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2023 Supreme(J&K) 687

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU
SANJAY DHAR, J.
Ranjit Kalra & Ors. – Petitioner
Versus
Romala Kapoor – Respondent
CRMC No. 73 Of 2012
Decided On : 18-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Pranav Kohli, Sachin Dev Singh.
For the Respondent: Supreet Singh Johal.

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code - Sections 323, 379, 380, 382, 451, 506, and 120-B - Petition challenging complaint alleging various offences - Petitioners alleged to have forcibly entered complainant's property and assaulted her - Magistrate issued process against petitioners after prima facie finding offences made out - Enquiry reports suggested allegations were baseless and an attempt at vengeance following a civil dispute regarding property possession. (Paras 1, 11, 22)

(B) Criminal Procedure Code - Section 482 - High Court's powers - High Court exercised its powers to quash proceedings due to abuse of process and lack of cogent reasons for the Magistrate's decision. (Paras 20, 22)

Facts of the case:
Petitioners challenged a complaint filed by their elder sister accusing them of assault and theft during the implementation of a civil court order restoring possession of property. Respondent alleged acts of violence and theft, whereas petitioners claimed the complaint was retaliatory due to their successful legal action against her.

Findings of Court:
The court found that the respondent's complaints lacked merit and were filed after she was lawfully dispossessed as per civil court instructions.

Issues: The legitimacy of the allegations made against the petitioners; the appropriateness of the Magistrate's decision to issue process based on the complaint.

Ratio Decidendi: The court maintained that the Magistrate had failed to provide justifiable reasons for rejecting the inquiry report, which indicated that the accusations were frivolous and made in bad faith following legal defeat.

Result: The petition was allowed; the court quashed the complaint and proceedings against petitioners.

Table of Content
1. allegations of forced entry and assault (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. enquiry findings and judicial reasoning (Para 5 , 10 , 14 , 19)
3. ongoing civil litigation context (Para 6 , 7 , 8)
4. allegations perceived as retaliatory (Para 9 , 11)
5. reasons for quashing the complaint (Para 16 , 20 , 22)
6. final decision and order (Para 23)

JUDGMENT :

(Sanjay Dhar, J.) :

1. The petitioners have challenged the complaint filed by the respondent/ complainant against them alleging commission of offences under sections 323, 379, 380, 382, 451 and 506 RPC read with Section 120-B RPC which is stated to be pending before the Court of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu. Challenge has also been thrown to order dated 27.05.2011 passed by the learned CJM whereby the learned Magistrate has, after observing that, prima facie, offences under sections 452, 323, 382, 506 RPC are made out against the petitioners, issued process against them.

2. It appears that the respondent/complainant has filed the impugned complaint before the learned trial Magistrate against the petitioners and co-accused alleging therein that, on 22.05.2009 at around 4.30 pm, the petitioners and co-accused came to the residence of the respondent/complainant and knocked at her door. Upon opening the door, the petitioners forcibly entered into her house along with certain gunda elements and started assaulting and abusing the respondent/complainant. It is further alleged that the respondent/complainant was mercilessly beaten by the petitioners and the co-accused. The respondent/complainant was manhandled, assaulted and abused by the petitioners, who are alleged to have threatened the respondent/complainant that they would not allow her to reside in House No. 9/10 Canal Road Opposite BSF Camp, Jammu.

3. It is alleged in the impugned complaint that, upon hearing noise, the son and daughter of the complainant who were sleeping inside the house tried to rescue the respondent/complainant from the clutches of the petitioner and co-accused, but they continued to give beating to the respondent/complainant, who was made to sign certain blank papers. It is further alleged that the petitioners and co- accused took away all the documents relating to the property from the almirah of the respondent/complainant and when she resisted, she was hit with a wooden log. It is also alleged that the police was in connivance with the petitioners who managed to take away not only the important documents, but also cash and jewelry by breaking open the lock of the almirah. The respondent further goes on to allege that instead of taking any action against the petitioners and co-accused, she was kept in a lock up at Women Cell, Canal Road, Jammu. According to the respondent/complainant, her house was ransacked and she was not allowed to go back inside her house. It is alleged that the respondent/ complainant was thrown out forcibly from her house as the petitioners do not want her to reside in it. In short, the respondent/complainant has alleged that the petitioners have forcibly taken over possession of her house.

4 After presentation of the aforesaid complaint, it seems that the learned trial Magistrate recorded the preliminary evidence and vide order dated 08.07.2008, instead of issuing process against the petitioners/accused, the learned Magistrate forwarded the complaint to Superintendent of Police, City South, Jammu for getting the accusations levelled in the complaint verified by an officer not below the rank of Dy. SP with specific directions to enquire into the following aspects:

    (i) Whether complainant has been putting up in the house;

    (ii) No. 9/10 Canal Road, Opposite BSF Camp Jammu on the day she was allegedly assaulted by the accused;

    (iii) Whether the accused broke open the locks of almirah and took away the original documents and further obtained the signatures of complainant forcibly on blank papers; and

    (iv) whether accused are denying access to the complainant to the house in question after

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