IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA
Ajay Mohan Goel, J.
Colonel Sukhjeet Sandhu & others – Petitioners
Versus
State of Himachal Pradesh & others – Respondents
Cr.MP No.1931 of 2021 in Cr.MMO No.135 of 2019
Decided On : 05-01-2024
Recall of Order - Criminal Procedure - Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure - [Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code] - The court discussed the legal provisions and interpretations related to the power of the court to recall its order under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court referred to several judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to establish that there is no power of review with the Criminal Court after the judgment has been rendered. The court emphasized that the power to recall an order can only be exercised in specific circumstances, such as when the judgment has been pronounced without jurisdiction or in violation of the principles of natural justice.
Fact of the Case:
The applicant filed an application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking the recalling of an order passed by the court for quashing of an FIR. The applicant claimed that the conditions of the settlement deed, in lieu of which the FIR was quashed, had been violated by the non-applicants.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that it had no power to recall or modify its order in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as it had become functuous officio after the pronouncement of the main order and disposal of the petition.
Issues: The main issue was whether the court had the power to recall its order under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, considering the alleged violation of the settlement conditions.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to establish that there is no power of review with the Criminal Court after the judgment has been rendered. The court emphasized that the power to recall an order can only be exercised in specific circumstances, such as when the judgment has been pronounced without jurisdiction or in violation of the principles of natural justice.
Final Decision: The application for recalling the order was dismissed by the court, which held that it had no power to recall or modify its order in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
JUDGMENT :
Ajay Mohan Goel, J.
By way of this application, filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the applicant has prayed for recalling of order dated 03.04.2019, passed by this Court in Cr.MMO No.135 of 2019, in terms whereof, this court had allowed the petition filed for quashing of FIR 118 of 2018, dated 15.12.2018, registered at Police Station Dalhousie, District Chamba, H.P., under Section 498A and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, against the non applicants on the ground that the dispute which lead to the registration of the FIR stands amicably resolved between the accused and the complainant. The applicant submits that the conditions of the Settlement Deed dated 12.01.2019, in lieu whereof, she had agreed for the quashing of the FIR, stand violated by the non applicants/petitioners and therefore, the application be allowed and the order passed by this Court quashing the FIR dated 03.04.2019 be recalled.
2. The application is opposed by the nonapplicants/ petitioners, inter alia, on the ground that it is not the nonapplicants but the applicant who flouted the terms of the agreement.
3. Be that as it may, this Court is not dwelling on this issue as to who has violated the terms of settlement intra the parties as first of all this Court has to deal with the legal objection raised by the nonapplicants that this Court is not vested with any power to recall order dated 03.04.2019 passed in Cr.MMO No.135 of 2019, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
4. Learned counsel for the nonapplicants has submitted that after the decision of the main petition, this Court has become functuous officio and in terms of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is not vested with any power to either review or recall its order except in terms of Section 367 thereof, which Section is not attracted in the facts of this case.
5. Learned counsel has relied upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Madhya Pradesh vs. Man Singh, (2019) 10 Supreme Court Cases 161, and Atul Shukla vs. State of Madhya Pradesh and Another, (2019) 17 Supreme Court Cases 299.
6. On the other hand, learned counsel for the applicant besides placing reliance upon the judgments the Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Punjab vs. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar and others, (2011) 14 Supreme Court Cases 770 and argued that this Court can recall its order in terms of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
7. I have heard learned counsel for the parties on the issue of maintainability of the application.
8. Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Madhya Pradesh vs. Man Singh (supra) has held that there is no power of review granted to the Courts under the Criminal Procedure Code and as soon as the High Court disposes of the original Revision Petition, it becomes functuous officio and as such it could not have entertained the petition under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code for altering the sentence.
9. By placing reliance upon in its earlier adjudication in State of Karela vs. M.M. Manikantan Nair, (2001) 4 Supreme Court Cases 752 and State Represented by DSP, SB CID, Chennai vs. K.V. Rajendran and Others, (2008) 8 Supreme Court Cases 673, Hon’ble Supreme Court held that neither the High Court has jurisdiction to review its order nor the inherent power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code can be used by the High Court to reopen or alter an order, disposing of a petition. By placing reliance upon its judgment in Hari Singh Mann vs. Harbhajan Singh Bajwa, 2001 (1) Supreme Court Cases 169, Hon’ble Supreme Court observed that Section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code specifically provides that no Court after signed its judgment shall alter or review the same except to correct a clerical or arithmetical error. By further referring to its earlier judgment in Smt. Sooraj Devi vs Pyare Lal And Anr. (1981) Supreme Court Cases 500, it held that recall of jud
State of Karela vs. M.M. Manikantan Nair
Hari Singh Mann v. Harbhajan Singh Bajwa & Ors.
Hari Singh Mann vs. Harbhajan Singh Bajwa
State of Kerala v. M.M. Manikantan Nair
State of W.B. & Ors. v. Sujit Kumar Rana
Kurukshetra University & Anr. v. State of Haryana & Anr.
Smt. Sooraj Devi v. Pyare Lal & Anr.
Smt. Sooraj Devi vs Pyare Lal And Anr. (1981) SCC 500
Simrikhia v. Dolley Mukherjee and Chhabi Mukherjee & Anr
State Represented by DSP, SB CID, Chennai vs. K.V. Rajendran and Others
State of Punjab vs. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar and others
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the court has no power to recall or modify its order under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, except in specific circumstances such a....
The High Court lacks the power to review or recall its orders after they have been signed, as it becomes functus officio and such actions are barred under Section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The court clarified that a dismissal for default does not amount to a final order, allowing recall and reinstatement for hearings on merits under inherent powers of the High Court.
Petitions dismissed for want of prosecution can be restored under Section 482 Cr.P.C. when there is a bona fide reason for absence, circumventing the prohibition of Section 362 Cr.P.C.
A court cannot review its own judgment once signed, except to correct clerical errors, and inherent powers to recall judgments are limited to jurisdictional errors or violations of natural justice.
The inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. cannot be used to revive quashed FIRs, as the judiciary becomes functus officio post-judgment, with an absolute bar to altering such judgments except for....
An application for recall of judgment is maintainable as a procedural review, but the specific bar under Section 362 Cr.P.C. prevents the court from reviewing a judgment passed on merit after hearing....
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