IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Narendra Kumar Vyas, J.
Surjeet Kumar Jain S/o Shri Satish Kumar Jain - Petitioner
Versus
State Of Chhattisgarh Through Station House Officer, Police Station Sarkanda Bilaspur - Respondent
CRMP No. 497 of 2021
Decided On : 06-08-2021
Constitution of India,1950 - Article 21 – Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Section 70(2) and 397(2) - Warrant of arrest has been issued against him – Terminated - Interlocutory order - Whether particular order is interlocutory order or not - Whether presence of an accused can be secured by a bailable or non-bailable warrant - Father of the accused was ill therefore, he himself could not attend court and due to counsel’s engagement in another case, counsel also could not appear before trial Court warrant of arrest has been issued against him - He has moved an application through his counsel under Section 70(2) of Cr.P.C. for cancellation of arrest warrant - Judicial Magistrate has already rejected application filed by petitioner under Section 70(2) Cr.P.C. for cancellation of warrant and right of liberty of petitioner-accused was being adversely affected by order of trial Court, therefore, it cannot be termed as interlocutory order – Held, Petitioner has been explained in application filed under Section 70(2) of the Cr.P.C. which has not been given any consideration by Judicial Magistrate First Class - This is glaring illegality committed by trial Court - Learned trial Court has also not even taken care to consider guidelines issued by this Court for not insisting the presence of accused during Covid period - Judicial Magistrate First Class has also not considered law that before issuance of warrant of arrest bailable warrant should have been issued and thereafter, if bailable warrant is executed and accused failed to appear before Court, then only warrant of arrest should have been issued - Present Cr.M.P. is allowed and order of Revisional Court passed by Fifth Additional Sessions Judge – Ordered Accordingly
ORDER :
1. The petitioner has filed the present Cr.M.P. challenging order of the Revisional Court dated 10.05.2021 passed by the Fifth Additional Sessions Judge, Bilaspur in Criminal Revision No. 66/2021 affirming the warrant of arrest dated 03.04.2021 issued in pursuance of order dated 19.03.2021 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bilaspur in Criminal Case No. 11840/2021.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the witnesses who were to be examined as prosecution witnesses as well as the petitioner could not appear before the trial Court on 19.03.2019 as on 19.03.2021, father of the accused was ill therefore, he himself could not attend the court and due to counsel’s engagement in another case, the counsel also could not appear before the trial Court, therefore, warrant of arrest has been issued against him. As such, he has moved an application through his counsel under Section 70(2) of Cr.P.C. for cancellation of arrest warrant on 31.03.2021, but the same has been rejected by the Judicial Magistrate First Class and ordered for issuance of warrant of arrest on 03.04.2021. The petitioner has preferred Revision Petition before the Revision Court i.e. Fifth Additional Sessions’ Judge Bilaspur.
3. Learned Revisional Court vide its order dated 10.05.2021 has dismissed the revision petition treating the order dated 03.04.2021, by which the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class has issued warrant of arrest against the petitioner, as interlocutory order and held that revision is not maintainable.
4. Both these orders have been challenged by the petitioner before this Court by filing present Cr.M.P. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the Sessions Judge has also not examined the fact that Judicial Magistrate has already rejected the application filed by the petitioner under Section 70(2) Cr.P.C. for cancellation of warrant and the right of liberty of the petitioner-accused was being adversely affected by the order of the trial Court, therefore, it cannot be termed as interlocutory order. The Revisional Court without examining the provisions and without considering the law on the subject has held that order dated 03.04.2021 is interlocutory order as it does not finally dispose off the matter in dispute.
5. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in various judgments has examined the orders which are interlocutory in nature or in the nature of final order. The first Judgment on the subject is in case of Amarnath and Others vs. State of Haryana, (1977) 4 SCC 137 wherein Hon'ble Supreme Court has held that the order, which substantially affects the rights of the accused or decides certain rights of the parties, cannot be said to be an interlocutory order so as to bar a revision. The relevant para of the judgment is reproduced below :-
"The powers of revision conferred by Subsection (1) shall not be exercised in relation to any interlocutory order passed ; in any appeal, inquiry, trial or other proceeding."
The main question which falls for determination in this appeal is as to what is the connotation of the term "interlocutory order" as appearing in Sub-section (2) of Section 397 which bars any revision of such an order by the High Court. The term "interlocutory order" is a term of well-known legal significance and does not present any serious diffident. It has been used in various statutes including the Code of Civil Procedure, Letters Patent of the High Courts and other like statutes. In Webster's New World Dictionary "interlocutory" has been defined as an order other than final decision. Decided cases have laid down that interlocutory orders to be appealable must be those which decide 'the rights and liabilities of the parties concerning a particular aspect. It seems to, us that the term "interlocutory order" in Section 397(2
Amarnath and Others vs. State of Haryana
Madhu Limaye vs. State of Maharashtra
Interlocutory orders affecting rights are revisable; non-bailable warrants must follow statutory procedures.
(1) In bailable offence, right of accused to get bail is absolute and indefeasible right and courts have no discretion in granting bail.(2) Criminal Courts should consider bail applications particula....
Compliance with court orders is essential for an accused on bail, and the power of revision does not extend to interlocutory orders.
In cases under Section 498A IPC, the Magistrate should consider the factors laid down by the Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation before issuing a warrant of arres....
The legality of warrants for arrest in non-bailable offences and the requirement for the Magistrate to specify the place and date where the accused has to appear in compliance with the proclamation u....
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.