2013 Supreme(Raj) 628
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
R.S.Chauhan, J.
Vijai Singh Kulhari - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan and another - Respondent
S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No. 3401 of 2012.
Decided On : 17-01-2013
Advocates:
For the Petitioner:V.K. Sharma, Advocate.
Relevant facts and documents should be admitted in a case, and a revision petition does not lie against an interlocutory order.
Headnote:
Agreement - Relevance of Agreement in Cheque Bounce Case - Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act - Section 91 CrPC, Section 311 CrPC
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner issued cheques to the complainant, which bounced, leading to a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The petitioner sought to introduce an agreement dated 28.7.2009 during the trial, but the application was rejected by the Magistrate and upheld by the Sessions Judge.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the agreement dated 28.7.2009 was irrelevant to the controversy as it had not been properly implemented and had no bearing on the dishonored cheques. The Court also held that the revision petition against the interlocutory order was not maintainable.
Issues: Relevance of the agreement in the cheque bounce case, admissibility of the agreement under Section 91 CrPC, and maintainability of the revision petition.
Ratio Decidendi: Only relevant facts and documents should be admitted in a case. An agreement that does not shed light on the controversy and has no bearing on the issue at hand should not be summoned or taken on record. A revision petition does not lie against an interlocutory order.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed as the Court found no illegality or perversity in the impugned orders. The stay application was also dismissed.
JUDGMENT
1. - The petitioner, Vijay Singh Kulhari is aggrieved by the order dated 7.5.2012 passed by the Additional Chief Mahanagar Magistrate No. 8, Jaipur Metropolitan whereby he has rejected the application filed by the petitioner under Section 91 read with Section 311 CrPC. He is also aggrieved by the order dated 30.6.2012 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track) No. 3, Jaipur Metropolitan whereby the learned Judge has upheld the order dated 7.5.2012.
2. In brief, the facts of the case are that for two cheques have given by the petitioner to the complainant Mr. Sharad Mehta, which had bounced. Mr. Sharad Mehta had instituted a complaint against the petitioner for offence under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act. During the course of the trial, the complainant and the petitioner had entered into an agreement on 28.7.2009. Both the partied had agreed that the petitioner would give three cheques, total Rs. 49,00,000/-, to Mr. Sharad Mehta. Moreover, a piece of land would also be given by him to Mr. Sharad Mehta.
3. The petitioner moved an application under Section 91 CrPC read with Section 311 CrPC. He prayed that a copy of the agreement dated 28.7.2009 should be called for. Moreover the complainant should be recalled for so that he can be cross-examined with regard to the agreement dated 28.7.2009. However, by order dated 7.5.2012, the learned Magistrate dismissed the petitioner's application. Since the petitioner was aggrieved by the aforesaid order, he filed a criminal revision petition before the learned Judge. But by order dated 30.6.2012, the learned Judge dismissed the revision petition and upheld the order dated 7.5.2012. Hence, this petition before this Court.
4. Mr. V.K. Sharma, the learned counsel for the petitioner has raised the following contentions before this Court :
5. Firstly, both the parties had entered into an agreement dated 14.9.2006. Consequently, two cheques were given, which were ultimately dishonored by the bank. Subsequently, on 28.7.2009 both the parties entered into an agreement. Three cheques were given in pursuance of the said agreement. But they, too, have been dishonoured, against which a separate complaint has been filed by the complainant respondent. However, according to him the agreement dated 28.7.2009 is relevant for the present controversy. Therefore, the learned Magistrate has committed an illegality in not summoning the said agreement and in not taking it on record. Moreover, since the agreement was relevant, an opportunity to cross-examine the complainant should have been given to the petitioner. While assailing the order dated 30.6.2012, the learned counsel has contended that the revision petition has.been dismissed on the ground o maintainability and not on merit. Therefore, the case should be remanded back to the learned Judge.
6. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the impugned order.
7. It is, indeed, a settled principle of law that only those facts and documents should be admitted which are relevant to the controversy. A fact or document which does not shed light in the controversy, and does not help to reach the truth, or a document which is irrelevant should not be summoned or taken on record.
8. Admittedly, the parties had entered into an agreement on 14.9.2006, pursuant to which the two cheques in dispute were given by the petitioner to the complainant respondent. Allegedly both the cheques were dishonoured by the bank. Consequently, the complainant filed a case for the offence under Section 138 of the Act. Although both the parties may have entered into an agreement on 28.7.2009, the fact remains that according to the learned counsel for the petitioner the said agreement could not be implemented by the parties for a few reasons; firstly, because the three cheques given in pursuance of the said agreement have allegedly bounced and a separate complaint has been filed with regard to the three cheques. Secondly, some dispute has erupted between the p
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