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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND
R.R. Prasad, J.
Rabindra Agarwal - Appellant
Vs.
State Of Jharkhand And Another - Respondent
Decided On : 24-02-2010

Prosecution under the general law for allegations falling within the province of special legislation is not permissible.

Headnote:

Prosecution - Factories Act - Quashing of criminal proceedings

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed an application to quash criminal proceedings related to a first information report (FIR) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, arising from an incident at a factory where workers sustained injuries due to alleged negligence of the management.

Finding of the Court:

The court allowed the application, stating that the allegations fell within the ambit of the provision of Section 92 of the Factories Act, and therefore, any prosecution under the general law (Indian Penal Code) was not permissible.

Issues: The issue was whether the prosecution under the general law (Indian Penal Code) for the alleged negligence of the factory management was permissible, considering the existence of a special legislation, the Factories Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the precedent set in a previous case, Binod Kumar Das and Another Vs. State of Jharkhand, where it was held that prosecution under the general law for allegations falling within the province of special legislation was not permissible.

Final Decision: The court quashed the FIR and criminal proceedings under the Indian Penal Code, citing that the allegations fell within the ambit of the Factories Act and any prosecution under the general law was not permissible.

JUDGMENT :

R.R. Prasad, J.

Heard learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Counsel appearing for the State.

2. Learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that earlier in the writ application the informant was impleaded as respondent No. 2 inadvertently as the case arising of a police case is well represented through the state of Jharkhand on whose behalf even a counter affidavit has been filed and, therefore, the petitioner though the proper to delete the name of the informant (respondent No. 2) as the informant is being well represented by the State of Jharkhand and the disposal of the case would be delayed on account of non service of notice upon respondent No. 2. and therefore under this situation prayer has been made to delete the name of respondent No. 2.

3. In the facts and circumstances as stated above the name of respondent No. 2 is allowed to be deleted from the memo of application.

4. Accordingly, the prayer's allowed.

5. Heard learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Counsel appearing for the State on the merit of the case.

6. This application has been filed for quashing of the entire criminal proceedings including the first information report of Kandra P.S. case No. 6 of 2009 (G.R. No. 654 of 2009) registered Under Sections 285, 237, 337, 338, 304A of the Indian Penal Code.

7. The facts giving rise this application are that one Anuj Kumar Yadav gave his Fardbeyan on 17.8.2009 stating therein that while he war working along with others namely, Kumud Rai, Lakhan Kumar and Pintu Nadaf as labourers at Induction Furnace Site, a unit of M/s. Adhunik Alloys and Power limited, power supply went off suddenly, as a result of which molten slag spilled out of bucket as a result of which they sustained burn injuries. They were immediately removed to hospital but unfortunately Kumud Rai succumbed to his injuries Thus, it has been alleged that aforesaid occurrence took place as the Company never' cared to take safety measures, though they were working at dangerous places.

8. On the said Fardbeyan, Kandra P.S. case No. 6 of 2009 was registered Under Sections 285, 287, 337, 338, 304A of the Indian Penal Code. The said prosecution has been challenged in this writ application.

9. Learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the entire allegation made in the first information report falls within the ambit of the provision as contained in Section 92 of the Factories Act and, therefore, if any prosecution on account of negligence on the part of the Management of the said factory lies that lies under the Factories Act which is a special legislation and as such, provision of the said Act would prevail over the provision of the general law.

10. It was pointed of out that when similar question arose before this Court for consideration in a case of Binod Kumar Das and Another Vs. State of Jharkhand and Another, (2008) 2 LLJ 692, this Court taking into consideration the provision as contained on Section (sic) of the Code of Criminal Procedure did hold that prosecution under the general law on the allegation which falls within the province of the special legislation is not permissible. Similar is the case here as the allegation upon which first information report was lodged certainly falls within the ambit of Section 92 of the Factories Act and hence, any prosecution under the general law that is to say under the Indian Penal Code would be quite bad.

11. A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the State stating therein that due to negligence on the pad of the Management for that adopting safety measure, the occurrence took place and as SUCH, The petitioner is being rightly prosecuted.

12. Having heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties there does not appear to be any doubt that the allegations upon which first information report was lodged, come well within the ambit of the provision as enshrined u/s 92 of the Factories Act. and (sic) such, my prosecution under the general law in view of


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