IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU
Vinod Chatterji Koul, J.
Surat Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of J&K and Anr. – Respondents
CRR No.36/2018
Decided On : 30-07-2021
Ranbir Penal Code, 1989-Sections 279/337/304-A-Jammu and Kashmir Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989-Section 439-Causing death by rash and negligent driving-Revision against acquittal-Revisional jurisdiction, invoked by a private party against an order of acquittal recorded by Trial Court, can be exercised only in certain exceptions such as, where Trial Court has no jurisdiction to try and case, where Trial Court has wrongly shut out evidence which prosecution wished to produce, where material evidence has been overlooked-This Court cannot convert any finding of acquittal into one of conviction nor can it re-appreciate evidence and substitute its own view-Conclusion which has been drawn by trial Court was only conclusion possible in the case on the basis of evidence that was produced in support of their case-Trial court has proceeded rightly in recording respondents' acquittal-State has not questioned acquittal of respondent-It could be interfered with only if a strong case demonstrating failure of justice is made out-Revision Petition dismissed. (Paras 10, 11 and 12)
Result-Revision Petition dismissed.
ORDER :
Vinod Chatterji Koul, J.
1. This revision petition has been filed against the order whereby juvenile – Gourav Badyal in respect of whom proceedings were initiated in respect of an FIR No. 339/2016, Police Station, Udhampur for offences under Sections 279/337/304-A RPC has been acquitted by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Udhampur (“the trial Court”) vide its judgment dated 26.06.2018 on the grounds that trial court has wrongly discarded the statement of PW-Ranjeet Singh on ground that he was an interested witness. The second ground urged before this Court to assail the judgment impugned is that the trial Court observed that the prosecution has failed to examine the Investigating Officer due to which FIR, site map remained unexhibited and not proved, whereas a bare perusal of the judgment impugned reveals that I.O. appeared before the trial Court and was examined in support of the challan.
2. The facts in brief are that on 19.10.2016, a Scooty bearing Registration No.JK14D/5424 while going from TCP towards Salathia Chowk, Udhampur met with an accident near D.C. Office at about 5.20 p.m., as a result whereof scooty driver and the pillion rider, namely, Naresh Singh sustained grievous injuries. The injured with taken to Udhampur hospital where pillion rider succumbed to the injuries. The accident was allegedly occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the scooty by its driver-respondent No.2 herein. The challan was presented before the trial Court on 31.01.2017, the accused was declared juvenile and his statement in terms of Section 242 Cr.P.C. was recorded. The delinquent was charge-sheeted for commission of offence under Sections 279/304-A RPC. The delinquent denied the charges and claimed to be tried. The prosecution in support of its case, examined 14 witnesses out of 18 witnesses cited in the challan. No witness has been examined in defence.
3. The trial Court, after appreciating the prosecution evidence, held that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case against the delinquent juvenile. Accordingly, the charge-sheet was dismissed and the delinquent juvenile was acquitted by the trial Court with the following observations:-
Criminal Revision - Scope of criminal revision is very limited.
Interference with orders of acquittal is not justified unless there is a manifest illegality or a grave miscarriage of justice.
(1) No revision shall be entertained at instance of victim against order of acquittal in a case where no appeal is preferred and victim is to be relegated to file appeal.(2) Right provided to victim ....
Acquittal judgments should not be interfered with unless compelling reasons exist, as the presumption of innocence is reinforced by acquittal.
The High Court's revisional jurisdiction is limited; it cannot convert an acquittal into a conviction without manifest illegality or miscarriage of justice.
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