IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT SRINAGAR
Mansoor Ahmad Mir, J.
State Of J&K - Appellant
Versus
Ab. Rehman Rather & Ors. - Respondent
Cr. Reference No. 50/2005
Decided On : 03 March, 2006
Section 436-A RPC - Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates - Sections 6-A, 28, 29, 30, 34 of the Code
Fact of the Case:
The Judicial Magistrate made a reference regarding the triability of an offence under Section 436-A RPC, as it was not clear which court had jurisdiction over the offense.
Finding of the Court:
The Court clarified that the offence punishable under Section 436-A of RPC is triable by the Court of Judicial Magistrate of the first class, as per the provisions of the Code.
Issues: The main issue was the determination of the court with jurisdiction to try the offence under Section 436-A RPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court relied on the provisions of Sections 6-A, 28, 29, 30, and 34 of the Code, along with the Second Schedule, to establish the jurisdiction of the Judicial Magistrate of the first class to try the mentioned offence.
Final Decision: The reference was answered, and it was clarified that the Judicial Magistrate of the first class has jurisdiction to try the offence under Section 436-A RPC.
2. Heard. Perused. Considered.
It is necessary to notice Sections 6-A, 28, 29, 30 and 34 of the Code herein, which read as under:-
"A-1. CLASSES OF MAGISTRATES.
[6-A. Classes of Magistrates.-There shall be the following classes of Magistrates, namely:-
I. JUDICIAL MAGISTRATES.
(1) Chief Judicial Magistrates.
(2) Judicial Magistrates of the first class.
(3) Judicial Magistrates of the second class.
(4) Special Judicial Magistrates.
II. EXECUTIVE MAGISTRATES.
(1) District Magistrates.
(2) Addl. District Magistrates.
(3) Sub-divisional Magistrates.
(4) Executive Magistrate of the first class.
(5) Executive Magistrates of the second class.
(6) Special Executive Magistrate].
28. Offences under Ranbir Penal Code.-Subject to the other provisions of this Code any offence under the Ranbir Penal Code may be tried-
(a) by the High Court, or
(b) by the Court of Session, or
(c) by any other Court by which such offence is shown in the eighth column of the Second Schedule to be triable.
29. Offences under other laws.-(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Code any offence under any other law shall, when any court is mentioned in this behalf in such law, be tried by such court:
Provided that if the Court so mentioned is a Court specified in column (1) of the Table below, such offence shall be tried by the Court of the Judicial Magistrate specified against it in column (2) thereof.
| Nameof Court Specified in the law. | Court by which Triable |
| 1 | 2 |
| 1. Chief Presidency Magistrate | |
| 2.Presidency Magistrate | Chief Judicial Magistrate |
| 3.District Magistrate | |
| 4. Magistrate of the Ist Class | Judicial Magistrate of the first class. |
| 5. Sub-Divisional Magistrate | |
| 6.Magistrate of the second class | Judicial Magistrate of the second class. |
| 7.Magistrate of the third class | Judicial Magistrate. |
8.Magistrate (except where it occurs in any expression mentioned above) |
(2) When no Court is so mentioned, it may be tried by the High Court or subject as aforesaid by any Court constituted under this Code by which such offence is shown to be triable in the sixth column of the Second Schedule under the heading offences against the laws.]
[30. Offences punishable with imprisonment not exceeding seven years. -- Notwithstanding anyting contained in sections 28 or 29, a Chief Judicial Magistrate or where there is no Chief Judicial Magistrate, the Additional District Magistrate shall have the powers to try as a Judicial Magistrate all offences not punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years.
[34. Higher powers of Chief Judicial Magistrate. -- Notwith-standing anything contained in section 32, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate or where there is no Chief Judicial Magistrate the Additional District Magistrate may pass any sentence of death or of imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years.]"
3. In terms of mandate of Section 28 of the Code, the offences can be tried by High Court or by the Court of Sessions or any other Court by which such offence is shown in the eighth column of the Second Schedule of the Code to be triable. Thus, those Courts which are shown in eighth column of the Second Schedule of the Code can try such offence. While going through the Schedule, it appears that offence punishable under Section 436-A of RPC is not included in the Schedule and that is why the learned Magistrate has made the reference.
4. A bare look at the second schedule of the Code indicates that in eighth column it recognizes only the two courts by which various offences mentioned in RPC can be tried, which are Court of Session and Court of
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