1. Invoking the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (in short ‘the Code’) the petitioners have prayed for quashing of the entire criminal proceeding including the order dated 27.06.2005 passed in connection with Manoharpur P.S. Case No. 31 of 1996 corresponding to G.R. Case No. 202 of 1996 whereby and whereunder the learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Porahat at Chaibasa has rejected the petition filed for discharge under Section 239 of the Code.

2. The facts of the case, which is relevant for the proper appreciation of the issue involved in this case, in short, is that at the instance of the informant-the Circle Officer, Manoharpur, West Singhbhum, the aforesaid case was instituted on 27.07.1996 under Sections 467, 468, 471, 420/34, 109 and 120(B) of Indian Penal Code on the allegation that after receiving an allegation petition, the Deputy Commissioner, Singhbhum directed the District Welfare Officer, West Singhbhum at Chaibasa to make an enquiry in respect of the allegations made by one Dr. Rajendra Prasad Singh in his letter dated 04.02.1992 and on the basis of the report submitted by the District Welfare Officer af