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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1882

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
ASHOK KUMAR JAIN, J.
Dhara Singh - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Anr. - Respondents
S.B. Criminal Appeal No. 889 of 2023 With S.B. Criminal Appeal Nos. 987, 988 of 2023.
Decided on : 17-05-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. D.K. Dixit and Mr. Ashvin Garg
For the Respondent: Mr. Atul, Kumar, Public Prosecutor and Mr. Satish Khandal

Headnote:(A) Criminal Procedure Code - Sections 190(1), 197, 204, and 156(3) - Prosecution and cognizance - Order of cognizance challenged on grounds of false allegations and lack of supporting evidence - Court emphasized that public servants deserve protection under Section 197, and that the Trial Court failed to consider the negative final report prior to taking cognizance - Miscarriage claim unsubstantiated by medical evidence - Delay in complaint registration raised as an issue. (Paras 2, 10, 11)

Facts of the case:
Appellant challenged an order of cognizance from 24.6.2022 regarding false allegations of assault leading to miscarriage involving public servants. A FIR was filed against them based on a complaint connected to an earlier case where the complainant had been arrested and subsequently discharged. The investigation resulted in a closure report citing the allegations as unproven and based on a civil dispute. (Paras 1, 7)

Findings of Court:
The cognizance order was set aside as it was deemed erroneous due to failure to consider the closure report which found the allegations unsubstantiated, particularly the claims of miscarriage attributable to the police. All appellants discharged from the order of cognizance. (Paras 10, 12)

Issues: The primary issues revolved around the legitimacy of taking cognizance based on a final closure report, the applicability of protection under Section 197 Cr.P.C., and the sufficiency of evidence against the appellants. (Paras 10, 11)

Ratio Decidendi: Protection under Section 197 Cr.P.C. applies to public servants performing their public duty, and the Trial Court erred by ignoring the investigation's negative report and relying solely on uncorroborated witness statements in taking cognizance. Substantial delays in complaint registration undermined the timeliness and credibility of the claims made. (Paras 10, 11)

Result: Appeals allowed; the cognizance order against the present appellants set aside.

Table of Content
1. overview of appeals and initial facts (Para 1 , 6)
2. appellant's arguments against cognizance (Para 2)
3. respondent's counterarguments (Para 4)
4. court's analysis on facts and evidence (Para 5 , 7 , 8)
5. legal reasoning on protections under section 197 cr.p.c. (Para 9 , 10 , 11)
6. final order of the court (Para 12)

JUDGMENT :

Mr. Ashok Kumar Jain, J. - The aforesaid three appeals were preferred aggrieved from order of cognizance dated 24.6.2022 in matter arising out of protest petition No. 182/2022 related F.R. number 88/2012 in FIR No. 126/2012 Police Station, Ramganj, Jaipur city (North). In all appeals, the order of cognizance dated 24.6.2022 is under challenge, therefore, we are disposing of all the appeals by a common order.

2. Learned Counsel for appellant submitted that on complaint of Ravi Vaswani an F.I.R. No. 37/2012 in Police Station Ramganj was registered under Sections 420 , 406 and 384 I PC, wherein after conducting investigation, a charge-sheet was drawn and filed before learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 4, Jaipur Metropolitan. He further submitted that FIR was registered on 4.2.2012 whereas charge-sheet was filed on 12.2.2012 against respondent/ complainant of present matter. It is submitted that after release on ball, a criminal complaint under Section 190(1) Cr.P.C. was filed on 20.4.2022 by respondent complainant before learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 4, Jaipur Metropolitan, which was sent to Police Station Ramganj for registration under Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. It is submitted that on the basis of this complaint an F.I.R. No. 126/2012 under Sections 3 23 , 325, 342, 330, 452, 166 and 316 IPC and Section 3 of SC/ST (POA) Act was registered. He further submitted that after a detailed investigation F.R. (closure report) was proposed and submitted to concerned Court. While referring the reasons of F.R., it is submitted that allegations made by respondent/complainant were found to be totally false and none of such allegation was found proved. He further submitted that one of the allegation on appellants were that due to assault by appellants, the wife of respondent/complainant suffered injuries resulting into miscarriage during pregnancy. He referred the report dated 25.5.2012 Issued by Health Line Hospital to submit that no complaint of assault was reported at the time of examination by the gynecologist. He further submitted that appellants were in duty of police on alleged date of incident they were performing the duties in accordance with law. He further submitted that Trial Court has failed to assign the reasons to discredit the F.R. While referring the reasons given by police at the time of proposing final closure report, it has been submitted that Trial Court without considering total circumstances available on record had proceeded to take cognizance merely on the basis of unverified statements recorded under Sections 200 and 202 Cr.P.C. He further submitted that as per allegation, complainant/ respondent was arrested in FIR No. 37/2012, and he was produced before learned Magistrate, but he never raised any grievance against Police officials or present appellants. Even after release on bail, he did not prefer to file report against appellants which indicated that present complaint was motivated as it was filed after a substantial delay. He submitted that appellants are Government servants entitled for protection under Section 197 Cr.P.C., therefore, referring and relying upon the statements and reasons as given by Investigating Officer while proposing F.R. in F.L.R. No. 126/2012, would submitted that there was no occasion to take cognizance against present appellants, but Trial Court had proceeded to take cognizance on the basis of surmises and conjectures, which is bad in eye of law.

3. Aforesaid contentions were opposed by learned Public Prosecutor and also learned Counsel for respondent/complainant.

4. Learned Counsel for respondent/complainant submitted t

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