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2009 Supreme(All) 209

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
BARKAT ALI ZAIDI, J.
ABHAY SINGH
Versus
STATE OF U P
Decided On : 22 January 2009
Crl. Misc. Cace No. 153 of 2009

Advocates Appeared:
S.K.Singh,

The court established that compelling the accused to undergo Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping tests does not violate the principle of testimonial compulsion under Article 20(3) and emphasized the importance of discovering the truth in investigations.

Headnote:

Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping Test - Compulsion - Interpretation of Article 20(3) and Article 21 of the Constitution of India

Fact of the Case:

The accused, facing charges under Sections 302 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, sought to avoid undergoing Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping tests against his wishes. The Magistrate rejected the application, but the Sessions Judge granted permission for the tests.

Finding of the Court:

The court analyzed the interpretation of Article 20(3) and Article 21 of the Constitution of India in the context of compelling the accused to undergo the tests. It considered the absence of a Supreme Court decision on the matter and referred to judgments from the Gujarat High Court and Chennai High Court where permission for the tests was granted despite the accused's opposition.

Issues: The issues revolved around the violation of the principle of testimonial compulsion under Article 20(3) and the perspective of Article 21 of the Constitution of India in compelling the accused to undergo Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping tests.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the absence of a specific reference to Article 21 in the judgments from the Gujarat and Chennai High Courts indicated that the matter fell within the ambit of Article 20(3) and did not need to be considered in the light of Article 21. It also established that the discovery of truth is paramount in investigations, and if the tests can be helpful in finding out the facts relating to the offense, they should be utilized.

Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, affirming the permission for conducting Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping tests on the accused.

( 1 ) THE question to be determined in this petition under Section 482 Cr. P. C. is whether the accused should be compelled to undergo Narco Analysis and Brain mapping test against his wishes ?

( 2 ) THE accused is on bail and he is facing charge (in Criminal Case No. 10439 of 2008)under Sections 302, 120-B Indian Penal code.

( 3 ) THE Magistrate rejected the application of the investigating agency seeking permission to conduct Narco Analysis and Brain mapping Test on the accused. ( 4 ) THE prosecution filed a revision (No. 414 of 2008) before the Sessions Judge, which was allowed by order dated 24-12-2008 and permission for conducting Narco analysis and Brain Mapping test was granted.

( 5 ) I have heard Sri Satyendra Kumar singh and Sri I. B. Singh, counsels for the applicant and Sri D. K. Misra, Additional government Advocate for the State.

( 6 ) THE learned Sessions Judge has written a very exhaustive and elaborate judgment. He has referred to two cases, one of the Gujarat High Court, Santokben sharmanbhai Ladeja v. State of Gujarat 2007 Cri L. J 4566 and the other of Chennai high Court, Dinesh Dalmia v. State 2006 cri L. J 2401, where permission for Narco analysis and Brain Mapping Test was granted despite opposition by the accused.

( 7 ) THE counsel for the parties say that there is no decision of the Supreme Court on the point. The Chennai High Court as well as the Gujarat High Court have considered the matter thoroughly and all relevant aspects have been taken into account and it has been held that conducting of Narco analysis and Brain Mapping test against the wishes of the accused does not violate the principle of testimonial compulsion as embodied under Article 20 (3) of the constitution of India.

( 8 ) THERE is no report of any other High court in support of the contention of the petitioner.

( 9 ) COUNSEL for the petitioner has argued that both the High Courts in the aforenoted cases have considered the question in the light of Article 20 (3) of the Constitution of india and have not visualized the same in the perspective of Article 21 of the constitution and the impugned act will amount violative of Article 21 also. Both the High courts of Gujarat and Chennai have considered the question in great detail, and they did not refer specifically to Article 21 of the constitution of India, because, the matter fell within the ambit of Article 20 (3) of the constitution of India and was not a matter to be considered in the light of Article 21 of the Constitution. Since Article 20 (3)specifically deals with the question of testimonial compulsion, there was no occasion to bring the matter within the purview of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, because when there is a specific clause about a particular matter, another omnibus provision which may encompass the issue need not be considered.

( 10 ) THAT is why no argument was advanced to the Court either in Gujarat or chennai, on basis of Article 21 of the constitution of India.

( 11 ) IT is now settled law that, hair and nails of the accused can be taken for utilization during investigation even if the accused does not agree to the same. If that invasion of the person of the accused is permissible, the, principle should be applicable to Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping test also.

( 12 ) THE counsel for the petitioner further argued that Narco Analysis Test stands on the different footing because it can prove, fatal. As mentioned by the Gujarat High court judgment (2007 Cri LJ 4566) (supra), the Narco Analysis Test is conducted under supervision of doctors and proper care is taken and there is constant surveillance of the state of the accused and, as such, the element of risk is minimal. Risk is in fact part of life and pervades in most of human activities and on this ground alone, therefore, the impugned test cannot be condemned.

( 13 ) THE discovery of the truth is the desideratum of investigation, and, all efforts have to be made to find out the real culprit, because, on




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