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2023 Supreme(Mad) 128

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
G.Chandrasekharan, J.
S.Elred Kumar - Petitioner
Vs.
M/s. City Union Bank Ltd., Represented by its Chief Manager, C.Venkatraman - Respondent
Crl.O.P.No.1834 of 2023
Decided On : 01-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr.K.P.S.Palanivelrajan

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 192, 193 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 195, 340 - Fabricating false evidence - Punishment for false evidence - Criminal Original Petition has been filed for directing Debt Recovery Tribunal II, Chennai to initiate criminal prosecution under Section 195(1)(b) r/w 340(1) Cr.P.C against respondent for producing false evidence under Section 192 and 193 IPC in O.A., on file of Debt Recovery Tribunal II - Held, Court should form an opinion that, it is expedient in interest of justice that, an enquiry should be made into any offence referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 195 Cr.P.C - There should be a preliminary inquiry before framing of such an opinion - Only then, it should record a finding to that effect and make a complaint thereof in writing and send it to a learned Magistrate of 1st class having jurisdiction - It is not required that, in every other case of allegation of commission of offence mentioned under Section 195 (1) (b) Cr.P.C., a complaint should be given - In case before hand, petitioner without approaching Presiding Officer of Debt Recovery Tribunal-II for the alleged commission of offence under Section 192 and 193 IPC straight away approached this Court for relief of initiating criminal prosecution under Section 195(1)(b) r/w 340(1) Cr.P.C against respondent for producing false evidence, which is against law - Criminal Original Petition dismissed.

ORDER :

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed for directing the Debt Recovery Tribunal II, Chennai to initiate criminal prosecution under Section 195(1)(b) r/w 340(1) Cr.P.C against the respondent for producing false evidence under Section 192 and 193 IPC in O.A.No.33 of 2014, on the file of Debt Recovery Tribunal II, Chennai.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner purchased a property from one Shanmugam on 27.08.2004 and is in possession of all the documents in connection with the property. City Union Bank filed OA.No.33 of 2014 on the file of the Debt Recovery Tribunal-I at Chennai for recovery of money against M/s. Esvee Card and four others including the petitioner. City Union Bank claimed that the documents, which are in possession and custody of the petitioner, are in possession of the City Union Bank. However, when the matter came to be disposed, learned Presiding Officer of Debt Recovery Tribunal-II, Chennai observed that the documents are not in possession of City Union Bank. Therefore, the petitioner has filed this petition seeking a direction to the Debt Recovery Tribunal II, Chennai to initiate criminal prosecution under Section 195(1)(b) r/w 340(1) Cr.P.C against the respondent for producing false evidence under Section 192 and 193 IPC in O.A.No.33 of 2014 on the file of Debt Recovery Tribunal II, Chennai.

3. Heard the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner. Perused the records.

4. This Court, on going through Section 195 CrPC finds that, if any offence punishable under any of the Section namely, sections 193 to 196, is committed in, or in relation to, any proceeding in any court, no Court shall take cognizance of the offence, except on the complaint in writing of that Court or by such officer of the Court as that Court may authorize in writing in this behalf, or of some other Court to which that Court is subordinate.

5. For better understanding, relevant portion of Section 195 CrPC is as follows,

    “(1) No court shall take cognizance-

(a) (i) If any offence punishable under sections 172 to 188 (both inclusive) of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), or

(ii) Of any abetment of, attempt to commit, such offence, or

(iii) Of any criminal conspiracy to commit, such offence,

Except on the complaint in writing of the public servant concerned or of some other public servant to whom he is administratively subordinate;

(b)(i) Of any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), namely, sections 193 to 196 (both inclusive), 199, 200, 205 to 211 (both inclusive) and 228, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in, or in relation to, any proceeding in any court, or

(ii) Of any offence described in section 463, or punishable under section 471, section 475 or section 476, of the said Code, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in any court, or

(iii) Of any criminal conspiracy to commit, or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence specified in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii), except on the complaint in writing of that court, or of some other court to which that court is subordinate.”

6. It is clear that, the complaint should be given only by the Court or by such officer of the Court, as that Court may authorize in writing in this behalf, or of some other Court to which that Court is subordinate. Thus, in the case before hand, only the Presiding Officer of Debt Recovery Tribunal-II, Chennai or the person authorized by him can alone give a complaint in this regard.

7. With regard to the procedural aspect, Section 340 CrPC deals with how the complaint should be proceeded,

    “340. Procedure in cases mentioned in section 195.

(1) When upon an application made to it in this behalf or otherwise any court is of opinion that it is expedient in the interest of justice that an inquiry should be made into any offence referred to in clause (b) of sub-se

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