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1985 Supreme(Raj) 443

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
K.S.Lodha, J.
Deepak Khosla - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
S.B. Cr. Misc. Application No. 26 of 1985.
Decided On : 23-04-1985

Advocates:
For the Applicant:D.S. Shishodia, Advocate.
For the Respondent: L.S. Udawat, P.P.

At the stage of taking cognizance, it is not appropriate for the court to delve into the merits of the case and assess the evidence in detail. The court should only consider whether there are allegations and some evidence indicating the involvement of the accused in the alleged offense.

Headnote:

SECTION 304A IPC - CAUSING DEATH BY NEGLIGENCE - ACT-SECTION REFERRED: SECTION 304A IPC - SUMMARY: The court discussed the elements of the offense under Section 304A IPC, which requires a direct nexus between the death of a person and the rash and negligent act of the accused. The court held that at the stage of taking cognizance, it is not appropriate to delve into the merits of the case and assess the evidence in detail. The court observed that there were allegations in the FIR and some evidence indicating that the petitioner had asked the deceased to go over the roof of the factory despite the presence of live electric wires, and that the deceased fell down from the roof. The court left it to the trial court to determine whether the petitioner's actions amounted to rash and negligent conduct and whether there was a causal connection between his actions and the deceased's death.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, Deepak Khosla, was accused of causing the death of his employee, Nandlal, by negligence under Section 304A IPC. Nandlal had refused to climb the roof of the factory due to the presence of live electric wires, but the petitioner allegedly insisted and threatened him to do so. Nandlal climbed the roof but fell down and sustained injuries, later succumbing to them in the hospital.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the stage of taking cognizance is not appropriate for a detailed examination of the evidence and assessment of the merits of the case. The court observed that there were allegations and some evidence indicating the petitioner's involvement in asking the deceased to climb the roof despite the presence of live electric wires, and that the deceased fell from the roof. However, the court left it to the trial court to determine whether the petitioner's actions amounted to rash and negligent conduct and whether there was a causal connection between his actions and the deceased's death.

Issues: 1. Whether the petitioner's actions in asking the deceased to climb the roof despite the presence of live electric wires amounted to rash and negligent conduct under Section 304A IPC. 2. Whether there was a direct nexus between the petitioner's actions and the deceased's death.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the principle that at the stage of taking cognizance, it is not appropriate to delve into the merits of the case and assess the evidence in detail. The court observed that there were allegations and some evidence indicating the petitioner's involvement in asking the deceased to climb the roof despite the presence of live electric wires, and that the deceased fell from the roof. However, the court left it to the trial court to determine whether the petitioner's actions amounted to rash and negligent conduct and whether there was a causal connection between his actions and the deceased's death.

Final Decision: The court rejected the petitioner's application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., holding that the trial court had not acted perversely in taking cognizance of the offense under Section 304A IPC. The court left it to the trial court to determine the merits of the case and decide whether the petitioner's actions amounted to rash and negligent conduct and whether there was a causal connection between his actions and the deceased's death.

JUDGMENT

1. - The learned Munsif and Judicial Magistrage Rajnagar has taken cognizance of an offence Under Section 304A IPC against the present petitioner Deepak Khosla. Being aggrieved of this he has filed the present application Under Section 482 Cr. PC.

2. The facts of the case briefly stated are that the present petitioner is the owner of Marbles LT Upper Factory in village Pasund and deceased Nandlal was an employee of this factory. On 25-5-1982, the petitioner is alleged to have asked the deceased Nandlal to go over to the shed of the factory for its repairs. Nandal refused to climb the roof as there were live electric wires passing just about a few feet over the roof. However, the petitioner is alleged to have insisted upon his climbing the roof and it is also alleged that he threatened him that if he did not do so, he would not pay him his dues. Thereupon Nandlal climbed the roof but just after a little while he fell down from the roof and received injuries. Petitioner Deepak Khosla is alleged to have taken him in his car to Udaipur General Hospital and got him admitted there. However, Nandlal succumbed to his injuries on that very day. When he was declared dead the petitioner is alleged to have run away from the hospital without informing any one. The post mortem examination of the deceased was conducted, according to which it was found that he died on account of coma due to head injury. On 26-5-1982 at 7.30 P.M. Laluram, brother of the deceased, filed a written report stating the above facts before the SHO Police Station Rajsamand. The Police registered a case Under Section 304A Cr.PC and started investigation. The Police, however, came to a conclusion that it was a case of mere accident and, therefore, it filed a final report. The learned Magistrate did not accept this final report and took cognizance of the offence Under Section 304A IPC against the petitioner.

3. I have heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor and have gone through the record.

4. It is contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner that there is absolutely no material on the record to establish any rash or negligent act on the part of the present petitioner, leading to the death of deceased Nanalal and even if for the sake of arguments it is accepted that Nanalal went over the roof of the factory on the instance of or threats given by the petitioner the mere fact that the petitioner had compelled him to go over the roof does not necessarily show that the petitioner was rash or negligent and there is no nexus between the act of the petitioner in asking Nanalal to go over to the roof for its repairs and the death of Nanalal. He, therefore, submits that the learned Magistrate could not have taken cognizance of the offence Under Section 304A IPC against the petitioner in these circumstances.

5. On the other hand, the learned Public Prosecutor has stated that at present the learned Magistrate has only taken cognizance of the offence and it is not a stage where this Court should critically examine the evidence in order to find out whether there was sufficient evidence to establish the rash or negligent act of the petitioner and the nexus between that act and the death of the deceased Nanalal and, therefore, this Court should not interfere with the order of the learned Magistrate at this stage.

6. I have given my careful consideration to the rival contentions. There is no doubt that there must be a direct nexus between the death of a person and rash and negligent act of the accused in order to establish a charge Under Section 304A IPC against an accused as had been held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Suleman Rehman Mulani and Anr. v. The State of Maharashtra, AIR 1968 SC 829 , the question however is whether at this stage this Court should go deep into the matter and find out whether this nexus has been established or not. The stage is only of taking cognizance. The Learned Magistrate himself was not expected to go





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