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2005 Supreme(All) 1798

ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Poonam Srivastava, J.
Zahrun Nisa, Sri Nawab Ali, Haseen Ahmad
Versus
State of U.P.
Criminal Misc. Application 13760 of 2005
Decided On : 22 September 2005
Criminal Misc. Application 13760 Of 2005

Advocates:
N.I.Jafri,

The principle of stare decisis was applied to quash the proceedings, considering the acquittal of the main accused in a previous trial.

Headnote:

Stare Decisis - Quashing of Proceedings - The court quashed the charge sheet and the entire proceedings in a case involving sections 498-A and 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, applying the principle of stare decisis, as the main accused had already been acquitted and continuing the proceedings would amount to an abuse of the court's process.

Fact of the Case:

The deceased Nasiran was allegedly subjected to cruelty for insufficient dowry after her marriage, resulting in her death. The husband and mother-in-law were acquitted in a previous trial, and the present applicant, the sister-in-law, sought to quash the charge sheet against her.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that continuing the proceedings against the present applicant would amount to a wastage of time and an abuse of the court's process, as the same evidence had already been adjudicated in the previous trial resulting in acquittal of the main accused.

Issues: The main issue was whether the charge sheet and proceedings against the present applicant should be quashed, considering the acquittal of the main accused in a previous trial.

Ratio Decidendi: The court applied the principle of stare decisis, considering previous judgments where it was held that continuing proceedings arising from the same first information report and identical allegations, after an order of acquittal, would amount to an abuse of the court's process.

Final Decision: The court allowed the application and quashed the charge sheet and proceedings against the present applicant.

POONAM SRIVASTAVA, J.

( 1 ) HEARD Sri N. I. Jafri, learned counsel for the applicant and learned A. G. A. for the State.

( 2 ) THIS application has been filed for quashing the charge sheet and the entire proceedings in case No. 9239 of 1989, State v. Zahrun Nisa, arising out of case crime No. 154 of 1989, under sections 498-A, 304-B I. P. C. pending in the court of learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, kanpur Nagar.

( 3 ) THE marriage of the deceased Nasiran was performed with Saghir Ahmad in the month of may, 1989 and allegation in the first information report is that after the marriage, she was subjected to cruelty for bringing insufficient dowry. On 12. 8. 1989 the deceased died of burn injury and a first information report was registered at the instance of opposite party no. 2 Gulab khan on 12. 8. 1989 at Police Station Bekanganj, District Kanpur Nagar. S. T. No. 546 of 1989 proceeded in the court of 5thadditional District and Sessions Judge, Kanpur Nagar, State v. Saghir Ahmad and Ors. The trial proceeded against the husband and mother-in-law and vide judgment dated-24/25. 5. 1990, both the accused i. e. husband and mother-in-law were acquitted as the prosecution was not able to prove its case beyond doubt, A copy of the judgment dated 24/25. 5. 1990 is annexed as Annexure 5 to the affidavit. This application is on behalf of sister-in-law Suit. Zahrun Nisa, against whom charge sheet was filed subsequently, A certified copy of the charge sheet is annexed as Annexure-1, a perusal of the same reveals that Saghir ahmad and mother-in-law Smt. Rahman were challaned on 9. 9,1989, whereas the present applicant has been challaned by means of the present charge sheet. On the basis of charge sheet, the proceeding in case No. 9239 of 1989, State v. Jaharun Nisa is continuing.

( 4 ) THE ground for quashing the charge sheet is that since the main accused i. e. husband and mother-in-law have already been acquitted after evaluating the entire evidence, principle of stare decisive will apply and the proceedings should be quashed. This argument is based on a decision of this Court in the case of Manoj v. State of U. P. 2004 (49) ACC, 302. This Court has ruled that since two accused have already been acquitted and the same evidence is to be adjudicated for the second lime, it will only amount to wastage of time. Admittedly, no conviction can be procured and there is no prospect of the case ending in conviction against the present applicant, it will only be a hallow formality of completing the procedure of the trial and it is almost certain that the trial will meet the same fate and entire exercise will be rendered futile. In such circumstances, the proceedings can be quashed in exercise of inherent powers applying the principle of the said case. I am in agreement with the argument of the counsel for the applicant.

( 5 ) ANOTHER decision relied upon by the counsel is, Smt. Begam and Ors. v. State of U. P. and anr. , 2005 Current Bail Cases, 546. In this case, this Court had held that since the case arises out of the same first information report and the allegations are identical in respect of which an order of acquittal has already been passed, it was held that the proceedings, if allowed to continue, will amount to an abuse of the process of the court.

( 6 ) LOOKING to the facts and circumstances of the case and after perusing the judgment dated 24/25. 5. 1990 in Sessions Trial No. 546 of 1989, I am convinced that the proceedings on the basis of the impugned charge sheet should be quashed applying the principle of stare decisive.

( 7 ) IN the circumstances, this application is allowed and the charge sheet in case No. 9239 of 1989, State v. Zahrun Nisa, arising out of case crime No. 154 of 1989, under Sections 498-A, 304-B I. P. C. , Police Station Bekanganj, District Kanpur Nagar, pending in the court of Chief metropolitan Magistrate, Kanpur Nagar is quashed.


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