RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Goverdhan Bardhar, J.
Vijesh Kumar @ Vijay Purohit - Appellant
Versus
State, Through PP - Respondent
Criminal Revision Petition No. 756 of 2020
Decided On : 04-08-2021
[WARRANTS] - [POCSO ACT] - [The court discussed the legal provisions regarding the issuance of arrest warrants under Section 70 of the CrPC, emphasizing that in normal circumstances, a court should first issue summons or bailable warrants before resorting to non-bailable warrants. The court referenced previous judgments to support the interpretation that the seriousness of the offense does not negate the procedural requirement for issuing bailable warrants initially.]
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was taken cognizance for serious offenses under IPC and POCSO Act, leading to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the trial court's order for a non-bailable warrant was not in line with established legal principles, which prioritize the issuance of summons or bailable warrants first.
Issues: Whether the issuance of a non-bailable warrant was appropriate given the circumstances of the case and the legal provisions under Section 70 of the CrPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The court reiterated that, as per established legal precedent, a court should issue summons or bailable warrants before resorting to non-bailable warrants, unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.
Result: The Revision Petition was partly allowed, modifying the non-bailable warrant to a bailable warrant.
JUDGMENT
Goverdhan Bardhar, J. - Heard.
2. The defects pointed out by the Office are waived at this stage.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that vide order dated 07.01.2019, learned Special Judge, POCSO Act Cases, Jalore has taken cognizance against the petitioner for offence under Sections 363, 366, 376(D) IPC and Section 3/4, 5(i)/6 of POCSO Act and ordered for issuing warrant of arrest against the accused persons.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits at the outset that he has limited prayer that issuance of arrest warrant for securing presence of the petitioner may be converted to bailable warrant while resorting to sub-sec.(2) of Sec.70 CrPC. In support of his submission, learned counsel relied on judgment in the case of Vivek @ Pappu Jat & another Vs State of Rajasthan,2018 11 CrLR 259.
5. Per contra, learned Public Prosecutor opposed the prayer and submitted that looking to seriousness of the offence, the trial court has passed the order for summoning presence of the accused-petitioner by warrant of arrest.
6. Perused the impugned order passed by the trial court.
7. In the case of Vivek @ Pappu Jat (supra), the coordinate Bench of this Court observed as follows:
7. Supreme Court in Inder Mohan s case (supra) has considered this aspect threadbare and has opined that in normal course of events, at the first instance, Court is not expected to issue arrest warrant. The said view is also subsequently followed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Israk & ors. Vs The State of Rajasthan and Balveer Singh Vs State of Rajasthan."
8. In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion and deem it proper to exercise its revisional jurisdiction in granting limited indulgence to the petitioner.
9. Accordingly, this Revision Petition is partly allowed and the order dated 07.01.2019 passed by learned Special Judge, POCSO Act Cases, Jalore in FIR No.03/2017, to the extent of issuing nonbailable warrant against the accused-petitioner Vijesh Kumar @ Vijay Purohit s/o Amara Ram is modified and converted into bailable warrants.
In normal circumstances, courts are required to issue summons or bailable warrants before issuing non-bailable warrants, as per Section 70 of the CrPC.
In normal circumstances, either summons or bailable warrant should be issued at the first instance, and non-bailable warrant should only be issued if the accused does not respond to the bailable warr....
The court upheld the issuance of a non-bailable warrant based on the petitioner's evasion of arrest and non-cooperation with the investigation, as well as the gravity of the offense.
The court emphasized the authority of the Special Judge to issue a non-bailable warrant when the accused is evading arrest and not cooperating with the investigation.
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