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2009 Supreme(P&H) 2203

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
Augustine George Masih, J.
Balwinder Singh
Versus
State Of Punjab
Criminal Miscellaneous No. 22267 of 2009,
Decided On : DECEMBER 18, 2009

Headnote:

Section 311 Cr.P.C - Quashing of order dated 28.05.2009 - Sections 307/326/34 I.P.C. - Section 173 Cr.P.C. - Section 161 Cr.P.C.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner/complainant sought quashing of an order dismissing the application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. to place on record the statements recorded by the Investigating Officer under Section 161 Cr.P.C. of the injured/eye witnesses. The case involved charges under Sections 307/326/34 I.P.C. against the accused/respondents.

Finding of the Court:

The Court found that the statements of the injured/eye witnesses were recorded by the Investigating Officer and were available on the police file. The Court allowed the application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. as it deemed the evidence essential for the just decision of the case.

Issues: The main issue was the inadvertent non-attachment of the statements of the injured/eye witnesses with the police report submitted under Section 173 Cr.P.C.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the power under Section 311 Cr.P.C. is discretionary and enables the Court to summon, examine, recall, or re-examine any person if their evidence appears essential for the just decision of the case. The Court emphasized the duty to seek and arrive at the truth and to ensure that justice prevails.

Final Decision: The impugned order was set aside, and the application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. was allowed, recognizing the inadvertent error and the need to rectify it for the just decision of the case.

Judgment

George Masih, J.

1. This petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been preferred by the petitioner/complainant, praying for quashing of order dated 28.05.2009 (Annexure-P-6), passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Rupnagar, vide which application under Section 311 Cr.P.C, preferred by the petitioner/complainant for permission to place on record the statements recorded by Investigating Officer under Section 161 Cr.P.C. of Gurdev Singh injured/eye witness and Tejwinder Singh injured, which were inadvertently not filed alongwith the police report submitted under Section 173 Cr.P.C. and to lead additional evidence stand dismissed.

2. An F.I.R. No. 96 dated 20.08.2008 under Sections 307/326/34 I.P.C., Police Station ChamkaurSahib, came to be registered against the accused/respondents on a statement made by the petitioner/complainant Balwinder Singh @ Sangat Singh son of Bishan Singh, which was recorded in Civil Hospital, Chamkaur Sahib, wherein intimation was received on 20.08.2008 regarding admission of injured Balwinder Singh in the hospital. On 19.08.2008, injured Balwinder Singh (petitioner/complainant) was declared unfit to make any statement by the Medical Officer. The respondents/accused with an intention to cause death to Balwinder Singh (petitioner/complainant) caused injures on his person, while lie was going for a walk on Sirhind Canal in the area of Chamkaur Sahib at about 08:00 P.M. on 19.08.2008, for the reason that the accused/respondents had tried to outrage the modesty of the daughter of his friend, namely, Sadhu Singh, resident of Mohalla Raiwara, Chamkaur Sahib, as the complainant/petitioner helped him. Gurdev Singh son of Hari Singh, a passerby tried to rescue injured Balwinder Singh on hearing the alarm raised by the petitioner/complainant Balwinder Singh. The accused/respondents also caused injuries on. the person of Gurdev Singh, and, thereafter, accused/respondents threatened the petitioner/complainant Balwinder Singh and eye witness Gurdev Singh that he had been taught a lesson and now they are going to teach a lesson to his other associate Teja @ Tejwinder Singh as they both had objected to accused/respondents, while misbehaving with Gurjinder daughter of Sadhu Singh, who is a friend of petitioner/complainant Balwinder Singh. Thereafter, the assailants went towards the house of Teja @ Tejwinder Singh, who was also way laid in the street at a short distance of less than 100 yds and grievous injuries were caused to Teja @ Tejwinder Singh on the vital parts of the body with a sharp edged weapon. Teja @ Tejwinder Singh was treated in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education, and Research, Chandigarh, since he had suffered fractures on the vital organs. The Investigating Officer recorded the statements and collected the M.L.Rs./Medical Case Summaries of the injured Balwinder Singh (petitioner/complainant) and Gurdev Singh (eye witness) in the first case diary itself. On completion of investigation of the case, the Station House Officer, Police Station Chamkaur Sahib, submitted police report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. against the accused/respondents under Sections 307/326/34 I.P.C. before the learned Area Magistrate on 18.11.2008. One of the accused, namely, Paramjot Singh @ Popan (respondent No. 2 herein) could not be arrested and he was proceeded against under Sections 82/83 Cr.P.C. In the police report under Section 173 Cr.P.C, submitted against the accused/respondents, M.L.Rs. of all the injured alongwith other relevant documents and copy of statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. were attached in support of report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. Inadvertently, copy of the statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. of Gurdev Singh and Teja @ Tejwinder Singh, were not attached with the challan report, though, names of these two injured/eye witnesses were mentioned in the list of witnesses at Serial. No. 2 and 3 attached with the police report. Accused/respondent No. 2 Paramjot Singh @ Popan surrend



























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