IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
VINOD PRASAD, J.
KUNWAR SINGH - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH - Respondents
Cri. R. 6300 Of 2006
Decided On : 11/22/2006
Section 155 (2) - Non-cognizable Offences - Section 155 (2), Cr. P. C. - Summary: The court discussed the interpretation of Section 155 (2), Cr. P. C. and its application to non-cognizable offences. It highlighted the absence of any provision disentitling the complainant from approaching the court to seek direction for police investigation of a non-cognizable offence. The court declared the previous judgment as not in line with the statutory provision and allowed the revision at the admission stage, setting aside the impugned order and remanding the matter for reconsideration.
Fact of the Case:
The revisionist complained about an assault on his father and sought police investigation of the non-cognizable offence. The trial court rejected the application based on a previous judgment.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the previous judgment was not in line with the statutory provision and allowed the revision at the admission stage, setting aside the impugned order and remanding the matter for reconsideration.
Issues: Interpretation of Section 155 (2), Cr. P. C. and the right of the complainant to seek police investigation of a non-cognizable offence.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the previous judgment was not in line with the statutory provision and allowed the revision, emphasizing the absence of any provision disentitling the complainant from approaching the court to seek direction for police investigation of a non-cognizable offence.
Final Decision: The revision was allowed at the admission stage, the impugned order was set aside, and the matter was remanded back to the magistrate for reconsideration.
( 2 ) THE revisionist complainant Kunwar singh is aggrieved by an order dated 30-10-2006 passed by 1st Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Etwah in Criminal Case No. 106 of 2006, Kunwar Singh v. Ram Sewak and others, under Section 155 (2), Cr. P. C.
( 3 ) IN short, the allegations of the revisionist Kunwar singh were that on 5-6-2006 opposite party Ram Sewak, his son Arvind, his brother Ram Das and Bhoop Singh brother Of Arvind belaboured his father Ram naresh at 4. 00 p. m. on his roof. Medical examination of Ram Naresh was got done on 5-6-2006 at 6. 55 p. m. , and his medical report indicated two lacerated wounds, which were sustained by the injured. The x-ray report dated 6-6-2006 of the injured indicated that there was a fracture of his right parietal bone of skull. The F. I. R. lodged by the revisionist complainant on 5-6-2006 at 5. 05 p. m. at police station Ekdil regarding the said incident was registered as NCR. Since the F. I. R. was registered as a N. C. R. and there was a grievous injury sustained by the injured, therefore, the revisionist filed an application under Section 155 (2), Cr. P. C. in the Court of Additional Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 1 etawah seeking a direction from him to the police to investigate the offence. The trial Court has rejected his said application by passing the impugned order. Hence, this revision.
( 4 ) THE prayer of the revisionist was rejected by the magistrate on the basis of judgment of this Court reported in 1995 ACC 254 : 1995 All LJ 1688 Naveen Chandra pandey v. State. In the aforesaid judgment it has been held by this Court that under section 155 (2) only the police has got the power to apply for making an investigation into a non-cognizable offence and the victim does not have any such power. The contention of learned counsel for the revisionist is that the said ruling is against the mandate of law and the statutory provision and does not have a binding effect and should be declared per incuriam. He relied upon the judgment of this Court reported in 2006 (55) ACC 864 : 2006 (4) All LJ 731, Brij Lal bhar v. State of U. P. through Principal Secretary, Lucknow and others. In the aforesaid judgment of Brij Lai Bhar (supra) this court has taken view that anybody can apply to the Magistrate under Section 155 (2), cr. P. C. for seeking his direction for investigation by the police of his N. C. R.
( 5 ) LEARNED A. G. A. could not justify the impugned order passed by the Magistrate as well.
( 6 ) I have heard both the respective counsel representing the rival sides. For the sake of clarity Section 155. C. r P. C. is quoted below :
155. Information as to non-cognizable cases and investigation of such cases.- (1) When information is given to an officer in charge of a police station of the commission within the limits of such station of a non-cognizable offences, he shall enter or cause to be entered the substance of the information in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the State Government may prescribe in this behalf, and refer the informant to the Magistrate. (2) No police officer shall investigate a non-cognizable case without the order of a magistrate having power to try such case or commit the case for trial. (3) Any police officer receiving such order may exercise the same powers in respect of the investigation (except the power to arrest without warrant)as an officer in charge of a police station may exercise in a cognizable case. (4) Where a case relates to two or more offences of which at least one is cognizable, the case shall be deemed to be a cognizable case, notwithstanding that the other offences are non-cognizable.
( 7 ) FROM the perusal of the aforesaid statutory provision it is absolutely clear. without any ambiguity, that no non-cognizable offence can be investigated by the police without an order passed by a Magistrate. It is nowhere provided under the said section as to who will a
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