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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1411

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Manoj Kumar Garg, J.
Smt. Raya Kanwari & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
State of Rajasthan, Through PP & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Criminal Misc(Pet.) No. 1364 of 2023
Decided On : 16-05-2023

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Ram Prasad Singaria, Advocate, for the Appellant; Mr. Mool Singh Bhati, PP and Mr. Mukesh Mehriya, Advocate, for the Respondent.

Inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. should be exercised cautiously to prevent abuse of process and to allow legitimate prosecutions to proceed.

Headnote:

Quashing - FIR - Cr.P.C. Sections 482, 161, 164, IPC Sections 323, 447, 354, 504, 457 - The court emphasized that inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. should be exercised sparingly and only when no prima facie case is established, reaffirming the necessity of allowing investigations to proceed unless clear abuse of process is evident.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners sought to quash an FIR for various IPC offences, arguing that no specific allegations were made against them and that cross cases existed. The prosecution opposed this, asserting that specific allegations were indeed made.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that specific allegations were made against the petitioners, particularly against one petitioner, and concluded that the FIR was not frivolous and could not be quashed.

Issues: Whether the FIR registered against the petitioners can be quashed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. due to lack of specific allegations.

Ratio Decidendi: The court reiterated that inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. should not be used to stifle legitimate prosecution and that FIRs should not be quashed unless no offence is disclosed.

Result: The petition to quash the FIR is dismissed.

ORDER

1. The petitioners have preferred this writ petition under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. for quashing the FIR No.247/2021 registered at Police Station Sadar, District Nagaur for the offence under Sections 323, 447, 354, 504, 457, 34 of IPC.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that cross cases have been registered between the parties and no specific allegation has been levelled against both the accused. Counsel further submits that no offence has been made out against the present petitioners. Therefore, it is prayed that the FIR may be quashed.

3. Learned Public Prosecutor and learned counsel for the complainant have opposed the prayer made by the petitioners.

4. I have considered the arguments advanced before me and carefully gone through the record.

5. It is evident that complainant has made specific allegations under Sections 164 Cr.P.C. as well as 161 Cr.P.C against the present petitioners. Further, offences under Sections 447, 323 & 504 of IPC have been proved against the petitioner No.2 Arvind Kumar. In these circumstances, it can not be said that FIR is frivolous. Furthermore, FIR cannot be quashed.

6. Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of State of Haryana & Ors. Vs. Choudhary Bhajanlal & Ors. : 1992 Suppl. (1) SCC 335], laid down guidelines for exercising inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash FIR and criminal proceedings. The Court held:

    "102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised.

1. Where the allegations made in the first information report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima-facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused.

2. Where the allegations in the first information report and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code.

3. Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused.

4. Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code.

5. Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused.

6. Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned Act (under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved party.

7. Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to pri

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