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2010 Supreme(Pat) 306

PATNA HIGH COURT
Rakesh Kumar, J.
Lalbabu Prasad @ Lalbabu Mahto
Versus
State Of Bihar
Criminal Miscellaneous No. 45802 of 2007
Decided On : MARCH 09, 2010

The central legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for exceptional circumstances to exercise power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Headnote:

Section 307 - Indian Penal Code - [Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code] - The court examined the requirement to apply Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, focusing on the manner of occurrence, weapon used, and repetition of assault by the accused. The court also discussed the exercise of power under Section 227 and 228(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, emphasizing the need for exceptional circumstances to exercise power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners challenged the order rejecting their discharge from the offence under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, arguing that the F.I.R. did not indicate an intention to kill the informant and that the court erred in rejecting their discharge petition.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the Addl. Sessions Judge thoroughly examined the petition for discharge and gave reasons for rejecting it. The court also emphasized the need for exceptional circumstances to exercise power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Issues: The issues revolved around the application of Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, the exercise of power under Section 227 and 228(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, and the exceptional circumstances required for invoking Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the thorough examination of the discharge petition by the Addl. Sessions Judge, the requirement for exceptional circumstances to exercise power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and the need to consider the allegations against the petitioners.

Final Decision: The petition was rejected, and the order of stay in the Sessions Trial was vacated.

JUDGEMENT

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, State and the Opp.Party no.2.

2. The petitioners have challenged the order dated 11th September,2007 passed by Addl.Sessions Judge, F.T.C.II, Ara in Sessions Trial No.319 of 2006 arising out of Ara Mufassil P.S. Case No.11 of 2004 by which the petition for discharge of accused persons from the offence under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code was rejected.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that on bare perusal of the F.I.R., it is evident that there was no intention to kill the informant, though in the F.I.R. it has been alleged that one of the accused persons was carrying pistol in his hand. Learned counsel further refers Annexures 2 and 3 to the petition which, according to him, are typed copy of the injury reports. Firstly, in para 5 of the petition, stand has been taken by the petitioners that the informant managed the police as well as the doctor in concocting false injuries report. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that with a view to apply Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, the Court is required to at least examine the three points: (i) manner of occurrence, (ii) weapon used in the occurrence and (iii) repetition of assault by the accused persons. The allegation of the F.I.R.has been incorporated in paragraph 3 of the petition. As per the F.I.R. when the informant fell down on the ground during the occurrence, one of the accused pointed pistol close to the informant. Others caught hold of the informant and pushed him on the ground. Some of the accused put legs on the chest as well on the hands of the informant and thereafter by putting rope around the neck of the informant accused persons started dragging the informant. In the meanwhile, on hearing sound of whining of the informant, the son of the informant arrived at the place of occurrence and immediately thereafter all the accused persons fled away. On the basis of the F.I.R., learned counsel for the petitioners submits that no offence under Section 307 I.P.C. is made out and, as such, learned Sessions Judge while rejecting their petition for discharge from Section 307 I.P.C. has completely erred in the law and on this ground alone, the order is liable to be set aside. Learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that it was a case, in which the learned Sessions Judge was required to exercise power under Section 228(1)(a) Cr.P.C, but the Court below has failed to do so and order rejecting discharge petition is illegal.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in this case besides informant, none of the witnesses have supported the prosecution case as an eye witness. He further submits that whole case is based on information given by the informant only.

5. Learned counsel for Opp.Party no.2 vehemently opposed the prayer of the petitioners and submitted that there is no illegality in the order. He also submits that during investigation, materials were collected which indicates commission of offences under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and other allied Sections of the Indian Penal Code.

6. Learned counsel for the State supports the stand of Opp.Party no.2. He also opposed the prayer of the petitioners. He submits that the law is settled on the point that the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is to be exercised in exceptional and rarest of rare cases.

7. I have examined the impugned order as well as materials available on the record. First of all, it is necessary to indicate that the petition filed under Section 227 Cr.P.C. on behalf of the petitioners for being discharged from the offence under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code was thoroughly examined by the iearned Adds. Sessions Judge. Though, there was no requirement to assign any reason, while rejecting a petition for discharge, he has given some reason also which indicates his satisfaction for rejecting the discharge petition. Section 227 Cr.P.C. does not indicate that while rejecting a discharge petition, the



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