HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
I.M.Quddusi
DHARMENDRA TRIPATHI
Versus
STATE OF U P
Decided On : 29 August 1996
Criminal Misc. Application No. 2334 of 1996
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - SECTION 167, 173, 209, 309 - SECTION 482 - BAIL - REMAND - CHARGE SHEET - INVESTIGATION - ILLEGAL CUSTODY - VALIDITY OF REMAND ORDER - SCOPE OF SECTION 482 CR.P.C. - INTERPRETATION OF PROVISIONS - APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 167(2) PROVISO - QUASHING OF CHARGE SHEET.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, Dharmendra Tripathi, was arrested in connection with a murder case and was in judicial custody. The investigation was entrusted to the C.B.C.I.D. Varanasi Sector. The Inspector of C.B.C.I.D. submitted a report that the investigation was ongoing and the statements of eye witnesses had not been recorded. The charge sheet was submitted on the ground that 90 days were elapsing and further detailed investigation was ongoing. The petitioner challenged the validity of the remand order and the charge sheet, arguing that the investigation was not complete and the charge sheet was filed to deny him the benefit of Section 167(2) proviso of the Cr.P.C.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the charge sheet filed under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. without completing the investigation was illegal and quashed it. However, the court left it to the concerned court to decide whether the petitioner was entitled to the benefit of the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C.
Issues: 1. Whether the charge sheet filed under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. without completing the investigation was valid? 2. Whether the petitioner was entitled to the benefit of the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the charge sheet filed under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. without completing the investigation was illegal. The court relied on the provisions of Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. which requires the police officer to forward a report to the Magistrate only after completing the investigation. The court also relied on the decision of the Supreme Court in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Lakshmi Brahman and another, wherein it was held that the investigation would come to an end the moment charge sheet is submitted as required under Section 170 unless the Magistrate directs further investigation. 2. The court left it to the concerned court to decide whether the petitioner was entitled to the benefit of the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C.
Final Decision: The court quashed the charge sheet filed under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. However, the court left it to the concerned court to decide whether the petitioner was entitled to the benefit of the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C.
By means of the present petition under Section 482 Cr. P. C. the petitioner has prayed for the quashing of the order dated 19-6-1996 passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhadhohi passed in Criminal Case No. 135 of 1995, and to release the applicant on bail.
2. The facts of the case in brief is that one Bhawani Prasad filed a first information report against the applicant which was registered as Case Crime No. 185 of 1995 under Section 302, 307 and 323 I. P. C. at police station Aurai district Bhadohi. In the aforesaid incident one Devi Prasad is shown to have been killed and Bhawani Prasad Upadhya is alleged to have sustained simple injuries. With regard to the aforesaid inci dent, the father of the applicant also lodged a cross report which has been registered as Case Crime No. 135-A of 1995 under Sec tion 395, 397 and 307 I. P. C. in which the applicant including 5 other persons have sustained injuries. The case of the applicant is that since the applicant was lying in Hospital and, as such, the police took him into custody on the day of incident itself. The investigation of the case was entrusted to the C. B. C. I. D. Varanasi Sector The In spector of C. B. C. I. D. without completing the investigation has submitted a report that a detailed investigation is going on and the statement of the eye witnesses including Shesh Mani Shukla have not been recorded, the charge sheet is being submitted since 90 days are elapsing and further detailed inves tigation is going on. The contention of the learned counsel for the applicant is that since the remand to judicial custody granted to the applicant expired on 17-6-1996 and thereafter the learned Magistrate did not grant any further remand and, as such, the applicant is entitled to be set at liberty as there is no valid order of remand to detain the applicant in jail. The applicant also moved an application before the Chief Judi cial Magistrate containing precisely the same prayer which has been rejected by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate on 19-6-1996. While rejecting the said application the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate took into consideration a report submitted by the Superintendent of District Jail under Sec tion 269 Cr. P. C. to the effect that since the applicant is in half coma, he could not be produced before the Court for taking remand. On 19-6-1996 the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhadohi who has taken cog nizance of the matter and was seized with the enquiry directed the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhadohi to pass an order of remand to detain the applicant in district Jail Varanasi. Accordingly on 19-6-1996the A. C. J. M. Bhadohi remanded the applicant to the jail custody. The contention of the applicant is that the Court which had taken the cognizance is alone entitled to grant remand after applying his mind judiciouly, and the order of remand has been passed mechanically by other Magistrate who has not taken cognizance of the case. It has been further submitted that the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhadohi was present in the Court on 19-6-1996 and in tact, he disposed of the application of the applicant in which the objection
was raised that in the absence of valid remand order the applicant was entitled to be released on bail. It has been contended that the warrant purported to have been issued by the A. C. J. M. Bhadohi on 19-6- 1996 is illegal and without any authority of law as the CJ. M. who has taken cognizance and has decided the applicants application cannot be abdicate his judicial function further and direct any other Magistrate during his presence to grant remand. The contention of the applicant is that petitioners remand having expired on 17-6-1996 and no other warrant or order of remand having been passed, the applicants custody in jail on subsequent dates has become illegal which cannot be cured by issue of subsequent order of remand by any other Magistrate. The contention of the learned counsel is that Section 269 Cr. P
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