The court emphasized the importance of considering medical opinions, jurisdictional provisions, and the need for substantial evidence in allegations of collusion.

Sandeep Sharma, J.

By way of instant petition filed under S.482 CrPC, petitioner has sought direction to respondent No. 2 i.e. Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, for registering a case against respondents No. 6 and 7, under Ss. 307, 326, 341, 504, 506 and 34 IPC. Petitioner has also prayed that summons dated 1.8.2016 issued by respondent No.5-Gram Panchayat Putdiyal, Tehsil Nadaun be cancelled/stayed and consequential proceedings arising out of FIR No. 59 dated 25.6.2016 may also be stayed.

2. In nutshell, case of the petitioner, as emerges from the record is that on 25.6.2016, he was given merciless beatings by respondents No. 6 and 7, as a consequence of which, he suffered simple as well as grievous injuries. Petitioner has alleged that respondents No. 6 and 7, who allegedly gave him beatings, have been protected by the Police as well as Medical Officer, who medically examined him. Petitioner has alleged that he suffered grievous injuries on his head, as a consequence of which he received eight stitches on his forehead, but the Medical Officer, while issuing MLC only stated that the petitioner suffered simple injuries on account of alleged beatings given by accused. Petitioner further alleged that the report of Medical Officer, Government Hospital, Hamirpur has been issued under the influence of the accused as well as Station House Officer. At the time of lodging of FIR, case under Ss.341, 323, 504, 506 and 34 IPC was registered against respondents No. 6 and 7, but while presenting Challan under S.173 CrPC, in the competent Court of law, Investigating Officer purposely and knowing fully well, placed wrong facts before the court below and has wrongly stated that case under Ss. 341, 323 and 504 IPC is made out against respondents No. 6 and 7 and same falls within the cognizance of the Gram Panchayat. In the aforesaid background, petitioner has approached this court in the instant proceedings, seeking therein direction to stay the proceedings pending before the Gram Panchayat concerned.

3. Having heard the learned counsel representing the parties and perused the reply having been filed on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3, this court finds that the FIR was lodged on the basis of statement of petitioner Shankar Dass, under Ss. 341, 323, 504, 506 and 34 IPC, but for the purpose of inserting other Sections i.e. 325 and 307 IPC, Investigating Officer sought opinion of Medical Officer, who had medically examined the injured/petitioner. Investigating Officer moved an application dated 25.6.2016 (Annexure R-1) to the Medical Officer, requesting therein to give his opinion with regard to injuries allegedly suffered by petitioner on account of beatings given by respondents No. 6 and 7. Careful perusal of opinion of the Medical Officer (Annexure R-2) clearly suggests that injuries suffered by petitioner were simple in nature and as such, there was no occasion for the Investigating Officer to incorporate Ss. 325 and 307 IPC as argued by the learned counsel representing the petitioner. Medical Officer has specifically opined that, “Injury No. (1), (2) and (3) are simple and not dangerous for live. (Page-69 of the paper-book)”

4. Similarly, this court finds that as per Schedule III provided in Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, (Annexure R-3), offences under Ss. 341, 323 and 504 IPC, are triable by Gram Panchayat and as such, this court sees no illegality or infirmity in the action of Gram Panchayat in as much as issuance of summons to respondents No. 6 and 7 is concerned, rather, S.32 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, makes it mandatory that the offences, which exclusively falls within the cognizance of the Gram Panchayat, should be tried by the Panchayat only. S.32 of the Act ibid is reproduced hereunder:

“32. Offences cognizable by Gram Panchayat.-

(1) Offences mentioned in Schedule-III or declared by the State Government to be cognizable by a Gram Panchayat, if committed within the jurisdiction of a Gram Panch