Judges : PAREED PILLAY
Krishna Bhat - Appellant
Versus
Keshava Bhat - Respondent
Case No : C.R.P.NO.1404 of 1990
Decided On : 10/22/1990
Advocates Appeared :
For Petitioner:D. Krishna Prasad For Respondent U.P. Kunikkullaya
S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure - Jurisdiction of Court to File Complaint - The court is not expected to launch a prosecution merely for the asking by a party, but must consider whether it is expedient in the interests of justice to launch the prosecution. The court will not be a party to launch prosecution merely for private vendetta.
Fact of the Case:
The revision petitioner filed an application before the Sub Court to initiate action against the respondent under S.340 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Sub Judge dismissed the application, and the civil revision petition was filed.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the order of the Court below refusing to launch prosecution under S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not revisable under S.115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the remedy available to the revision petitioner is only by way of filing an appeal as provided under S.341.
Issues: The point that arises for consideration is whether the order of the Court below refusing to launch prosecution under S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is revisable under S.115 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Ratio Decidendi: The responsibility to launch a prosecution rests upon the Court, and the Court is not expected to launch a prosecution merely for the asking by a party. The specific remedy of appeal as provided under S.341 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is applicable in this case.
Final Decision: The Civil Court's order refusing to make a complaint under S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not revisable under S.115 c.p.c., and the remedy available to the revision petitioner is only by way of filing an appeal as provided under S.341 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The revision petitioner filed LA. 623 of 1989 in O.S.26 of 1987 before the Sub Court, Kasaragod for initiating action against the respondent under S.340 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Sub Judge dismissed the application and hence the civil revision petition.
2. The preliminary objection to the revision petition is that it is not maintainable.
3. Chapter 26 of the Code of Criminal Procedure deals with the provisions as to offences affecting administration of justice. S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is intended to be complementary to S.195. S.195 is an exception to the general rule that any person having knowledge of the commission of an offence can set the law in motion by a complaint even if he is not interested in or affected by the offence. This Section bars cognizance being taken of the offences mentioned therein except where there is a complaint in writing by the Court or by the public servant. Chief object of the section is to put a stop to reckless prosecution by private persons. S.340 removes the bar by conferring jurisdiction on the Court to file the complaint. The Section provides the procedure to be followed in the case of complaints by Courts in respect of offences mentioned under S.195(1)(b). The responsibility to launch a prosecution rests upon the Court. The Court is not expected to launch a prosecution merely for the asking by a party. The Court has necessarily to consider whether it is expedient in the interests of justice to launch the prosecution. The Court will not be a party to launch prosecution merely for private vendetta. When the Court orders prosecution it must do so in the larger interests of justice and not to gratify the demand of a private party bent upon revenge against his opponent.
4. Whether the order of the Court below refusing to launch prosecution under S.340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is revisable under S.115 of the Code of Civil Procedure is the point that arises for consideration. S.341 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that any person on whose application any Court other than a High Court has refused to make a complaint under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of S.340, or against whom such a complaint has been made by such Court, can file appeal to the Court to which the Court which passed the order is subordinate. As the Court below refused to make a complaint; the remedy available to the revision petitioner is only by way of filing appeal as provided under S.341. Even though the Civil Court has passed the order the aggrieved party cannot challenge it under S.115 c.p.c. in view of the specific remedy of appeal as provided under S.341 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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