HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
K. C. DAS GUPTA, DEBABRATA MOOKHERJEE
BHOLARAM DALMIA - Appellant
Versus
STATE - Respondent
Criminal Revn. 919 Of 1953
Decided On : APRIL 02, 1954
Warrant of Arrest - Murder - Sections 120b/302, Penal Code - Summary of Acts and Sections: Sections 120b/302, Penal Code - The court discussed the use of police papers, judicial enquiry report, and Coroner's court proceedings in ordering the issue of process. It emphasized the need for materials to be properly brought before the court and the requirement for judicial determination in issuing process under Section 204, Criminal P. C.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved the death of Biswanath Dhanuka and the subsequent application by his father alleging murder by the accused. The court analyzed the order directing the issue of warrant of arrest against the petitioners under Sections 120b/302, Penal Code, and the subsequent legal proceedings.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the learned Magistrate relied on materials not properly before the court in ordering the issue of process, and emphasized the need for judicial determination in such matters.
Issues: The issues included the reliance on police papers and Coroner's court proceedings, the requirement for materials to be properly brought before the court, and the need for judicial determination in issuing process under Section 204, Criminal P. C.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that no Magistrate is entitled to bring to bear on the judicial determination of such matters, information which comes to his knowledge from other sources than in court in accordance with law. It highlighted the need for materials to be properly brought before the court and the requirement for judicial determination in issuing process under Section 204, Criminal P. C.
Final Decision: The court set aside the order passed by the learned Magistrate and sent the case back to him for disposal in accordance with law in the light of the directions given.
( 1 ) THIS Rule is directed against an order directing issue of warrant of arrest against the five petitioners under Sections 120b/302, Penal Code. On 11-2-1952 one Biswanath Dhanuka met his death when in the house No. 196-C, Chittaranjan Avenue. In a flat in that house the 4 Dalmia petitioners lived. With them also lived a young girl named Sarada. Bholaram. Dalmia and Rabishankar Dalmia are her brothers, Ramprosad Dalmia is her uncle and Shyamsundar Dalmia her cousin. Biswanath Dhanuka who was a frequent visitor to another flat in that building fell in love with Sarada; love letters were exchanged, but when her marriage with another young man was arranged Biswanath Dhanuka took exception to it. The marriage was fixed for the 18th of February. On the llth of February Biswanath came to this house. At 6 P. M. or shortly thereafter he was discovered lying dead with his throat cut with a blood-stained knife by the body. The body was found on the first floor landing of the staircase. After prolonged investigation the police sent up a report stating that the materials available were not sufficient for sending up a charge-sheet against any person. Thereafter Biswanath's father filed an application in the court of the Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate alleging among other things that the police had proceeded under a fundamental misconception that it was a case of suicide, that the circumstantial evidence along with the oral evidence as disclosed in the investigation was strong enough to lead to the conclusion that the accused Bholaram Dalmia and others, seven in number, were involved in the offence, that the police completely failed to appreciate the evidence and that it was entirely wrong to say that there was not sufficient evidence to convict the accused. The application ended with the prayer that the Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate should refuse to accept the police report and should order a judicial enquiry into the matter or take "such step or steps for bringing the delinquents to book". Thereafter the learned Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate Mr. K. K. Das Gupta directed Mr. K. C. Sen to hold a judicial enquiry into the complaint and report by 18-8-1952. Before Mr. Sen the complainant wanted to examine two witnesses only. These two were examined. After consideration of their evidence and "the police papers, records in Coroner's Court, post-mortem examination report and the replies of Dr. Kabir Hossain to certain queries made by the police," the learned Magistrate came to the conclusion that this was undoubtedly a case of murder but there was"unfortunately nothing direct or circumstantial to show that the persons complained against committed the murder or
abetted the commission gf the murder or conspired together to commit the murder. "accordingly he submitted a report stating his conclusion and the reasons thereof and recommending. dismissal of the petition of complaint under Section 203, Criminal P. C. When the report came to Mr. K. K. Das Gupta, he apparently agreed, with the Magistrate in the view he had taken of the matter but instead of dismissing the complaint as he should reasonably have done in view of his conclusion he passed an order in these words:"at the same time I wish to keep the doors open for further investigations as against any of the suspects at the instance of the complainant, if so advised. In the view I have taken I do not think that I should dismiss this petition of complaint under Section 203, Criminal P. C. and I allow the same to be filed. " On this Court being, moved against this order, this Court held, that the order passed by the learned Chief Presidency Magistrate was not in accordance with law and set aside the order passed by him and directed that he should "after consideration of the statement of the , complainant on oath and the result of the enquiry which was held under Section 202, Criminal P. C. come to a decision whether there is sufficient ground for
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