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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1875

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
Chandra Kumar Songara, J.
Mahant Prakash Das and Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No.4881 of 2017
Decided On : 13-04-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Ripunjay Sharma, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Mr. Deshraj Gosingha, Public Prosecutor, Mr. Kishan, Advocate for Complainants

Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 482, Section 401(2) - Criminal revision against dismissal of complaint - Revisional Court failed to provide opportunity of hearing to accused, thus infringing their rights - Nonsense findings on service to one accused, leading to improper adjudication. (Paras 2, 8, 10, 14)

(B) Principles of natural justice - Right to fair hearing requires opportunity to be afforded to all affected parties, especially when an adverse order is passed. (Paras 10, 12)

Facts of the case:
Petitioners challenged the Revisional Court's order dated 18.07.2017 which remanded their case for adjudication after setting aside the previous dismissal, citing lack of due process for one accused. The petitioners argued the case was a false complaint arising from a landlord-tenant dispute.

Findings of Court:
The court found significant errors in the Revisional Court's actions, notably the absence of an opportunity for one accused to present their case, necessitating a fresh adjudication.

Issues: Whether the complainant's revision could be decided without granting a hearing to the accused-petitioners.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the necessity of affording a hearing to all parties when judicial decisions adversely affect their rights, confirming this principle through precedent.

Result: The impugned order dated 18.07.2017 is set aside; the case is remitted to the Revisional Court with directions for a fresh hearing.

Table of Content
1. presentation of the case background. (Para 1)
2. arguments presented by parties. (Para 2 , 3 , 4 , 6)
3. recognition of procedural defects in hearing. (Para 7 , 8)
4. key issue regarding the right to hearing. (Para 9)
5. court's analysis on the obligation to provide a hearing. (Para 10 , 11 , 12)
6. conclusion on error of the revisional court. (Para 14)
7. final conclusion and order. (Para 15 , 16)

ORDER :

Chandra Kumar Songara, J.

Instant petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been preferred on behalf of accused-petitioners against the order dated 18.07.2017 passed by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Rajgarh District Alwar, in Criminal Revision No.14/2013, titled as Prabhudayal Mahajan & Others v. State of Rajasthan & Others, whereby the revision petition filed by complainants-petitioners was allowed and the order dated 09.03.2013 passed by the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rajgarh District Alwar dismissing the protest petition filed by the complainants-petitioners, was set aside and the matter was remanded back for adjudication on the basis of Final Report as well as evidence.

2. It has been submitted by learned counsel appearing for the accused-petitioners, that the impugned order passed by the Revisional Court below is against the settled position of law as it did not consider the very aspect of the matter that the Investigating Officer has submitted the Final Report in negative form after conducting proper investigation. Counsel has further submitted that the service upon the petitioner No.5, namely Bharat Lal was never effected and the impugned order was passed in his absence without giving him any opportunity of hearing. Counsel has also submitted that Sub-section (2) of Section 401 of Cr.P.C. clearly states that no order shall be passed against the accused until due opportunity of hearing is afforded to him. Counsel has contended that the complainant scratched himself to make out a false case to malafidely harass the petitioners, the present matter is clearly outcome & counterblast of landlord and tenant dispute and the Investigating Officer as well as the learned Court below was of the clear view that the case lodged by the complainant was false. Lastly, counsel has prayed that the present petition may be allowed, the impugned order dated 18.07.2017 (Annexure-1) passed by the Court of Revision be quashed & set aside and the order dated 09.03.2013 (Annexure2) passed by the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rajagarh, be upheld.

3. In support of his submissions, learned counsel appearing for the accused-petitioners, has placed reliance upon the following judgments i.e. (i) Priyanka Srivastava and another v. State of U.P. and Others , 2015 (1) WLC (SC) Cri.738 , ( ii) Islam Khan and anothe v. State of Rajasthan & Others, 2013 WLC (Raj.) UC 685 and (iii) Ramjan Khan v. State of Rajasthan , 2018 (2) WLC (Raj.) UC 307 .

4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.1/State, while opposing the petition, has submitted the factual report, which is taken on record.

5. As per aforesaid factual report, in the present case, F.R. No.219/2011 dated 27.12.2011 had been submitted before the Court of A.C.J.M. Rajgarh, District Alwar on 12.01.2011, as the matter was found to be false.

6. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.2/1 to 2/4, also while opposing the petition, has placed reliance upon the judgment in the case of Sau. Kamal Shivaji Pokarnekar v. The State of Maharashtra & Others , (2019) 14 SCC 350 .

7. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. Perused the material made available on record as well as the judgments cited herein-above by both the parties.

8. From perusal of impugned order dated 18.07.2017 passed by the Court of Revision, it reveals that the service upon the accused-petitioner No.5, namely Bharat Lal was never effected and the impugned order was passed in his absence without giving him any opportunity of hearing.

9. The

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