Learned Chief Judicial Magistrate by his order dated 28.11.1990 contained in Annexure 2 accepted the report of police but at the same time he passed orders for examination of petitioner on S.A. under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (in short, Cr PC) on his protest petition which he had already filed earlier. After examining the petitioner on S.A. and recording the statements of witnesses produced by petitioner under Section 202, Cr PC. Learned Chief Judicial Magistrate passed order dated 15.10.1997 dismissing the protest complaint petition (Annexure 8). The petitioner preferred Cr. Revision No. 8 of 1998 (6 of 1998) against the aforesaid order of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate before the learned Sessions Judge, Nawadah, which was heard by learned Additional Sessions Judge-1, Nawadah, who by the impugned order (Annexure 9) affirmed the order passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah, and dismissing the revision application.
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents 2 to 9 has first of all challenged the maintainability of this writ petition. According to him, admittedly, the revision preferred by the petitioner against the order of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nawadah, dismissing the complaint petition of petitioner has been dismissed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-1, Nawadah, and Section 397(3), Cr PC bars a second revision.
4. It is true that Section 397(3), Cr PC bars a second revision but then at the same time it is also true that in exercise of inherent powers under Section 482, Cr PC, this Court can interfere in the order passed by the Courts below if it finds that the order is not according to law and if such order is allowed to continue it will lead to miscarriage of justice. The Supreme Court in the case of Krishnan V/s. Krishnaveni, (1997) 4 SCC 241 : 1997 (1) East Cr C 643 (SC), has been pleased to hold that even in cases where a Sessions Judge has exercised his revisional power under Section 397(1), the High Court can interfere in the order "to correct the irregularity/incorrectness committed by the inferior c
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