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2013 Supreme(Raj) 748

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Sandeep Mehta, J.
State of Rajasthan - Appellant
Versus
Jagdish Suthar & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Criminal Revision No. 791 of 2012.
Decided On : 5-02-2013

Advocates:
For the State: Mr. A.R. Nikub, Public Prosecutor.

Headnote:

Rule 181 - Civil Court - The court allowed the In-charge Special Investigation Group to obtain the original document for forensic examination, citing Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986 and previous court decisions.

Fact of the Case:

The In-charge Special Investigation Group filed an application to obtain the original agreement for forensic examination, which was rejected by the trial court. The petitioner sought the original document for examination in relation to a criminal case involving allegations of forgery.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the trial court's rejection of the application was not in line with Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986 and previous court decisions. It directed the civil court to hand over the original document to the investigating officer for forensic examination, while keeping a certified copy on record.

Issues: The issue revolved around the authority of the civil court to hand over the original document for forensic examination in a criminal case, as per Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986 and previous court decisions to establish the authority of the civil court to allow the investigating officer to obtain the original document for forensic examination in the interest of fair and proper investigation.

Final Decision: The revision petition was allowed, and the order of the trial court rejecting the application was quashed, allowing the In-charge Special Investigation Group to obtain the original document for forensic examination.

JUDGMENT

1. - The criminal revision petition under Section 397 read with Section 401 Cr.P.C. is directed against the order dated 31.5.2012 passed by the Civil Judge (Jr. Div.) and Judicial Magistrate, Jodhpur District whereby the application filed by the In-charge Special Investigation Group, Police Commissioner-ate, Jodhpur for handing over the original agreement for getting the same examined for Forensic Science Laboratory has been rejected.

2. I have heard learned counsel for the parties. Carefully gone through the impugned order.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on a decision of this Court in Borilal alias Bodi Lal v. State of Rajasthan, 2006(1) Cr.L.R. (Raj.) 549 , wherein this Court, while considering the provisions of Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil) 1986, directed the civil Court to keep a certified copy of the said document in the file of civil suit and hand over the original to the Investigation Agency for F.S.L. Examination. The controversy involved in the instant petition stands squarely covered by the decision of this Court in Borilal alias Bodilal v. State of Rajasthan (supra).

4. In the present case also, the trial Court dismissed the application filed by the In-charge Special Investigation Group, Police Commissioner-ate, Jodhpur on the ground that according to Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil), 1986 (for short, "the Rules of 1986" hereinafter) the Court is not competent to hand over the document to the Police Officer for having the same examined by the F.S.L.

5. The facts giving rise to the-instant petition are that the I.O. Police Commissioner-ate, Jodhpur was investigating the First Information Report No. 168/2010 registered at P.S. Udaimandir filed by the petitioner for the offence under Sections 420, 467, 469, 471 and 120B I.P.C. with the allegations that in the power of attorney and sale deed, the signatures of the parties are forged and moved application in Civil Original Suit No. 251/2012 in the Court of Civil Judge (Jr. Div.) and Judicial Magistrate for handing over the original documents as it was required to be examined by Forensic Science Laboratory. During investigation of the said F.I.R., in order to ascertain as to whether the signatures/thumb impressions appended on the documents are genuine or not, the I.O. sought to procure the original document so that it could be examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory. The original document was already filed in the civil suit and therefore, the I.O. in accordance with Rule 181 of the General Rules (Civil), 1986 submitted an application for procuring the document in question for the purpose of investigation. The Court below by the order dated 31.5.2012 has rejected the said application and hence the instant revision petition before this Court.

6. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the controversy involved in the matter is no longer res Integra in view of the decision rendered in Mahant Hari Ram v. State of Rajasthan, (S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No. 1204/2007) decided on 3.4.2008 and the case of Borilal @ Bodi Lal v. State (supra).

7. Having regard to the view expressed by this Court in the case of Borilal @ Bodi Lal v. State of Rajasthan, reported in 2006(1) Cr.L.R. (Raj.) 549 , and in the case of Mahant Hari Ram v. State of Rajasthan (supra) and keeping in view the fact that in the criminal case instituted by the petitioner, there is a specific allegation that the accused forged the document and then filed the same in the civil Court, the original document has to be analyzed by the Hand Writing Expert and the comparison of the signature/thumb impressions etc. has to be done by the expert in order to secure the ends of justice and in order to ensure a fair and proper investigation.

8. In these circumstances and in order to secure the ends of justice, this Court is of the opinion that the civil Court trying the Civil Original Suit No. 251/2011 has to be directed in accordance with Rule 181 of the Rules of 1986 to hand




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