IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Kaushik Goswami, J.
Sri Kamakhya Misra Son of Late Chandra Bhushan Misra – Petitioner
Versus
The State of Assam. Represented by Public Prosecutor - Respondent
Criminal Petition No.487/2020
Decided On : 26-03-2025
JUDGMENT :
KAUSHIK GOSWAMI, J.
Heard Mr. A.M. Bora, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. V.A. Chowdhury, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. S.H. Bora, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State respondent.
2. By way of this petition under Section 482 read with section 401 of Cr.P.C, 1973, the petitioner is seeking quashing of the order dated 26.12.2019 and proceedings of Complainant Case No.5078/2019 pending in the Court of learned Chief judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) at Guwahati.
3. The brief facts of the case is that on 26.12.2019, one Amaranda Hazarika, Assam Judicial Service (AJS) lodged a complaint case before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) alleging, inter-alia, that on 26.12.2019 at about 11:00 A.M,, the petitioner on appearing before his Court i.e. Judicial Magistrate, 1st class Kamrup (M), Guwahati, on execution of process against him in connection with GR Case No.7434/2011 stated derogatory remarks towards the Court and further stated that the Court committed mistake for which he suffered.
4. Accordingly, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) by order dated 26.12.2019 took cognizance against the petitioner under Section 228 of IPC. Against the aforesaid complaint as well as the order dated 26.12.2019 passed by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M), the present criminal petition has been filed.
5. Mr. A.M. Bora, learned Senior Counsel by referring to the first schedule of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the Cr.P.C, 1973), relating to offences under the India Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as IPC), submitted that in connection to section 228 of IPC, it is provided that the Court in which the offence is committed is the Court which will try the said offence.
6. He further submits that the procedure provided under Section 340 of Cr.P.C to try the offences under Section 228 of IPC has not been followed in the instant case. He accordingly submits that the order of the cognizance by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) is erroneous in law.
7. Reacting to the aforesaid arguments of the learned Senior Counsel, Ms. S.H. Bora, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State respondent fairly submits that since the Court, which took cognizance of the offence under Section 228, admittedly is not the Court in which the offence is alleged to have been committed, the matter can be remitted back to the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (M) for passing necessary orders as per the law.
8. I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and have perused the material available on record.
9. Apt to reproduced the complaint:-
“IN THE COURT OF LEARNED C.J.M.,
KAMRUP (M), GUWAHATI
To,
The Learned C.J.M.
Kamrup (M), Guwahati
Subject: A complaint against Mr. Kamakhya Misra, S.I. of Police (Presently working at Sontali O.P. under Boko P.S., Kamrup, Assam) for committing offence under section 228 of IPC.
Respected Sir,
With due respect I would like to inform you that the aforesaid person on appearance before this court on this 26th day of December, 2019 at about 11:00 AM, on execution of process against him in connection with G.R. Case No. 7434/2011 started derogatory remarks towards the court. According to him, court commits mistake and they used to suffer for execution of processes. This court was asking the S.I. as to how this court supply the other particulars of the accused namely Md. Hanif Alias per the previous records of the Police in connection with G.R. Case по. 7434 / 2011because it is the Police who investigated the case and it is the Police who collected the details of address of accused during investigation. On such question the S.I. replied that it is not his duty to record every duty of accused on execution of process. Moreover, the S.I. one step further started behaving in tempered manner and started insulting judicial process by saying that this court failed to understand his reports. The behav
The court emphasized that offences under Section 228 IPC must be tried by the court where the offence was committed, and proper procedures under Section 340 of Cr.P.C. must be followed.
Procedural safeguards under Sections 345 and 346 of the Cr.P.C. are mandatory in contempt of court cases, and failure to comply results in a miscarriage of justice.
The court emphasized the necessity of reasoned orders in judicial decisions and the inherent power to quash proceedings that constitute an abuse of the legal process.
Only the Magistrate who has taken cognizance of the offences in terms of Section 200 of the Cr. P.C. is competent to issue process under Section 204.
The trial of an applicant cannot be conducted in a jurisdiction that lacks proper establishment under the applicable Code of Criminal Procedure.
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